Christmas Celebration #1

It was nice to get to celebrate with my parents and the Messengers.  The house was loud at times, but it was also full of laughter and conversation.  It was a special time to have everyone together this year.  This won't be the case down the road, so I appreciate it when it happens!

What I've been thinking a lot about during this Christmas season is gifts.  And maybe this is a big deal because I love the thoughtfulness that goes into gifts.  I love getting a gift, not because I made a list and got everything I wanted... but gifts make me feel special because the person actually thought about me when picking out the gift.  Have we lost the thoughtfulness behind a gift?  I notice it the most in my kids.  The thing that everyone does now is make lists.  And I can see how those can be somewhat useful to family members that aren't around to know what the kids are into these days.  I do feel that the lists should end as an adult.  If you are close enough to buy me a gift because you care about me, then you are close enough to know me.  Don't just buy me a gift because you feel like that is what you are supposed to do.  In that case, let's just keep our own money and call it a day.  I spoke to the kids about this recently.  I told them that I didn't want a list next year.  I should know them well enough to walk through a store on my own and know what they would love.  The lists they create takes away any thought that the other person has to put into the gift giving action.  Maybe it's easy for me to buy gifts for others because gifts are important to me.  I know how special they make me feel so of course I pay attention all year and really work hard on getting to know the person when buying their gifts.  I'm not the best gift giver.  I'm sure I might buy or make something that the person didn't necessarily love.  But they should feel the love I have for them when they receive my gift.  They should know, without a doubt, that I put time and thought into it.  In the end, I feel that Christmas lists are taking the thought out of the gifts.  And not only that, they become a list of expectations and disappointment for the kids that create them and don't get everything on it.