Gift Exchange “Game”

Have any of you ever been to a party where they say there is going to be a “gift exchange” so bring a wrapped gift?  Then you go to the party and find out this “gift exchange” is really this ridiculous “game” called “Chinese something or another) where after you draw a number an choose a gift from the assortment of gifts and you really like the gift, the group “turns” on you and any of the group can “steal” the gift from you if they like your gift better than the one they chose, and this goes on not only once but 3 TIMES!  I thought Christmas was the season of giving not taking.

We had a neighborhood association party this past weekend and this is what happened.  It was held in a nice Christian neighbor’s home where they had a beautiful tree up, a lovely Nativity Scene under the tree, angels all over the home, the host gave a blessing before the festivities “Bless us Oh Lord and the gifts we are about to Receive”, and the hostess even wore a cross around her neck.  Everyone enjoyed a pot luck meal then those that had brought gifts gathered around the living room for the “exchange”.

Now, the group had done this same “game” last year, and I was hoping that this year they would come to their senses after a few complained last year (including me).  But NOOOOO.  I informed the hostess who was also leading this “game” that I would not participate if they were doing that ridiculous game again, that it made no sense, I didn’t understand with the spirit of Christmas giving that this game revolved around the act of “stealing” or “taking”, and it did not depict the Christmas spirit, and that she could donate my gift to someone else.  Well, she egged me on to participate, and that if I liked my gift that I could keep it and not participate in the “stealing” part.  OK, like an idiot I agreed to stay on.

Even the new neighbor that was sitting next to me said “why don’t they just draw a number, pick a gift, and be happy with what you get?” to which I replied that I felt the same way.  Well, everything went along OK for a while, I chose my gift from the assortment on the coffee table, I was instructed to open it up, and it was a lovely ornament (everyone was to bring an ornament).  In fact, every gift / ornament was lovely, and anyone should have been glad to have whatever they chose as each one was very lovely.  I thanked whoever brought that particular ornament and announced that it would be going home with me.  Then I started getting jeered from some of the group.  Again, I voiced my opinion that if you get a gift in a Christmas gift exchange, you should not have to worry about someone coming over and “ripping it out of your hands”!

There was a minister and his wife along with their 4 children (2 daughters and 2 sons) attending, and they let the smallest of the boys play the game.  When his turn came, he chose a package, opened it, and it was a glass turtle ornament, really cute.  Everyone ooohed and aaahed and the boy’s mother came over and had him gently put the ornament back in its box since it was glass and would be protected from breaking.  The little boy’s face lit up when he saw the turtle (perfect gift for a little boy) and he ever so gently put the ornament back in its gift box, having a look of accomplishment on his face.  It was so cute.

WELL, they got down to the last person, who happens to be a bit of a bully herself, and apparently according to the game, the last person can either choose the last gift or “steal” one from someone else that had already opened their’s.  Well this person shouts out “I WANT THAT TURTLE!” and reaches over the table and grabs the gift box.  The little boy’s face told the whole story.  He didn’t know what just happened.  He didn’t understand this “game”.  He wondered why this brash person just “ripped” the little turtle away from him.

Let me back up a bit.  Earlier when we were eating the meal, I had brought brownies as my contribution to the meal.  The hostess asked who made the brownies, to which I replied that I had, and several people said how great they were.  A few minutes later I noticed this small boy standing next to my chair, he only came up to my shoulder, and he whispered ever so softly “May I please have a brownie.”  Now here is a small boy that would not even take a brownie off a plate on a buffet table without permission, and here he is being urged by “mature adults” to “take” a gift from someone because someone “stole” his gift.  The little boys oldest sister knelled next to him, whispered in his ear, and motioned towards the new neighbor sitting next to me, who had opened a lovely hand blown glass Nativity Scene ornament.  The little boy then silently, without saying a word, came over to the lady, took her gift bag, rummaged around in the tissue, produced the small box, and quietly returned to his place on the floor.  Again, you could see on his face that he didn’t understand why he was being instructed by the “mature adults” to take something from someone else without permission from that person, but he “obeyed” the adults that were prodding him along.

