Facebook brings lots of thoughts and conversations into a public forum and over the last few days, I've "eavesdropped" on a young lady whom I love to pieces about buying Christmas gifts. She and her husband are expecting their first child and she posted a status that they are not able to buy Christmas gifts this year as they are preparing for their son's arrival and have other financial priorities. It seems she felt she needed to post this information because someone made a comment to her that they were offended that she wasn't buying gifts this year.
That got me thinking, Christmas gift -giving can be kind of like walking through a grenade field. I imagine most of us have had the experience of being presented with a gift from someone for whom we had not gotten one. There are many times in my life that people with significantly more income than I had me on their list and given my limited resources, I had not even considered them. Embarrassing. Of course, always they say that they didn't expect a gift. That's probably very true however, did not ease my unease.
This year at work we are trying to minimize the co-worker gift exchange by stating our request that a new pair of shoes be purchased instead of a gift for us. And I imagine that some sweet someone will buy said shoes and still bring in "just a little something" for others. That happens with the very best of intentions but honestly, I think if an agreement not to exchange gifts is made, you really need to stick to it.
As a mom, I am always uncomfortable with my kids giving me gifts. Always. Mother's Day makes me cringe, birthdays are the same. And of course, Christmas! I would prefer every cent they spend on me be applied to themselves for something they want or need or into the bank. I am in need of nothing and can scarcely make a wish list. I usually try to come up with a favor they can do as a gift to me, plant my flowers, do the housework for me, make me dinner. To me, this minimizes the focus on money and still allows them to properly honor their mom, which they want to do. As they get older and are now working, they very sweetly insist on giving us gifts.
What about the statement that one is not giving gifts to family. Obviously, this would not bother me whatsoever. But, there are people whom it would bother, I'm sure. I am aware that the opportunity to give gifts is not just a materialistic gesture. It's a way to honor those we love, to express what they mean to us. It's proper and right to want to do this, like my boys' desire to bless their dad and me. It feels good to do this. I like giving gifts myself, I get it!
If you cannot afford to or have simply chosen not to participate in the gift exchange part of the season, should you still make some effort to offer a gesture? Should you perhaps make something small like a Christmas ornament or bake something? Should you provide some small service like my aforementioned...making someone dinner or cleaning out their car? Or is it acceptable to abstain altogether.
And what about giving gifts to someone who has requested to not exchange? Do you still feel the need to give them a present? Should you?
I'm very interested in your opinions. Frankly, I don't think there is a right or wrong. I think we all have our varying opinions but maybe if we have a bit of a survey, we can negotiate that mine field with a little insight.
a hodge podge of stockings and the Mr. picked up new ones for daboyz, which I have never cared for. They are Victorian velvet, just too...Victorian. The T.J. Maxx has the best home goods, did you know that? I picked up a carton of Chai tea and 5 new stockings on clearance. The striped ones are corduroy and were $3 each, the knit ones were $6 each. Just mismatchy but matchy enough to suit
ge Melmac breakfast plates for Jay and the bidding on my cafeteria trays closes tomorrow. 
This morning I enjoyed my orange juice in my new Indiana Whitehall vintage tumbler! I'm all about the Indiana Glassware Company. I've searched for at least 50 years for drinking glasses but none match the groovy charm of the vintage ones. I'm sure it's a throw-back to childhood but nonetheless, I just absolutely love them. My mom gave me a set of four like the ones in this picture. And they have this wonderful weight in your hand, substantial. When I unpacked them this morning for breakfast, the Mr. said, "Hey! Those are so cool, we had those when I was a kid!"
1. Buckeyes 
The black and white polka dot words (LAUGH in our case) are made of metal and the embellishments are magnets that can be purchased in holiday, seasonal or any other theme you can think of. We've added some Christmas stuff to our base. There are multiple bases you can buy that say everything from Family to Love to Laugh to whatever you can think of. You can use the magnets to hold pictures in place or just to make a statement as I've done here. The Our Story Wall Words line has hundreds of products that I can't even begin to list here. We bought ours at the Mole Hole in Marshall, MI and they have a huge selection.
It's a cloudy Michigan morning here in the Mitten. The temperature is a balmy 38F and the sky is overcast. An excellent napping day, as you can see. Above we have the Mr. and Donny hunkered in for a mid morning catnap. Why not move slowly and do some lazing when you can? There aren't that many moments available. I'm off today and doing some housework and Christmas gift wrapping. The Mr. took the day off (why is unclear, so far nappage is pretty much the main focus.) Actually, the poor guy fell off the ladder when he was hanging lights outside so he's sore. I guess he's earned a little couch time.
1. Placed my Hallmark Christmas card order last Sunday, I'm hearing that people started receiving their cards yesterday. Yay Hallmark!
