Merry Christmas!!

We did it! The compilation is assembled and Santa has taken over its delivery.

Donations are closed, and two donations today gave us the push to hit $750, 150%  of the goal we initially set when we decided to host this charity event. I know I've said it numerous times over the past few weeks, but again, I am truly overwhelmed and humbled by the generous hearts who contributed in some way to the compilation. Whether through writing, creating banners, helping with the blog, prepping the actual file, promotion, or emotional support, the list is extensive and, at the risk of missing someone and hurting their feelings, I won't attempt to list all of the people we need to thank.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I have gifts to finish wrapping and a bed that has missed my presence the past week.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you be as blessed in your own lives, as the blessing you have bestowed on others.

We'll see you next year!

Christmas Angels Everywhere

*Plops down on sofa, opens laptop, checks email, FAINTS*

Now that I've recovered-- I'm shocked, amazed, overwhelmed, ecstatic --- and I'm running out of good verbs.

In the 24 hours since my last post, we've received an additional $100 in donations!  I wish everyone in the world truly understood the heart of this fandom. You are all so amazing.

While taking care of last minute things around my home yesterday, I heard news reports about people who destroyed stores, looking to purchase a new pair of sneakers that were selling for $180!!  People were shot at, knifed, and trampled on in search of the new Air Jordans. I sat here flabbergasted at the sheer ridiculousness of it, and wondered why so many people just don't get it. 

Yet, day after day, I have logged in to see you all demonstrate something so many have forgotten. It's not about what you get, its about what you give, where your heart is.

You have shown, in the immortal words of Dr. Suess:

It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes, or bags.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas..."

He thought,"...means a little bit more."

Thank you all for showing that the HEART of Christmas is that something more. 

Not Too Much Longer

So, I got a peek at what the busy elf in charge of building the comp has been up to. All I can say is WOW! It's looking fabulous! What a pretty little surprise for Christmas morning!  I can't wait to get it out to everyone who has contributed. I always love gifts that make you feel good, and this is definitely one of those. The submissions and donations are what has made everything possible.

An added treat has been the interest shown by many of the writers in joining us again next year. Yes, there WILL be a next year! I have bigger dreams, and I know together we can achieve them again. Keep an eye out for information in 2012.

There is approximately 37 hours to get your donations in. At 11:59 tomorrow night,we have to close the doors and finish up the distribution list for Santa so he knows who to deliver it to. 

So, while you're running through your last minute to do list, pass on that extra Starbucks while out shopping. Instead, jump online and make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots. As an avid coffee drinker, I guarantee the high is better than any caffeine fix! 

Does My Donation Make a Difference?

For those who have already donated, and to those who haven't, thinking their five dollars can't make a difference, I submit the following.

KellanCougar, one of our contributing authors, has actively promoted the compilation on her story update. Today, she received this review and was generous enough to share it with me. 

From rosesmom61---

A huge, huge thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the effort for
Toys for Tots. I am a humble director of TFT in a five county region of
northern Michigan. This has been a devastatingly difficult year to eek out
enough toys to meet the needs of every child in our area. But because of the
help of all the kind people like you we've done it.

Today was the first time I've been able to relax enough to get on my computer
for other than TFT stuff. And there at the end of one of my favorite stories
was your author's note. Coincidence? I think not! Thanks so much.

I'll be sending in my donation now for the outtake.

Never, ever doubt your ability to make a difference no matter how small, in someone's life.  Thank you all so very much.

There is still time to get donations in, but Christmas Eve is fast approaching. Help a child experience the joy of Christmas.  

 

Four Days Left!

Thirty banners and teasers are now up on the Teasers page! WOW! What a wonderful assortment of stories! There is definitely something for everyone in there. 

Donations have already exceeded $600 dollars, but I know there are still more out there. There are only four days left to make a donation to Toys for Tots in time to receive this amazing compilation on Christmas from Santa. Don't miss out!

Time is Running Out

Donations are still trickling in, and I couldn't be more thrilled! In the midst of all your holiday shopping, take a few minutes to treat yourself, while doing something wonderful for kids who may not otherwise have a visit from Santa. You deserve it and so do they.

Dusting Off Our Hands!

YAY!!! Our housekeeping is up to date!

All the stories that arrived with banners are now teased on the blog! We are waiting on a few more banners and the rest will be teased as soon as they do! What a great bunch of stories we have!  Thank you again to everyone!

There is only six days left to get your donation in so Santa can deliver this bit of deliciousness to your stocking for Christmas!  Don't miss out!

New Teasers up and Donations Updated

We've added a handful of more teasers to the blog, with more to come throughout the day, until they are all present and accounted for. Check them out for a little sample of the many wonderful stocking stuffers Santa will be delivering to you on Christmas day.

There is still time to donate! Donation receipts will be accepted until 11:59 EST Christmas Eve. Then, the busy elves who've been working behind the scenes at Christmas Wishes will send it off for Santa to deliver to all the boys and girls who wanted to read this amazing collection. We've even worked out a deal with the Big Guy in the suit! There is no naughty or nice list for us! Everyone who makes a donation has a guaranteed spot on the delivery list!

Donations have been updated! I have no words left, other than thank you, and it seems so inadequate. Know that it comes from my heart.

WE DID IT!!!

I opened the inbox with trepidation this morning. Would today be the day? Did some more generous hearts join our cause? Four emails with donations. Holding my breath, I opened them all, checked the numbers, added, then re-added.

WE DID IT! 