What kind of message are we sending to these children?  Especially since he was a minister son?  Are we teaching them that it’s OK to steal or take things from others as long as we call it a game?  Isn’t that what bullies do in the school yard?  Take a child’s lunch simply because they like it better than what they have?  The world is in turmoil right now, people taking from others, countries being bullies to those who cannot stand up for themselves, living in a trow away society, not appreciating and being thankful for what we have, and now we are teaching our children to do the same?  Shouldn’t we be getting back to family values and what the true meaning of Christmas is really about?

When that happened, that was the last straw for me.  I got up, picked up my gift package, and left the game, walking over to the other side of the room where my husband was seated.  On my way, several of the group shouted that I was “not allowed” to leave the game, to which I answered the last time I looked this was America, land of the free.

As I sat at a table with my husband and other folks who chose not to participate in the “game”, a lady from the group comes over with her gift package, sets it on the table, and literally tries to take my gift package.  I protested and informed her that I was not in the “game” to which she said I couldn’t get out of the game.  At that, I held on to my package and announced that I was going home, and thanked the host and hostess for a lovely party.  I looked at my husband and he gave me the keys to the car and that he would walk home as it was only a couple of blocks.  Of course, I was hoping my husband would have stood by me and left when I did, but that is a whole other issue.

A few minutes after I returned home and got settled in with our cats, my husband arrived, just enough time for him to have walked home since I drove the car home.  He must have left just right after I did, although he told me that the party broke up after I left, but these people didn’t look like they were in any hurry to leave.  So even though he didn’t say it, I hoping he left the party in support my my stand, although it would have been better had he left with me in support of where I stood on the issue of this “game”.

Thanksgiving Day 2011

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life… a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year – and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.  Authors:  Ray Stannard Baker – David Grayson

Shepherd in a Manger

Shepherd Dog in a Manger

Found on the Internet / Facebook:

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.
During the night, someone came across this.
An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort.
No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night.
We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus’ lap from time to time.
This is too sweet not to share.
No one mentioned that the dog breed is a “shepherd!”

VETERANS DAY – NOVEMBER 11, 2011

Veterans Day is a time to honor all those who have sacrificed

for something bigger than themselves:

the safety and freedom of America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

The Story of the Poppies

For the children of the future
Who may look back and say….
For all of their tomorrows
The brave gave their todays.

Why are they selling poppies Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today?
The poppies, my child, are the flower of Love
For the men that marched away.

But why have they chosen a poppy Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because, my child, men fought and died
In the field where the poppies grow

 But why are the poppies so red Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child
The blood that our soldiers shed.

The heart of the poppy is black Mummy,
Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief
For the men who never came back

But why are you crying so, Mummy?
Your tears are giving you pain
My tears are my fears for you, my child
For the world is forgetting,,,,,again.

Author Unknown

Holidays are Coming Up – Part 2 – Reducing the Stress & the Spending Level

The GIFTS:  Several years ago I saw a Paula Deen Christmas show and she was pondering the wealth that her family had with all her success, and that certainly none of her family wanted for anything.  But she still liked the idea of having a “little something” under the tree.  So she came up with the idea of just giving a Christmas ornament to the person you wanted to and take the money you would have spent on gifts and use that for charitable donations.  I thought this was a good idea.

So that year I presented the idea to my sister, whose family is quite wealthy, and my nieces are also quite wealthy in their own right, having high ranking professions.  So now, for the last several years, we just give each other a Christmas ornament and donate what we would have spent to our favorite charity.  It also makes for a lot less stress buying gifts, shipping them, having them return what you bought them, etc.  By purchasing your gifts from a local or national charity, you can feel good that at least your purchase has helped a worthy cause.

My favorite place to get an ornament is from the White House Historical Association.  There is also a Washington, DC Historical Society.  And I am sure that many of the charities have their own site offering an “annual” ornament.  Each year, the WHHA puts out an annual ornament that depicts a part of the White House History of Christmases past.  It comes in a nice gift box and has a pamphlet inside telling you about the design of the ornament and the history behind it.  A portion of the proceeds goes towards the preservation of the White House.  The same holds true for the Washington, DC Historical Society.  They put out more than one ornament and it is packaged very similar to the WHHA.  And the best thing is that the size is flat and easily mailed in a padded envelope the size you would be a CD in.  I just go on their site, order how many I need (shipping is usually free), and all I have to do is put a little wrapping paper and a bow around the box, put it in an addressed padded envelope, take it to the post office (I always get the Delivery Confirmation option), and guess what, I am done with my Christmas shopping!  I tell you what, once we started doing things that way, the stress level of Christmas gift buying went down about 100 notches.  Also, I have have really limited how many gifts I send.

