This year was quite a different year for our family. My heart was full this year to do service where it is needed. I really want my boys to learn that serving others is so much better than getting service(presents). We did two days of service.

Christmas Eve we took all the toys, crafts, and games to the Children’s Hospital in Dallas. Boy did we get a lot of donations……

I am so grateful for the outpouring gifts everyone donated. I am so glad I finally acted on my heart. Sometimes it is so scary to take that jump and do something new, but when it is all done it feels so good to look back and say “I did it!”.
Now we weren’t able to see any of the children due to germs, but we did get to see the train exhibit. The kids loved it! Cameron thought it was the coolest thing.

Then on our way to the cafeteria, to get some food and a drink, I ran into the Director of Child/Life Specialist, Renee. It was so neat to talk to someone that actually works with these children. Renee said she saw all we brought and was so excited. They rely on the donations. I guess they don’t get a lot of money for all the extras that these kids need. Renee also knew my cancer. I told her my story, well a brief synopsis that is, and how I knew how some of these children feel. I wanted to give back somehow. Maybe it helps me feel needed or it gives me that reason of why I was saved. All I know is that I was on the highest of highs Christmas Eve. Renee gave me her card so now I have a direct contact. I am going to keep collecting stuff all year long and when I get a load of donations, I will take them.

After the hospital we celebrated Christmas Eve with the Steven’s Family. They were awesome! They have the same tradition that we have with opening pj’s on Christmas Eve. They also open one more present, so we joined in and let the kids open one. The kids all had fun playing together. Amy brought this domino game called “The Mexican Train, or Chicken Foot”. I was hooked:) We all played until 10:30pm! Time goes by fast when you are having fun:) After Christmas Randy had to go and find the game so we can play again. I love him:)

Christmas morning was fabulous. We got up early to open presents and then we left to deliver Meals on Wheels to the elderly. We teamed up with a family in our ward, the Duckwall’s, and set off the a scary part of Dallas to deliver. I was nervous but I felt safe having Randy and Lew to protect us if needed. We never needed it though. The people we delivered to were so happy to see us. We sang a Christmas song to them and handed them their meal. They got this little TV dinner like meal with a little milk, a biscuit, and a little piece of pie. The kids were all sad to see how little they get. We had to explain that that is all they live on. They don’t know any difference. It was really a neat experience for our boys to see. We delivered the meals to 10 family’s. When we were done the boys were mad. They wanted to do more. I think they caught onto the serving spirit.

When we got home we had about an hour to play with our new stuff and then we headed to the Martini’s house for dinner. This family is like family to us. My twin sister is a Martini; therefore we have to be related somehow right?! My sisters husband and Heidi’s husband are cousins. That means Heidi’s kids are our kids second cousins by marriage?! It sounds complicated, but I have to say that it all doesn’t matter. We just say that we are cousins:) We are all brothers and sisters anyways right? The kids had fun playing, but they couldn’t wait to come home and play with their DS.

I had such a great holiday season. I couldn’t of asked for anything better. The smiles on every ones faces this year was all I needed. There was a Rabbi that said: “Don’t give a present, just be a present in somebody’s life”. What a quote. It is my hope and prayer that I can live my life being a present. I know that I am a miracle in some life’s eyes, but in mine I know I am blessed by our Father in Heaven. I got a second chance at life and I hope to live it to the fullest. I have learned not to hold grudges, get mad easily, smile more, and more important I have learned to love my family everyday. I don’t leave the house without giving them a hug and saying I love you to them. Life is so short. It isn’t worth being upset at anyone or anything.

Thank you to all my friends out there that have been there for me. Especially thank you to a friend here that is always listening to me. She has been there through all of this and she still is there for me. I didn’t realize how much she has done for me. I have started remembering more of the past when I was really sick and all she has done for me. All I can say is “Thank You”

Happy New Year!

~Becca:)

This is Cameron looking up to see how they have Santa in a wooden helicopter. I took this picture, then my battery died. I had no idea it was low. Darn.

