Sunday, December 21, 2008

This Christmas


I brought my son home in 1996 and for his first Christmas and we went WILD!!! He had so many gifts that we could hardly get into the living room on Christmas morning. He was my "first born" and the first grandchild, nephew, Godchild...you get the picture. Two years later, when I brought home a 2nd baby, we over-indulged again. His reign as the only child was ending.

About 5 years ago, we decided to not buy gifts for family exchange, but adopted an area family and bought gifts for them. That was such a blessing and the kids loved it. We had planned on that being our family tradition, but then I re-opened my home for foster care and that created this whole other situation. I had great foster care workers that were very diligent in getting gifts for the kids placed in my home. They also got gifts for my kids and not just a few trinkets... our cup over, overflowed. So much so, that we could not possibly open them all on Christmas. When kids left our home to go to new families, we were able to send huge boxes of new clothes and toys with them.

Last year, we were able to provide gifts again for an area family and the children are asking to do it this year as well. We are also doing something different for ourselves. We are doing, "dollar store Christmas." The 8 of us are buying gifts for the other 7 from the dollar store only. While the quality of the gifts may not be high, the value of the giving ranks way up there. As always, we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and enjoy good food and family fun.

Merry Christmas to all who read this. We here at MHS wish you love, happiness and contentment.

Peace,
:)De