Comments on: I think I’m over Christmas http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/2009/12/04/i-think-im-over-christmas/ Finding unexpected moments of bliss in my ordinary life Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:02:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sheri http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/2009/12/04/i-think-im-over-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-24099 Sheri Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:58:34 +0000 http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/?p=2057#comment-24099 I don't really enjoy shopping at all, and thats because I'm always hyper-aware of everything else I need to use that money for. But one thing I do enjoy shopping and paying for is the gifts for the children we pick off the Angel Tree. My kids love that too, I let them each chose an angel and we pick it out. Now that is enjoyable to me, because I know the child getting that gift will really appreciate it. I hear you about growing kids. My oldest son had a massive growth spurt, and of course no hand me downs so we've had to shop. The youngest gets the hand me downs, except he hasn't in a size now that his brother must have skipped over, because all the hand me downs are either too small or too big - GRR! I also don't like the newest trend - for my family anyway - instead of me picking out something that I think my niece or nephews will love, I get a "List" from their parents telling me what to get them. I understand the purpose of this, to avoid duplicates, but it does take any fun out of it. Still, it is more fun to shop for a three year old than a 14 year old. I miss toys :) I don’t really enjoy shopping at all, and thats because I’m always hyper-aware of everything else I need to use that money for. But one thing I do enjoy shopping and paying for is the gifts for the children we pick off the Angel Tree. My kids love that too, I let them each chose an angel and we pick it out. Now that is enjoyable to me, because I know the child getting that gift will really appreciate it.

I hear you about growing kids. My oldest son had a massive growth spurt, and of course no hand me downs so we’ve had to shop. The youngest gets the hand me downs, except he hasn’t in a size now that his brother must have skipped over, because all the hand me downs are either too small or too big – GRR!

I also don’t like the newest trend – for my family anyway – instead of me picking out something that I think my niece or nephews will love, I get a “List” from their parents telling me what to get them. I understand the purpose of this, to avoid duplicates, but it does take any fun out of it. Still, it is more fun to shop for a three year old than a 14 year old. I miss toys :)

]]> By: Ghada http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/2009/12/04/i-think-im-over-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-24085 Ghada Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:43:14 +0000 http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/?p=2057#comment-24085 I am so with you on the things I want being the things I need. Littlie spent the night with the grandparents and it is so bliss this morning just waking up, taking my time and reading through some blogs. Well done on you for raising a child that is so giving to share hos $5 bill instead of spending it. Happy Holidays :) I am so with you on the things I want being the things I need. Littlie spent the night with the grandparents and it is so bliss this morning just waking up, taking my time and reading through some blogs.
Well done on you for raising a child that is so giving to share hos $5 bill instead of spending it.
Happy Holidays :)

]]> By: Katherine owlfan http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/2009/12/04/i-think-im-over-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-24077 Katherine owlfan Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:35:07 +0000 http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/?p=2057#comment-24077 For me, while money is somewhat of an object, its really not about that. I really enjoy finding or making something that I just know someone will like. What I really dislike is wandering randomly through stores trying to find something, anything for random family members. I tried, unsuccessfully, to suggest that we only buy gifts for the kids, but was told that everyone else enjoys getting gifts and thinking of the perfect gift. OK, fine, but evidently they don't do any better at finding the perfect gift for me than I do for them. I would love to go for a system where if I find something that looks good, I'll get it, if not, I won't. My younger son has almost nothing on his Christmas list, but his big brother has a big list - and of course, being the older he isn't getting the hand-me-downs, so he actually NEEDS new clothes (boy is growing like a weed at the moment). He's also getting a rather big gift this year, so I have to find something for the younger son to at least sort of even it up. We have at least one more year of early service on Christmas eve - younger son is 5th grade and thus the oldest grade for the pageant - he is Joseph this year. I used to really enjoy midnight service - maybe next year the kids will be old enough to stay up. For me, while money is somewhat of an object, its really not about that. I really enjoy finding or making something that I just know someone will like. What I really dislike is wandering randomly through stores trying to find something, anything for random family members. I tried, unsuccessfully, to suggest that we only buy gifts for the kids, but was told that everyone else enjoys getting gifts and thinking of the perfect gift. OK, fine, but evidently they don’t do any better at finding the perfect gift for me than I do for them. I would love to go for a system where if I find something that looks good, I’ll get it, if not, I won’t.

My younger son has almost nothing on his Christmas list, but his big brother has a big list – and of course, being the older he isn’t getting the hand-me-downs, so he actually NEEDS new clothes (boy is growing like a weed at the moment). He’s also getting a rather big gift this year, so I have to find something for the younger son to at least sort of even it up.

We have at least one more year of early service on Christmas eve – younger son is 5th grade and thus the oldest grade for the pageant – he is Joseph this year. I used to really enjoy midnight service – maybe next year the kids will be old enough to stay up.

]]> By: Some Lucky Dog http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/2009/12/04/i-think-im-over-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-24073 Some Lucky Dog Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:02:21 +0000 http://www.unexpectedbliss.com/?p=2057#comment-24073 Blessings to you for your post! You are not the only one. Hubby and I exchanged gifts on Christmas the first year we were married. Since then...we do not exchange gifts at all on Christmas and very seldom on a birthday. What we do instead is buy a surprise gift now and then. Not because there's a celebration, but because we ran across something that we know the other would love. It's always a gift from the heart and it means so much more. We have a date night for birthdays and Valentine's Day, but that's it. I only buy Christmas gifts for the small ones (grandkids and a few grand-nieces/nephews) and we get 4 or 5 kids to buy gifts for through the Salvation Army. Truly, it is so much more meaningful and less stressful. I'll be thinking of you at Mass on Christmas Eve at midnight, cause that's where we'll be, too :) Blessings to you for your post! You are not the only one. Hubby and I exchanged gifts on Christmas the first year we were married. Since then…we do not exchange gifts at all on Christmas and very seldom on a birthday. What we do instead is buy a surprise gift now and then. Not because there’s a celebration, but because we ran across something that we know the other would love. It’s always a gift from the heart and it means so much more. We have a date night for birthdays and Valentine’s Day, but that’s it. I only buy Christmas gifts for the small ones (grandkids and a few grand-nieces/nephews) and we get 4 or 5 kids to buy gifts for through the Salvation Army. Truly, it is so much more meaningful and less stressful. I’ll be thinking of you at Mass on Christmas Eve at midnight, cause that’s where we’ll be, too :)

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