Christmas

How true is this cartoon???  We are a "one income" family here.  It was a choice that we felt that was best for us.  It makes it hard.  We give up a lot of things in order for this to work.  This time of year can get really hard.  On top of all of the Christmas needs this year we got slammed with all of the bills from my recent run in with the local moron medical team who sent me home as fast as I came in without any diagnosis or test run but I'm guessing, based on the price they charged me for a 30 min stay in that bed, that Queen Elizabeth and the Pope once slept in it too.  Anyway I am getting off track here!!  Let me focus back into this blog.........

On top of only having one income we have made the choice to homeschool which is also very costly in itself.  All of the material we gather along the way, the teaching materials and the workbooks and the learning tools.  It all adds up and most of the time takes our family vacation away from us.  I'm not sure if we will ever "catch up."  Every time there is a light at the end of the tunnel we seem to hit a road block and have to go another way to find that light again.

With all of the choices we have made Christmas can be pretty stressful so we go a different route with our kids.  I never ask them what they want for Christmas.  I pick out something I think that they would like and it usually isn't the "it toy" of the year. As you can imagine with the rest of our expenses the "it toy" usually isn't in our budget.  This year we (I use the term "we" very loosely here.  We all know that the men in our lives wake up Christmas morning and just watch it happen)  tried something new and catalog ordered everything.  Nothing came from a big name store, and most of their toys they can play with and it also provides learning as well.    By doing this we stay in our budget and also I have seen that the kids have grown grateful for what they have and what they receive. I know what your thinking.  I am the "boring mom"  who buys her kids "boring toys"  but  our days around here are focused on learning and making learning fun.  That is their life style and so when we get a new "learning toy" around here it is exciting for them.

 My oldest this year is very excited about "giving"  She as been working since October making special gifts here and there for the special people in her life.  She has thought long and hard on what to get her brother and sister and daddy for Christmas.  I am so proud of this "want" in her to give to others.  It is something that we will work even harder to establish in the other two children as well.  I would love to one year just give up our Christmas (toys and all) and volunteer at a homeless shelter.  I would love to  give up our Christmas money to a family less fortunate than us and make sure they get a Christmas.  I am like every other mom though.  I love to see my children smile on Christmas, and sometimes as I look at those less fortunate than me it makes me feel selfish. 

We also keep the tradition of baking  my Grandmas Christmas cookie recipe's and giving them out.  She was a very giving woman.  Her door was always open to all and she always had cookies to hand out.  She was called home a few years back.  I miss her so much but I know that I will see her again, and we were left with such a  great gift from her.  Not a gift that we can touch but a gift of memory and example. She was an example to everyone she came in contact with.

So this year let's not forget the reason that we celebrate Christmas.  The Greatest gift was given to us over 2000 years ago.  A gift that I received and you can too.  A gift that guarantees to me that I don't have to say "goodbye" to my grandma or anyone that I have lost in my life....but I just have to say "see you later,"    It's not about the "it gift. It's not about how many gifts. It's not about going into debt to make everyone happy.  This year don't focus on worldly things but focus on your eternity.....your "forever"   Reach out to someone and make a difference, show your children what it means to give, show your kids how good they have it..............Merry Christmas everyone........