Our family decided to just do "stocking stuffers" this year. Best Christmas Ever. There's so much less stress. We've already exchanged gifts with my parents. My sister and BIL are yet to come. The kids get more, as Santa doesn't follow our rules. I'm cool with that, though I'm pretty sure my sister bought way too much for him, again.
On Dec 11, 2007 9:29 AM, Jerry Johnson wrote: > We sponsor 3 families as well, one with a tree, one with food, and one > with gifts for the kids (3 different programs). That is in addition to > Toys for Tots (the Marines _rock_) > > As for Christmas, we do swap gifts. This year, some people asked that > everyone suggest a few gifts they really _need_, and the rest of the > folk try to buy those items. > > (For me, it is cotton pjs, an iPod base unit for my new trailer, and a > new George Foreman grill) > > I tend to buy Christmas presents all year long, when I find "the > perfect thing" for each person, or when I build it. (Finishing up a > woodworking project that will go to 11 relatives). > > I wouldn't want to give that up, even if I got no presents in return > (since the giving for me is the fun part. I like the getting, but love > the giving more) > > On Dec 11, 2007 9:14 AM, Gruss Gott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Just wondering about this year's family controversy which is also an > > etiquette problem. > > > > Each year my wife and I sponsor families via a local organization > > that screens the families - we get to know names and ages, but nothing > > else, which is fine by us. Basically you buy gifts for the family > > members (including parents) based on a list they provide and then also > > give them money to buy Christmas dinner ($50 in this case), but you > > can provide more if you like. > > > > This year we decided to go to both sides our family and invite them > > to not exchange gifts, and rather to sponsor a family via our program > > or anything else they'd like to do (or not do), but not to buy gifts > > for us. The concept was not to buy each other stuff since we all are > > lucky enough to have plenty, have those with kids just buy for their > > own kids, and hopefully get everyone involved in some type of charity > > effort. > > > > Of course we knew it'd be a bit controversial to "opt out", but there > > are few hard feelings and I guess I'm wonder what you all think. My > > instinct is to say that if people can't see the good in our choice is, > > then feck 'em. We may end up just buying gifts for our family again > > to spare feelings, but I guess if we do it the real gift will be to > > their feelings. > > > > I know people have specific visions of Christmas, and that gifts and > > gift opening are a big part of that for some, but the joy of that has > > gone away for my wife and I whereas we actually have a blast buying > > gifts for the families we sponsor. > > > > On the one hand I want to step on the moral soapbox, but on the other > > I realize that I'm being selfish too because I enjoy buying for > > non-family over family. > > > > I dunno ... what d'ya think? > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Check out the new features and enhancements in the latest product release - download the "What's New PDF" now http://download.macromedia.com/pub/labs/coldfusion/cf8_beta_whatsnew_052907.pdf Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:248118 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
