I don't want to alarm anyone

ONLY 2 WEEKS TIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Ok, so now that that scare is over.  It always amazes me that people wait til the last minute for things.  My husband always wait til the last minute to get each other birthday presents and then end up buying them 2 weeks late.  We will end up doing the same for each other for Christmas probably.  We always have good intentions but still wait til the last minute.

You know gift giving is a funny thing.  We stress about it.  We worry about getting the right thing.  We get this year's gifts based on reactions of last years gifts.  It always amazes me the lengths people go to to find the "perfect" gift.

There are several trains of thought when it comes to gift giving, at least in my mind:

generosity and thankfulness -- Each year, I base alot of my thoughts on gifts around being incredibly thankful for the loving people in my life.  I am generous in putting alot of thought and prayers in to each and every gift.  It is just how I am.

useability -- I know this one is not necessary, but for me it really is.  I tend to lean towards giving gifts to others that they will be able to use.  I especially look for those times when people drop unintentional hints of something they have been looking at for awhile but not bought for themselves.

handmade/homemade -- I am a crafter/artist.  I love to put thoughts and prayers into gifts.  Giving someone a knitted toy, dishcloth, shawl, blanket that I have gotten to spend time putting prayers into each stitch of a gift.  That makes the gift more meaningful to me.

good gifts-  Alot of charities and non for profits are doing these now.  You can donate a flock of chickens in someone's honor.  You can give money so that someone can have a cow or donate a waterwell.  There are so many options.  These are becoming more favorable to me as I get older and realize that alot of my family doesn't need more "stuff." Most of the people in my life are constantly destashing and uncluttering their lives, so why do they need more stuff.  This way a charitable donation is given in their honor to help someone who doesn't have the basic needs in life.

So what does this all mean for me right here at this very moment -- I am not nearly done Christmas shopping. I am not overly stressed about this but really it is in the back of my mind.  It is in the back of my mind that I will again not get all of my knitted gifts ready.  The 2 cortisone shots have confirmed that and it really ticks me off, but that is ok.  In all things, I remember that I am supposed to "just be" and not get caught up in the noise.  That is difficult during the Christmas season but I think it is a lesson I am again learning all too quickly.

Just BE and Merry Christmas.
AMEN