4 Gifts Series | Changing the Way You Gift | Want

SOME AFFILIATE AND SPONSORED LINKS MAY BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS POST

Over the past four years, I have tried to establish some type of plan for how we would spend our money at Christmas. After Jonah was born and we had bought our former home, started new jobs and had so many expenses, not to mention two dramatic cuts to our income, Wesley and I decided that we would not buy each other gifts. We would buy for our families and enjoy the gifts we got in exchanges with them and it was/is enough.

After Jonah turned two (his 3rd Christmas), I started introducing gifts for us back into the picture because I wanted him to learn how to give and we are the most important people in his life, so there are now small (Target pajamas last year) gifts that he gets to help pick out for Wesley and I. I also stuff our stockings with something small like a coffee mug, candy, and fruit from Santa. Both of my boys have Fall birthdays and I always struggle with what to tell people to buy them! So, when Alyson introduced me to the idea of 4 Gifts, I was on board! 4 Gifts is all about cutting down on excessive gifting and giving gifts that someone truly wants, needs and will use.

There are 4 categories 

1. Want
2. Need
3. Wear
4. Read

This year I will be focusing on a gift guide for my boys, toddler and preschool ages, in all four categories here on Behind the Camera and Dreaming. Throughout this series, which will spread over four weeks, I will also be personally adding a charitable giving idea that we will be doing along with each category. There are 10 or so of us bloggers participating this year and we've all got fun lists of want, need, wear and read. Hopefully our lists will help to take some of the guess work out of Christmas shopping for you!

And for something super fun, there's a giveaway too! The giveaway will go on for the next 4 weeks and each week you'll have more chances to enter. Be sure to scroll down and enter for your chance to win! Let's get this years 4 Gifts blogging series going with WANT! 

Fisher-Price Baby Bright Beats Dance and Move BeatBo: We got this for Ezra's Birthday and LOVE IT! | VTech Smart Shots Sports Center: We love this for the early ball player! | Kidz Delight Tech Set, Black I cannot wait to get this for Ezra. He WANTS the remote the car keys and my phone every waking moment. This is so realistic and perfect! | Melissa & Doug Round The Town Road Rug: We already bought this because Ezra is super into vroom vrooming these days. How are boys born with the ability to make car sounds?  |  Cool Keepsake Ornament to represent what they are enjoying this year! 

Paw Patrol - Paw Patroller or Paw Patrol - Mission Chase | Playskool Heroes Transformers Rescue Bots High Tide Rescue Rig Playset | VTech Kidizoom Action Cam | Zoomer Dino | VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX. I am so excited for a few of the things I see up there are a little more big boy items that Jonah can play with independently or that I might be interested in playing with! We already have some experience with the Paw Patroller. It's well built and much better than a previous toy they introduced last year.

CHARITABLE GIVING

Now that we've talked wants and it really was fun to source my resident preschool boys for what they've been eyeing, we really do want our children to learn the real meaning and spirit of Christmas because really Christmas is about Jesus y'all. Jesus gave his life and though he never ask us to do the same he taught us how to give. Cheerfully!

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

I will never forget as a kid when we would draw a kids name from the Angel Tree for Girl Scouts, sponsor a family with our church, or draw a name from the local Children's Home. So, in conjunction with our 4 Gifts Gift Guide we'll be sharing over the next four weeks, I will also be talking about how we are teaching our children to emulate Jesus the best way we know how. This week as we cover WANT, we will be giving to Operation Christmas Child. Find out more by clicking the banner below and come back next week when I feature our box that we'll be sending to a 2-4 year old boy!

Linking up with the #HFTHBlogHop


and while we are in the giving mood, here's a little something for you too!

GIVEAWAY

The giveaway will go on for the next 4 weeks and each week you'll have more chances to enter. Be sure to scroll down and enter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$165 Target Gift Card  ||  $25 World Market Gift Card  ||  Lace Arm Warmers - Forgotten Cotton  ||  Personalized Cutting Board (9x12") - Laserworkz  ||  Gypsy Dreamcatcher Necklace - Gypsies Box Jewelry  ||  $30 Credit for Keep Collective with Kassie  ||  Adult Coloring Book - This Girl's Doodles