To date, Christmas Wishes, has donated $510 to Toys for Tots. But, we were just a vehicle to get it there. It is because of the efforts of writers willing to donate their time, and readers willing to open their wallets, that we've been able to do so much so far. So, it makes me wonder-- how much more?

There is still approximately eight and a half days left until we close the door for donations and deliver the compilation to Santa for his distribution. If only 5 people a day would donate the minimum $5 donation from now until then we could come really close to 150% of our initial goal. If it were 10 people we could double it! I know, I know. I can see you all shaking your heads and thinking-- We always knew she was crazy.  Well.....I plead the fifth on that. 

BUT...

In the 18 months I've been a part of this fandom, I have continued to be overwhelmed by the unbridled generosity that exists amongst men and women who rarely know each other personally, but do not hesistate to call each other friends. So, my friends, I'd like to share with a story as to why I HAD to organize this compilation this year.

Ten years ago, I lost one of the most important people in my life. My stepfather died in a trucking accident while working. Explaining Dad to people is almost impossible for me to do, but suffice to say, he was one of the bravest men I ever knew. Not because he had been in the Navy, not because he served several tours in-country in Vietnam. Nope. He was the bravest man in the world, because at 38 years old, having never had any children of his own, he married my mom and instantly inherited not one, but two teenage daughters. He took to the challenge like he did everything else in life-- head on and without hesitation.

Every year, he made huge donations to Toys4Tots. It seemed like, if we were in a store that had a donation box, he bought a toy to put in it, even if it was just a Hot Wheels car or a small Barbie. It was only after he passed that I knew why. When he had been a child growing up in Texas, on more than one Christmas, his Santa had come courtesy of a man in a Marine uniform, from Toys4Tots. All his gifts had been his way of paying forward the Christmases he wouldnt have had himself.

In the years since he's passed, Mom has kept that alive by donating toys in Dad's memory, spending everything she would have spent on his gifts, were he still alive. Because of him, we rarely miss a donation box when we are in a store. And, because of him, in honor of the man he was, and because there is so little I could do myself, I tried to find some other way I could honor him.

So Christmas Wishes was born. All my efforts, are done in the memory of a man who, in the words of Charles Dickens:

"And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

Thank you, everyone who has contributed in any way, whether through time, talent, or finance. They are all the words I have, but know, they come with every bit of my heart wrapped around them. 

With Eyes Full of Tears...

I'm ecstatic to announce that overnight, I received three generous donations that have pushed us to less than a $100 dollars from the goal I had when I first got the idea to organize this compilation. I have no words to express my love and admiration for the many generous hearts that are part of the world of fanfiction, both as readers and writers. Several other stories have been received, too, so expect a few more teasers to hit the blog later on today.

Make sure you check out the teasers and banners. There are so many wonderful stories already submitted, by several well-loved authors. Just a $5 donation will have Santa dropping a copy of the amazing collection in your inboxes on Christmas Day, and he's even letting the naughty girls and boys in on this one!Treat yourself while helping out a child this Christmas.

Writers: Don't forget your submissions are due today. Please, do not hesitate to email us if you have any problems. Also, Banners for Causes and our other banner volunteers are still prepared to create banners if you have an idea for something special to accompany your stories. Jump on it quick, though!

TEASERS...TEASERS...TEASERS!!!

omg...make sure you check out all the amazing teasers that are posted for some of the stories that are going to be in this great comp for toys for tots!!! Please if you haven't donated and want a copy of the stories to go along with these teasers make sure you make your donation by Christmas Eve.  Thanks so much to all those that have already donated and thanks so much to all the writers that are writing for this great Comp!!! 

Thanks..

Donations updated!

I'm overwhelmed, simply amazed at the generosity of readers dedicated to their favorite authors. To date, we have $320 in donations. There's still time for more, though. Donations will continue to be accepted until 11:59pm EST. I would love to see our total break $500.

I have a new admin on the blog. Welcome to Trish, who has graciously offered to take over posting teasers and banners for me. She's excited to get going, so expect to see more soon.

Donations and Submissions rolling in!

We've already received several submissions and donations are coming in, too. Thank you so much for your generous support! There are only 10 days left for writers to submit their pieces, less than 3 weeks to make a donation to receive this amazing collection of stories. Treat yourself to your own special fanfiction gift, while helping an underprivileged child experience the joy of a gift from Santa.

For all Writers-- Please Note the following

It has come to my attention that I was lax in providing a format for a header. When preparing your submission, please add the following to the top of your document.

Title: 

Author Penname: 

Rating: 

Summary: 

Warnings: 

Banner Link: 

Banner Designer Name: 

If you have already made your submission, please send me an email at christmaswishest4t@yahoo. com with the above mentioned information. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. Also, we are accepting banners and teasers, too, to add to the blog. If there is a snippet of your story you'd like to share, please also send it to christmaswishesT4T@yahoo.com

Thank you again to all our wonderful authors that have already signed up to donate, It is greatly appreciated that you would share your time and talents for this worthy cause.

Welcome to Christmas Wishes

Christmas Wishes was formed out of the Twigasm admins’ love of children and the Spirit of Christmas. As parents ourselves, we believe every child should be able to look forward to a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Morning. The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program has fostered that ideal for over 60 years. In a time of a shaky economy, when so many parents are unemployed, the need for donations has never been greater. We consider it an honor to support this worthy cause. It is our goal to show that fanfiction is so much more than great stories. It is about amazing people with a huge capacity to give from their hearts.

MISSION:
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

GOAL:
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.