For friends around me, I might make a cake or cookies, and they are always appreciated.  My sister once commented to me one Christmas “remember when we were so poor and we had to bake cookies for Christmas gifts”!  HELLO, has she ever watched Martha Stewart or Paula Deen?  That’s all they do is show you how to make homemade gifts from the kitchen, which quite frankly, I would rather receive.  Not only are home baked goods delicious, but I know that a lot of work, thought, care, and love went into that cake or batch of cookies; which means a lot more to me than some store brought trinket.

Another great way to save money is to go “thrifting” which is apparently the latest craze, but in this economy, it really makes sense.  Go to thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets, and garage sales and you just never know what one-of-a-kind treasures you may bring home.  And it will pretty much guarantee you will be getting that person a gift they won’t be able to find anywhere else.  And guess what, they won’t be able to return it!  HA!  If they don’t like it, well too bad.  A gift is a gift, and a person should just say “Thank you very much”, whether or not they like it or not.  They can always re-gift it to someone else!  Double HA!

I used to buy gifts during the course of the year if there was something on sale, or at a thrift store, then I would take it home and store it away, and when Christmas came, I forgot all about it and went out and bought a whole new round of gifts, this time usually at full price.  Boy, I put a stop to that one day, and again, stress level down, down, down.  But you can try that technique if you just remember at Christmas where you stashed the gifts.

So don’t think you have to go rush down to the shopping mall and whip out that ol’ credit card and charge it up to the max!  With a little thought and planning, you can get some really unique gifts, help the environment by recycling, and save a boat load of money at the same time.  Another stress level goes down a notch.

CHRISTMAS CARDS:  Well it is always good to get those newsletters to find out how wonderful everyone is doing.  But with time, stress, and the economy, I find that sending electronic greeting cards is faster, easier, less stress, and quite frankly, I think they are really well done and neat to look at over and over again.  Each year I send more electronic and less “paper” cards.  Last year I spent all day sending out written greeting cards, double checking addresses, writing notes, etc.  This year I hope it will be maybe only a half day will be spent.  I know some people are leery about opening e-cards, but I found one site that handles things very well and is very well trusted:  http://www.jacquielawson.com/.  She has cards for all occasions and keeps track of them in a history page as well.  Another stress level goes down a notch.

The DINNER:  Don’t try to do the whole thing yourself.  How about Pot-Luck?  You can make the turkey or ham and let every one else bring the side dishes and deserts.  And if everything doesn’t go together like a 5 star menu, so what?  I’m sure everything will be delicious and it is fun trying new dishes.  Additionally, you can ask everyone to bring the recipe for their dish to hand out to the guests.  What fun!  Oh, and don’t loose sleep over making a turkey or ham.  Nowadays restaurants and the deli section of your grocery store will prepare it for you.  You just pick it up and warm it up.  You can also get those pre-smoked hams or turkeys in your grocery section, and again, just heat it up and you’re done!  Another stress level goes down a notch.

The TREE:  Buy an artificial tree.  For the same amount or less, you can get a beautiful tree that will last you for years, you have helped the environment by not cutting down a tree, it is less of a safety hazard (you don’t have the dry needles to worry about catching on fire), and you don’t have the mess with the needles falling off the tree.  Also, buy one that is PRE-LIT, that will save you time, energy, trying to untangle wires, replace broken bulbs, etc.  The longest part of the time decorating a tree is putting on the lights.  Believe me, pre-lit is the way to go.  And now they have the LED lights that last longer, and don’t get hot like the conventional bulbs, again, reducing the safety hazard of a fire, plus it saves on your energy, so you are more likely to want to leave the tree lit for longer hours.  And you would be amazed how quick you can put the ornaments up since you don’t have to string the lights on the tree.  And your done!   Another stress level goes down a notch.