This picture was taken on Christmas 2006. This is my family. My mom and dad, my twin sister Sabrina and her family, and my older sister Jennifer and her two girls, and then of course my family. As a tradition in our family, we always get together on Christmas Eve and open a present that we drew names for on Thanksgiving. My daddy got me this year. He gave me a necklace of an angel cutout in a heart that says HOPE. I love it. I thought I would post this picture of us when I was bald. It is so neat to think that 2 years ago I had no hair and I had cancer. It’s amazing how time goes by.

Cameron was so tired of all the festivities. Man he is so sweet. Merry Christmas everyone. I hope that this Christmas will be a great one for everyone. May we all be blessed.

This was the best of all the pictures! It was fun:)

We thought that this year we would post our Christmas card online instead of mailing it out:) It feels kinda weird, but this will be fun. We hope this e-card finds everyone doing well. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year I am trying to something new too…..

Dear friends and family,

I have been thinking for a while about how to give back this Christmas season. I wanted to ask for your help. As most of you all know I was diagnosed with Bone Cancer in July 2006. Yes it was hard when it came to the holiday season and I couldn’t give. I was too sick to shop, sad but true. That year for Christmas was so special to me and my family. We had one family make us blankets, bought us clothes, and big bins full of toys. My sister’s work donated also. To say the least we weren’t short gifts. I remember how I felt to think that so many people cared enough to give. It doesn’t take many people to help out. The smiles on my kids face’s were priceless.

I am choosing to give to Primary Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Since I had cancer, I know what these little children are going through. I can’t even imagine how they can keep on smiling when they can’t even play with friends or even go outside because of their immune systems. I know how lonely it is. I know how tired they are sometimes. I also know how much hope, faith, and love that all of these children have. Just imagine their faces when they get to spend time with their family making a craft, or playing a new game on Christmas Eve. Imagine the faces of the children’s family members.

Being a mom too, I was so happy just sitting there watching my boys open a present and just get so excited. I want this year to provide these families to feel that Hope, Faith, and Love that we all have for them. Please help me out with this. I know how hard this year is financially. This year my boys are getting one gift from us because we want them to see how it feels to give, not receive. My heart is full this Christmas year. I have so much love for everyone that all I want to do is give.

The Children’s Medical Center of Dallas is in need of new craft items and games. They use these EVERYDAY. When the children are in the hospital going through treatment they have what they call a Child Life Counselor that sits with them to keep their spirits high. Sometimes it means to sit with them all day and sometimes just for a few hours. They are in need of these craft and games to keep busy with. As you might know these items they go through so much. You can drop off the craft items or games at my house or I can come pick them up at yours.

I need to have the new UNWRAPPED items by Sunday December 21st please. We are going to deliver them on Christmas Eve at 3pm. Due to these sweet children’s immune systems, we cannot personally deliver them, but we can drop them off for the staff to deliver. I spoke with the Hospital and they mentioned that 60% of patients are under 5 and that 10% are 10 years old and older. They see patients from birth to 18, Please consider this when getting the stuff. I have provided a list that I got from their website.

I know that when I was sick and I spent time doing my scrapbooking, the time would go by so much faster. I also felt happier to see the finished pages. I really want to see their smiling faces when they see new games, or when they have some new craft to make. Please help me out with this project. I know this is a little late notice, I just couldn’t make up my mind. I just don’t want to fail. I thank you all for your love and support. Especially when I was sick. I have such a long list of friends and family members that helped me out. I will never forget any of them. I hope to never forget to serve as well. I have so much love for everyone. I know that we were sent here to earth to serve and help others. It is my prayer that each of you will have a fabulous Christmas this year. I also hope that we can all catch the “Giving Bug”. Even if it is just one little thing. You have to start somewhere.

Love to all,
Becca Gibbons

3119 Juneau Dr
Corinth, TX 76210
972-242-4403

Randy and the boys were having so much fun tieing them up. Cameron was first…

This is Cameron’s Popeye smile:)

Then it was Michaels turn…..He doesn’t like to be tied up for a long time.

Then of course Ricky couldn’t be left out!……

Then it was Daddy’s turn!!! The boys had so much fun with this…..

I tell ya, it is never a dull moment at our house. I came from a house of all girls. I had no idea that boys would find a dog leash as a toy to tie someone up with:) All I have to say is that I LOVE my boys:)