I'm wondering how everyone is doing??? Sometimes the stress of managing everything in this holiday season can drive you nuts. All the fixing and shopping and planning and money that goes out can take it's toll. So how did it get like this? The idea is to draw family,friends and loved ones close. The religous base of it is often overlooked and it becomes a race to provide children that already have so much with more. A race to out party and out do the other. Woman are driven mad to do everything and clean house and prepare everything....no wonder this is the time for depression! We have little to go around this year but I think we will still have a great Christmas. I'm trying harder to be creative and I so feel for those out there that have requests from young ones that want a certain toy or thing that is too expensive. There is so much pressure to give. But what is important as a parent to give is love. Above all it's love. And I think you create a reasonable base for kids when you don't get pulled into all the hype and do what you can instead of what the advertizers try to push you into doing. Some times the one special thing for each of our five was too much and they all turned out!!! You give much more when it's yourself you give and not things. Sometimes a special dinner and an activity that was special was much more to remember than a toy that didn't live up to it's hype and was a disappointment. Things are forgotten,not moments and memories! And this year I've managed four small donations,my Hubby two larger ones,to the local charities because there are those with nothing that need help. We have so very much. Our families,a roof and what we really need each other. Have a Merry Christmas surrounded by those you love.