Last year I went out on the day after Thanksgiving, early in the morning (well not too early) maybe around 7 am, and got a real good deal on an absolutely beautiful tree for half price at Home Depot.  Good thing I did get there when I did as they only had 2 left.  My other artificial tree had lasted about 20 years, so I guess I really got my money’s worth out of it.  So you see, even if you spend say $75 for an artificial tree and it lasts you 20 years, you are really only looking at $3.75 a year.  What a  bargain!

SUMMARY:  I hope these suggestions help save you from some of the stress, save you time, energy, sanity, and MONEY.  I know we look at the Holidays a lot different now.  So what if the house doesn’t get decorated like a “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” house, so what if you don’t have a fancy dinner, so what if you don’t go into debt buying gifts.  The important thing to remember is the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Baby Jesus.  It is that miracle that we should be celebrating.  Be with your friends and family, enjoy the time together, go to your local Church and join in the fellowship, and just be at peace with yourself and those around you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Holidays Are Coming Up – Part 1 – Are They Here Already?

The Holidays are coming up.  Time for family and friends to gather together and share great memories, renew relationships, eat more than we should, and spend more than we should.

Of course, those are those who will not be gathering with family & friends.  Maybe they will have to work on that day so others may enjoy the time off.  Maybe they live far away from their family and unable to travel.  Maybe they are in the military overseas fighting for our freedom.  Maybe the economy has hit them hard and they can’t afford to have a “big shindig”.  Maybe they are homeless, or living in a protective shelter to keep safe from an abusive spouse.

Yes, the “Holidays” are coming up.  Time for joy and peace on Earth.  Many of our troops will be returning home in time to spend the Holidays with their families and friends.

But wait, is that a shudder I hear?  Are you dreading getting together with family or friends that you would just not rather be around but family duty calls for you to be there?  Are you worried about spending too much money on a fancy meal; or too many toys for the kids; or expensive gifts that you think the person would like, but you can’t afford?

W-A-I-T!  Let’s think about this and analyze the prospects.  With the economy the way it is nowadays, with folks being laid off, and jobs are hard to find, are you maybe considering a new way to do the “Holidays”?

Will you be one of those who goes into debt trying to get your kids all the latest and greatest toys?  Especially when they have a toy chest or closet full of unused toys?  I know this idea would go over like a lead balloon, but how about getting one new toy, or one game that all the kids could share, and setting a price limit to something you can afford to pay cash for.  Then you can take some time over the Holidays to go through your kid’s toys and donate what they are not using to a local charity.  You can make it a group project, then no one feels left out or upset that you got rid of something they didn’t want to give up.  I usually like to donate to the local Abused Women’s Shelter.  Many of the women have to leave with their children with just the clothes on their back.  The kids have to leave their toys behind.  Have the children go with you to the charity location and that will help them realize the magnitude of what one simple gesture can do for another person.  Also, as a side note, you will clean out some of the clutter in your life, which in turn will reduce your stress level a tiny bit.

Will you be one of those who buy everyone in your family a gift, and each year you try to out do each other.  Many families do a drawing, or only bring one gift and label it girl or boy and they do a gift exchange that way.  Have you ever shopped your house?  Is there some gift that you may have gotten, never used, and stuck back in some closet.  Just try to remember if the person you give it to is not the person that gave it to you.  However, I did hear of a family that accidentally did that, and it was such a funny experience that the two of them just keep giving that same gift back and forth over and over again each year.  What a great way to recycle and to save money.

Sometimes there are families that have all they need, so giving a gift is kind of non essential (think of the Kardashian ridiculous wedding and all the expensive gifts that were given to them – as if they needed more “stuff”).  So get together, but everyone make a pact to donate to a charity the money they would have spent on gifts.  They can all get together and donate to the same charity in mass, or they can each donate to their own specific charity.  Or “adopt” a family and put the money you would have spent on each other with frivolous gifts, and buy gifts of items that the family really needs, like coats and shoes for the kids and adults as well.

In Part 2 I will give you some suggestions on saving your sanity, reducing your stress, saving time and MONEY!

HOLY SMOKE, YOU’RE AWESOME DAY!

