Christmas Shopping

 

I have been unhappy with folks who post on Facebook or elsewhere that their Christmas shopping is all done well before Christmas.  Shopping for those I love always causes me stress because I want to give them all the perfect gifts and I don’t know what those should be.  I have lead adult church school classes three times over the last many years on Simplifying Christmas.  I know my dear daughter takes another attitude about this and was always concerned that we would simplify too much!

But…this year I have started shopping before Thanksgiving and I have a plan for the rest of my shopping.  Jim has suggested gift certificates for years and this year I think that along with the usual chocolate letters we will give the grandchildren cash.  Two of them will get Skittles instead due to allergies and preferences.  A highlight for me last year was little Henry unwrapping his chocolate letter and with sheer delight saying, “It’s the first letter of my name!”  Laura’s comment was,  “That’s why we send him to that expensive preschool!”  So what about the adults?  Because some of them may read this blog, I will keep that a secret for now.  And our oldest granddaughter and her fiancée?  I think they qualify for chocolate letters and the adult gift.

I can do all the needed purchases online and I have already purchased the gift bags for the adults at Michael’s.    This may all prove to be a very needed process if I schedule my second hip replacement surgery yet before Christmas.  

I will not brag on Facebook however.  And now the next big question.  Do we buy almond paste and make banket again?  Every year I say this is the last time we will do this and then I remember how much people enjoy our special Dutch treat and we do it again.  I might still have a pound of almond paste in the freezer from last year.  Stay tuned.  No decision on that needs to be made today.