Who goes bowling on a Saturday morning?

Two weekends ago, we joined the Reunion leadership community for some candlepin bowling in Davis Square. While Sacco's has renovated (everyone who went last year was amazed) and added a tasty flatbread kitchen, the lanes remain delightfully old school.

We claimed a lane with Dan and Kristin and got right to it. The bowling balls are tiny and the pins are (you guessed it) straight and skinny. It's surprisingly difficult, even though each turn is three balls. Downed pins remain where they fall, adding a new dimension — you can aim strategically for fallen pins to take out several others. I attempted this on multiple occasions, mostly throwing it into the gutter.

Like regular bowling, Ian destroyed my score, as did Dan and Kristin.

BUT I bowled a strike, and was the only one in the Reunion group to do so. Apparently it's hard, and I still can't figure out how I did it. I can still brag, right?

With or without the strike, we had a great time doing something so New England. And the unpredictability is entertaining. Who knows? Maybe next time I'll finally beat Ian...

Advent Conspiracy: goats and chickens

Goats thrive in harsh climates. Goats provide milk, which families can also use to make cheese and yogurt. Kids get healthy nutrition and the family can sell the extra at market. Goats poop, which fertilizes crops and gardens. Goats make baby goats. Families can sell baby goats, providing nutrition and income for another family. Money buys food, bedding, and schooling. Educated kids can pursue their dreams and make a difference, improving their community.

Chickens don't require a lot of money, space or food to thrive and grow. Chickens provide eggs — a great source of protein and income. Chicks hatch. Families can sell or share chicks. Other families now have chickens, providing eggs and income.

Communities changed by goats and chickens. or sheep. or HIV/AIDS care. or music lessons. or soccer balls. or fruit trees. or mosquito nets. or sewing machines. The World Vision catalog has options.

My family has donated through World Vision for a long as I can remember, so when it was time for me to start giving back, it was an easy decision (although I know there are many other great organizations). They are responsible — four stars on charitynavigator.com, and they share our commitment to unconditional love and compassion. And as of last year, it's Pomplamoose approved (click here for info on this year's Pomplamoose Christmas album).

I really appreciate how the gift catalog allows you to make this sort of giving very personal. When my grandpa, a farmer, passed away last Christmas, we gave my grandma seeds in his memory. Does your cousin like cuddly animals? Give rabbits. Is your brother finance oriented? Fund a microloan. Is your uncle a doctor? Give medicine. It's the thoughtfulness of a present with the all joy of making an impact.

And if you're looking for a bigger step, consider sponsoring a child as a family for Christmas. It's a beautiful thing to build a relationship with someone across the world. Ian and I are so blessed to see an artist and athlete grow up, knowing we're sharing what we've been given to help him and his family have a better life.

This Christmas, sponsor a child, fund a microloan, give a goat, and change a community.

an evening at Symphony Hall

Six Christmases ago (our first), I gave Ian two tickets to the Prague Symphony Orchestra, performing at K-State that spring. Since then, symphony date night turned into a (mostly) annual event. We've seen the Munich Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic of Russia, Philadelphia Orchestra, and now the BSO.

We started the evening at Petit Robert Bistro in the South End. Expanding our palates, we tried a trio of pâté. Educational. Ian continued with duck confit (curiosity piqued by Top Chef) and I went for a missed favorite, steak frites. We finished it off with a coconut caramel creme, similar to flan. It was a delightful and tasty dinner, and I can imagine there are bistros in France just like this one.

After dinner, we bundled up and walked to Symphony Hall. Built in 1900, it is one of the finest concert halls in the world — amazing such an old building is still in use for the same purpose it was built. While they value engineered the exterior of the building, they made sure the interior detailing remained as beautiful as they planned. It's quite stunning, and the padded, folding wooden seats are surprisingly comfortable.

We experienced Mozart live for the first time and John Harbison came out on stage after they performed his second symphony. The evening concluded with Shumann's captivating Symphony No. 2.

I'm so glad Ian appreciates the classics.

Advent Conspiracy: fresh water wells

While Advent Conspiracy is about rescuing Christmas from consumerism and restoring it's true meaning, it also is tied strongly to ending the world water crisis. Ten billion dollars would provide fresh clean water to the rest of the world; Americans spent approximately 450 billion dollars on Christmas last year. We can solve a global problem by giving less than 3% of our Christmas budgets to the cause.

Advent Conspiracy asks participating churches/organizations to donate at least 25% of their AC offering/donation (directly, not via Advent Conspiracy) to the water distribution program of their choice. I thought it fitting to highlight the two water organizations we support.

For Advent Conspiracy, Reunion gives away one Sunday's offering to a handful of charities, local and global. This year, the list includes Living Water International (4 stars on charitynavigator.org). We watched that video on Sunday, and their efforts in Haiti (no longer in the headlines, but still in desperate need) really spoke to me.

