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"But we also told them that we want a report back
next Christmas. We want to know what it is they’ve
tlone for someone else—because that is going to be
our Christmas gift from them."
Granddaughter Elisha Blickenstaff was in her
early 20s at the time and remembers everybody be
ing “a little bummed out" when her grandparents
requested "no more presents." However, when they
asked for good deeds instead, the mood changed. "1
thought it was very cool because you can have so
many possessions, but it’s a little different when
you're thinking, 'What can I do to better some
one else's life for Christmas?’”
A tradition takes root
A year later, the family gathered again at the Land
er home and, one by one, each member shared their
act of kindness bestowed in the spirit of Christmas.
Candy and her husband, Scott, talked about pro
viding recreational activities for economically dis
advantaged kids through a Christian teen center in
Kingman. Candy's brother. Trey Gordon, and his
wife, Ruth, shared I row they sponsored kids who
couldn't afford lessons, outfits or coaching at a local
family-run gymnastics program. Joan’s brother, Ken
Gipe, talked about reading books aloud to residents
of a nursing liome in Las Vegas. Candy 's son, Scott,
and his wife, Jamie, described raking a homeless
man to a restaurant for breakfast, and a misty-eyed
Elisha shared how she and co-workers at a Starbucks
coffee slxip in Las Vegas had “adopted” for Christ
mas a family whose mother was stricken with brain
cancer and father was laid off from work.
'Til never forget the day when we brought a little
Christmas tree to this family's house and decorated it
and bought all sorts of gift certificates to help,” retails
Elisha, now 26. “When we gave it to this woman, she
fell on her knees weeping. Tliey didn’t have much to
give their kkls. She was so blown away. That was the
most touching thing I had seen in a really king time"
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From left: Skyler Whalen, Jessica Baca,Travis Vogel
and Randy Thomas Elliott open Christmas stockings
delivered by Brandee and Pete Proffit (at left).
Today, doing a gixxl deed for Christmas has become
a treasured family tradition in the extended Gordon
family, which now includes Frank and Joan, their two
children, three grandchildren and respective spouses,
Joan’s brocher, four great-grandchildren and one baby,
due in March. And sharing tlieir stories with each
other at Christmas has become the highlight of their
annual holiday gathering in northwest Arizona.
“It’s more fun than giving a lot of unwanted gifts,"
says Frank, 79. “Everyone Icxiks forward to it."
The “gift"-giving rules are simple: "It has to be
done within the year, and it can be either monetary
or giving of your time or energy in some way,” Can
dy says. "We have a whole year to come up with
something, and then we have to come Ixick and tell
everyone else what we've done.”
The first year, everyone just went around the room
and described their good deed. But after that, Frank
and Joan asked for the deeds in writing as well, so
they could keep a record of the family’s Christmas
"gifts.” Tile notes are kept in a family scrapbook.
“When I see how happy all the family is in prepar
ing their little note and what deed they're claiming
that day, it’s kind of fun just to sit back and watch,"
says Candy, 52. "I know my parents enjoy it more
than any present we could give them.”
(Continuing the tradition, this year Trey Gor
don’s daughter, Brandee Proffit, 33, and her hus
band Pete, 37, delivered Christmas gifts to chil
dren of residents of Angel Manor, a transitional
housing and recovery program in Kingman for
women addicted to alcohol or drugs.
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The recipients of the gifts—Skyler
Whalen, 15; Jessica Baca, 10; Travis Vogel,
5; and Randy Thomas Elliott, 2—were
surprised, and their mothers were moved
by the act of kindness. “We were all pretty
emotional,” says Dustin Whalen, 39, the
mother of Skyler and Travis. "It’s a blessing
to have people who care so much.”
A pkilosopliy of giving
Frank and Joan always have emphasized
charity, community service and “giving
back” to otliers, according to Candy. "It
wasn’t shouted from tile rooftop, but it was
quietly taught,” she says.
Retired as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme
Court in 1992, Frank actively encouraged lawyers
in Arizona to participate in a program that pro
vided tree legal advice to people who couldn’t afford
it. During his tenure, he required felons to learn to
read and write in prison. And he still actively sup
ports a United Methixlist homeless shelter in Phoe
nix, along with numerous other charities.
"I started out as a lawyer in Kingman, where my
father had also been a lawyer," says Frank, who now
calls Phoenix home. "My father always emphasized
that you’ve got to give back to the community. He
said you owe it to the community because people
there have done so much for you in a lot of ways that
you don’t even realize.”
He and Joan passed along this philosophy to their
own children.
"We were brought up to help others, so this wasn’t
a new concept," (indy says. “But I think my parents
hoped that changing tlie way we do Christmas would
continue that tradition down the line. I think tliey
hoped that their grandchildren and great-grandchil
dren, and even their friends, would catch die spirit.”
The tradition has been passed on to friends of the
family who now ask their own children to perform
charitable acts. “I think it’s spreading," Joan says.
Gifts of love
Over tlie years, the Gordon family's grxxl deeds
have included teaching English to recently arrived
refugees and training a therapy dog to work with
people with Alzheimer’s disease or brain injuries.
(Continued an page 10)
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