Give as He gave... our first market experience

We have a beloved hymn which goes "Love as I loved, give as I gave, these are the people that I came to save..." At the risk of stretching a comparison so far the contrasts are more apparent, I'll say that the the older girls, Penelope and Polly, and I, did want to give a little of what we've been blessed with, during the Easter Week. Our recent reading of Little Men (quoted below) at bedtime also gave inspiration to use our resources in meaningful, enterprising ways--just as the boys there all had their own animals and plots to care for, to raise, to trade, and earn money with, get frun out of, and contribute to the family. And so, we signed up to be a vendor for our College's first ever Free Market where everything is given free of charge (on 1 April--no April Fool's joke!).

We had but one week to amass our collection of giveaways. Always handy people, we decided to devote most of our remaining leisure hours to the making of art and craft items. I also hunted around the house for knick-knacks that we didn't need and didn't want anymore. We would also teach others our newly acquired skill of making pom-poms.

 Penelope, Polly and I worked with a will. At times, homework seemed to take most of the girls' precious afternoons, or I would fear that perhaps their enthusiasm would peter out and leave the big kid (me!) desperately trying to pull this whole project off my myself! Pipa, on occasion, contributed ideas and helped draw a few bookmarks. Thankfully, to my great relief and joy, all the girls, especially my older two, hardly wavered in their industry and enthusiasm, and... we had a memorable evening talking to people and giving away things to appreciative passers-by, and neighbours.

Penelope was an absolute brick ("generous, helpful, and reliable"-- oxforddictionaries.com), continually engaging the interested passers-by. Polly came in a close second, while Pipa was pliable and cooperative, and didn't fuss much at all about having to 'hang around' the table for hours. Our "Little Miss Shy Princess" even talked to a few young ladies!! We're thankful that we could be a part of the free market, a part of a community, and give a tiny bit back of the countless blessings we daily receive.

                                               ~~~


                    "These are our farms," said Tommy.
                 "We each have our own patch, and raise
                  what we like in it, only have to choose
                  different things, and can't change till the
                  crop is in, and we must keep it in order
                  all summer." (Little Men: Life at Plumfield 
              with Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott, 1871)


                                               ~~~