For Christmas, Living Water offers gift cards. The recipient takes the card (or e-card), visits the Living Water web site, and redeems, in $5 increments, for any of several current water projects. Perfect for a wish list or a gift idea. And, of course, you can simply donate in honor of someone. (Company/employer matching programs exist, and federal employees can donate through their workplace giving campaign.)

If you've been reading the blog very long, you might be familiar with charity:water thanks to Ian's birthday campaign. He gave up gifts in exchange for money to fund a well. His campaign is now closed; in about a year we will learn the location of the project his birthday helped fund. 100% of the campaigns goes to fund clean water. A charity:water campaign is a great way to put water on your Christmas wish list, and it allows both you and givers to track the impact of their combined generosity.

If you're looking for a gift you can hold, check out their gift store - as with campaigns, 100% of the holiday gift price goes toward water projects (% varies on non-holiday gifts, but proceeds still support charity:water and raise awareness). Order by December 10 for delivery by Christmas.

Advent Conspiracy is about spending less to give more - relationally, but also financially to those truly in need. Clean water is essential, yet one in six go without. Let's make this season count, and provide a merry Christmas beyond our borders. The first step is water.

For more Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.

Advent Conspiracy: TOMS shoes

Ian and I both love our TOMS — classics, cordones, botas — 3 pairs each and counting. They're comfortable, stylish, and wearing them initiates you into a club, where everyone wearing TOMS notices your TOMS. The ensuing compliments are a nice confidence boost.

They also last. I still sport my first pair, purchased over a year and a half ago. They're fabric so they soak quickly when wet, but they dry out and are fine. I accidentally walked through mud in my yellow linen TOMS. Once dried, it vacuumed right out and you can hardly tell. The cordones and botas are great for cooler weather, with a little more weight and/or fluff than the classics. The classics, on the other hand, make the TSA's shoe-removal requirement a breeze (but are no help in the radiation/groping issue).

Best of all, every time you buy a pair, whether it's online or from a department store, they donate a pair of shoes to a child that needs them. These one-for-one shoes are designed for the kids' location, i.e. mountains = warm shoes with traction, and giving partners make multi-year commitments to continue providing shoes as the kids grow.

So why shoes? Kids without shoes are prone to diseases, infections and parasites they can't afford to treat. Kids without shoes can't walk as far to get needed water, medical treatment, and education. Kids without shoes are less likely to be successful in school. With shoes, healthy, educated children can change their communities.

Visit TOMS.com to order. Want to give TOMS but don't know which to pick? Give a gift certificate with the TOMS story dvd. (In the event you get the wrong size, TOMS is great about returns — if in doubt, wear them inside until you're sure.)

Either way, gifter and giftee can feel good knowing sweet new kicks mean somewhere a child has a better life.

For more Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.

Advent Conspiracy: Punjammies

Pajamas often are a standby Christmas present — footed pajamas in SkyMall and matching sets from infomercials are akin to the dreaded Christmas sweater. And obligatory presents have no place in Advent Conspiracy. After all, how many women's lives have been changed by Christmas pajamas?

Not many, until punjammies. In India, International Princess Project provides after-care facilities for girls who have escaped slavery in the sex trade. These girls receive medical care, emotional support, and education. As part of their rehabilitation, they create punjammies. This vocational training empowers them to support themselves and begin to see their true value. Sales provide fair-trade wages and afford more resources to rescue more girls.

The pajamas are comfortable and beautiful — bright colors and bold patterns have a touch of the exotic. Mine were a perfect fit thanks to the accurate sizing charts (styles vary so check the chart on the individual product page). I was disappointed when I noticed they had started to fray at the seams after one washing. I contacted the IPP office, which promptly exchanged them for a different pair (cotton instead of polyester). My contact was very apologetic and she let me know their new fabrics shouldn't have this problem. My new punjammies look great after lots of weekend and holiday lounging (and made it through the laundry just fine).

Pickings are slim right now, but new styles are on the way for Christmas shopping so keep checking. They sell out very quickly; if you see the perfect gift, don't wait.

For more Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.

Christmas can [still] change the world.

For the second time, we're going through Advent Conspiracy with Reunion.

I've heard several people say they prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas because there's no stress — just a great meal with friends and family. Which begs the question, why is Christmas stressful? Does it have to be? Isn't the point of giving gifts to share love?

Answer: Advent Conspiracy. This year we're giving more relationally — presents with meaning and purpose, and scaling back to give more. Take away the time and money wasted on obligation gifts, and you have more left for enjoying the season and sharing what matters — joy, love, freedom — with everyone, near and far.

If you'd like to join the conspiracy, over the next several days I'll share some of our favorite gifts that keep giving. And we'd love to hear how you're making Christmas _more_ [relational, intentional, meaningful, joyful] with _less_ [stress, spending, obligation, stuff].

For Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.