From one gorgeous gal to another ……. Today is National ‘HOLY SMOKE, YOU’RE AWESOME’ Day!  Just thought you would enjoy some cute signs sent to me via email from a friend of ours.  It’s GREAT to be a girl, lady, woman, female, and all the woman kind in this world!

Rainbows

The other day I look out the back door of our home and saw a most glorious rainbow across the river after a rainstorm.  The beauty of the colors, and the calm and peace it left me with was so that I had to capture it with a photo.  Each time I look at nature, I am in awe of how God can give us such wonderous things to see, feel, touch, and smell.  And even though you might have a lot on your mind at the time, it causes you to stop, even if it is for an instant, and know that there is a greater being that can only create this glory, and a sense of peace comes over you, like a soft breeze on a fall afternoon.  I have assembled several quotes and passages from different authors, poets, and people who enjoy nature and God’s beauty as much as I do, and they are able to express it in there own way.  Enjoy!

O, beautiful rainbow; – all woven of light!
There’s not in thy tissue, one shadow of night;
Heaven surely is open when thou dost appear,
And, bending above thee, the angels draw near,
And sing, – “The rainbow! the rainbow!
The smile of God is here.”
~Sarah Josepha Hale

Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.  ~Douglas Pagels, These Are the Gifts I’d Like to Give to You

Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.  The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.  ~Lord Byron

Rainbows apologize for angry skies.  ~Sylvia Voirol

When you reduce life to black and white, you never see rainbows.  ~Rachel Houston

What skilful limner e’er would choose
To paint the rainbow’s varying hues,
Unless to mortal it were given
To dip his brush in dyes of heaven?
~Walter Scott

The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow.  Take your own color in the pattern and be just that.  ~Charles R. Brown

Mild arch of promise! on the evening sky
Thou shinest fair with many a lovely ray,
Each in the other melting.
~Robert Southey (rainbow)

God’s illumined promise.  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (rainbow)

As on the driving cloud the shiny Bow,
That gracious thing made up of tears and light…
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge (rainbow)

So shines the setting sun on adverse skies, and paints a rainbow on the storm.  ~Isaac Watts

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.  Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.  ~G.K. Chesterton

The rainbow bursts like magic on mine eyes!
In hues of ancient promise there imprest…
~Charles Tennyson Turner

That arc of light, born of the shower and colored by the sun, which spans the heavens!  ~Jean Charles Prince (rainbow)

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.  ~Author Unknown

When thou dost shine, darkness looks white and fair,
Forms turn to music, clouds to smiles and air;
Rain gently spends his honey-drops, and pours
Balm on the cleft earth, milk on grass and flowers.
Bright pledge of peace and sunshine!
~Henry Vaughan (rainbow)

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.  ~John Vance Cheney

Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.  It encircles the sky with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.  ~Bible, Ecclesiasticus (Apocrypha) 43:11-12

Lessons We Learn From Animals

This touching news story was sent to me by a friend that has 2 cats.  It had been sent around several times on the internet, and the author is unknown as well as the rescue people in the photos.  If only we humans could be so compassionate, friendly, and peaceful.  Enjoy!

After the tornado – Greensburg , KS

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little guy they named Ralphie.  Someone had already taken him under their wing but weren’t equipped to adopt; Ralphie,  scared and starved, joined his rescuers…I wouldn’t think anything could live through this…but we were wrong.

This little lady also survived that wreckage.  Here she is just placed in the car – scared, but safe.  and then…they are no longer alone!  Instant  friends, they comforted each other while in the car.  Add  two more beagles found after that…the more, the merrier.

Oh  boy, a new traveler to add to the mix… (note:  the cat coming over the seat needing shelter…) now just how is this  going to work??? - and remember they are all strange to one another.  It’s going to work just fine, thank you very much!

Wow!  The things we learn from our animal friends…  If only all of mankind could learn such valuable  lessons as  this.  Lessons of instant friendship.  Of peace and  harmony by way of respect for one another — no matter one’s color or creed.  These animals tell you… ‘It’s just good to be alive and with others.’  Yes, it surely is.

So…  Live, Love Laugh.  ‘Life’s  a Gift… Unwrap It!’