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Dukes and Duchesses

Dallas Fort Worth Creative Lifestyle Blogger

Christmas creative projects · Written by Randi Dukes

The 24 Days of Service Advent Calendar

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I’ve had a number of questions about our advent calendar so I thought I’d share.

A number of years ago, I became disappointed in attitudes of the heart that I was seeing around our house.  I decided that Christmas needed to take on a different focus and become more about giving than receiving.  And I wanted that to happen on a daily basis.

The 24 Days of Service advent calendar was born and we’ve done it every year since.  It’s become a special and much-loved tradition in our home.

I started with a homemade advent calendar.

The 24 days of service advent calendar
The 24 days of service advent calendar

Each drawer has a candy for each of the kids {I’m not a total Scrooge} and an act of service to be performed that day.  Some are simple and some require more work.  We do some of them every single year but I always try to add a few new ones each year to keep it fresh.  The kids don’t enjoy every service opportunity but they have been blessed by every opportunity.

The 24 days of service advent calendar

It’s a tradition that I love and one we’ll continue for years to come.

 
2011 Acts of Service
– make a card for Holiday Mail for Heroes
– do something kind for a stranger
– wrap gifts that will be given to a family in need
– take a treat to the fire station
– pray for the homeless
– deliver treats to neighbors
– do some work at Grandma and Poppa’s house
– do something kind for a sibling
– make a holiday box for the homeless
– tape candy canes and notes to local ATM machines
– babysit for the _______ family
– bring the neighbors’ garbage cans up after garbage pick up
– pray for someone who will be alone on Christmas
– pray for those who are hurting this season
– find a way to serve someone in your family
– deliver water bottles and snacks to construction workers
– bake cookies and deliver them to the Christmas Cottage
– be a secret Santa for a friend
– take cocoa to the garbage men when they pick up the garbage
– greet the soldiers at the airport
– work a shift at the Giving Tree at the mall
– pray for somebody who needs to know Jesus
– pick up garbage at the neighborhood park
– take a prayer walk around the neighborhood


10 Comments

About Randi Dukes

I’m Randi, a Dallas-based mom of five kids, ranging from third grade to college and including a set of twins. I love strong coffee, craft and DIY projects, my planner, and my big ol’ family. When I’m not creating something for my blog, I can be found in the car, running kids from one place to another. I’m the one knitting at the red light. Connect with me on google+ | twitter | facebook

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Comments

  1. barb says

    November 22, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    This is a beautiful thing.

    Reply
  2. Ginger says

    November 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    That is an awesome idea! Love it. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    November 22, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Glad you posted your ideas, we’re doing it this year and I have only have about 10 ideas 🙂

    Reply
  4. Alicia says

    November 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    great ideas! love advent calendars and this has an even cooler twist!

    Reply
  5. nest full of eggs says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    I’ve never seen those holiday boxes for the homeless, they are a good thing ! I wonder if they do them in my area… hmmm…
    they remind me of blessing bags:
    http://nestfullofeggs.blogspot.com/2011/11/blessing-bags.html

    Reply
  6. Tracey @ My House of Giggles says

    November 24, 2011 at 3:50 am

    I love your advent! Your kids will look back at this with very fond memories 🙂

    Reply
  7. Christa says

    November 26, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Thanks for this! I’m shifting our advent this year to give the kids a “challenge” each day that ties into a reading. I was just trying to come up with some more ideas to include and you have a lot of great ones.

    Reply
  8. Sassy Sites! says

    December 2, 2011 at 5:37 am

    Those are the cutest lil’ drawers I’ve EVER seen! I love this advent calendar! I am thinking that I need to do one like this, with Acts of Service! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it at Sassy Sites today!

    Reply
  9. Dixie Delights says

    December 3, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    This is an amazing way to celebrate advent! I will definitely copy next year :-). Thanks again for inspiring idea number 8,473 🙂

    Reply
  10. Amy Kirchhoff says

    December 5, 2011 at 1:06 am

    Thank you for the inspiration!
    http://www.amytriedit.com/2011/12/advent.html

    Reply

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Welcome to Dukes & Duchesses!

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I’m Randi, a mom of five living in Dallas. I love strong coffee, long lists, bright colors, thrift stores, repurposed junk, and power tools.

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