SkydiveNFlorida 0 #26 December 23, 2003 Wow, Michelle. That sux:( I can't afford too much this year, either. Usually I go all out. I love giving presents! But, since I took up skydiving, i've put most of my money into it and have really fallen short on funds this year. I am just waiting for that financial aid check, let me tell you. That's nice about going to the chapel. I'm not very religious. I'm kinda in limbo about what my beliefs are. I just love the closeness of family and friends that this holiday brings. A lot of people who aren't religious celebrate the season. It is just supposed to be a happy time of year. I hope that my xmas spirit will come back when I watch the kids open presents, and have a little bit of egg nog & rum Take care and happy holidays to you! Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #27 December 23, 2003 we've skipped the whole gift thing in most of my family, except for the children. It was my mother's idea (she hates shopping). The idea is that you take the money you would have spent in the malls on useless crap, and instead give it to a good charity, such as the Red Cross or (my fav) the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, or something. Last year my mom gave her $ to a charity that buys livestock for people in 3rd world countries. It's cool, because it frees you up to spend time focusing on what Christmas is really about, instead of being distracted by running around trying to find that perfect gift for everyone. As I said, we still give gifts to the kids in the family, but if you're an adult, c'mon, what do we really need that's worth all the stress & running around? This obsession with the gifts & making the perfect little Martha Stewart Christmas is all just a distraction from the real meaning of Christmas. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #28 December 23, 2003 QuoteI can't afford to give anyone anything nice this year, sorry" while they are handing me gifts and telling me it doesn't matter...It does matter. It matters very much that I can't give those I love representations of my love and appreciation for them. It makes a huge difference when I can show them my love...and not just tell them. And so, it sucks I went through a few years of that too. It is so HARD to Receive when you Can't Give. Michele, You show your love in your caring for others. THAT is YOUR Gift QuoteI would love to find a quiet chapel, a place undecorated, unadorned, and go there at midnight Christmas Eve. Just to feel the quiet worship, the solitary respect, that this day is supposed to be for. Just to feel the love in a quiet spot, just me and God, alone for a brief moment. It is not existant, this place, not anywhere I know. When you find that place, please let me know. Christmas Blessings to you, Michele ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #29 December 23, 2003 Quoteinstead give it to a good charity no one in my family needs anything. a few years ago (before we started drawing names) i donated to the make-a-wish-foundation in the name of my brother and his wife and of my sis and her husband. they each got a MAW ornament and a gift card stating so. my dad/mom are very supportive of a church mission so i made a dontation to them in honour of my parents, same for my other brother.. a donation to a mission in el paso that he supports. not one of them was disappointed that the didn't receive a gift the didn't Need anyway. i also like to donate to the toybox and to pick a name from an "Angel" tree.. to help a little one believe there Really Is a Santa Claus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #30 December 23, 2003 Quote Michele, You show your love in your caring for others. THAT is YOUR Gift You took the words right out of my mouthJan -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #31 December 23, 2003 QuoteIf you feel you must give....write some of your thoughts down, bind it, and give them as a gift What an Excellent idea! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #32 December 23, 2003 Ditto. Michele, you know better than that, you give 364 days out of the year. You deserve a day off....."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #33 December 23, 2003 It doesn't feel like Christmas to me because my kids are teenagers now and we don't have the same "little kid" traditions anymore. No more Santa pictures, taking a big trip to the toy store so they can point to what they want, special Christmas outfits, letters to Santa, gifts to wrap "from Santa", leaving cookies and milk out, being able to say "Santa's not going to come if you keep acting like that!", sigh..... Anyone got any toddlers they want me to adopt? She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
santa 0 #34 December 23, 2003 "No more Santa pictures" "Santa's not going to come if you keep acting like that!", This saddens me. "Anyone got any toddlers they want me to adopt?" Funny you should say that.....Ho Ho Ho Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #35 December 23, 2003 I hear ya! It doesn't feel like Christmas to me this year either Maybe it's cause I had to get my car fixed & it cost me a pretty penny & kinda put a damper on my plans But, I try & look at the brighter side & think how worse it could have been........................I'm sendin ya some big **HUGS&VIBES**, it'll get better!~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #36 December 23, 2003 it ISNT christmas...if it were christmas i would be happily hammered in Eloy about now as i'd be 4 days into my nearly 3 weeks off for the holidays, instead i'm freezing my ass off in a bunker in Iraq (admitedly a bunker with TV and internet access) and exchanging MREs for presents....____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #37 December 23, 2003 you mean you miss thouse 2-4 years old once... he he then rember how many nights you had to stay up late just to talk to Santa to give him whishes or somthing similar.. Damn its had(but way fun) to be a dad Merry christmas Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tandembrent 0 #38 December 23, 2003 merry christmas angela! sorry about missing your 100th jump, i'm still up here in the frozen tundra! i won't be back to see you for a month or so. i got my old job back. the only person i want to spend the holiday with is coming to play with you guys at SoBe. i hope you find the spirit and joy you need. green grass and high clouds forever~~~~Green grass and high clouds forever~~~~ no matter where you go, there you are! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #39 December 23, 2003 Quotemerry christmas angela! sorry about missing your 100th jump, i'm still up here in the frozen tundra! i won't be back to see you for a month or so. i got my old job back. the only person i want to spend the holiday with is coming to play with you guys at SoBe. i hope you find the spirit and joy you need. green grass and high clouds forever :( Well, it sux you'll miss my 100th, but i'm happy for you that you got your job back:) I hope you have a great holiday, Brent, we all miss you down here! QuoteIt doesn't feel like Christmas to me because my kids are teenagers now and we don't have the same "little kid" traditions anymore. Awe, skymama, that sux! I am sure plenty of your kids friends have children by now that you can play with, tho? j/k Yeah, it sux not really being involved in any kids lives., it is so wonderful to see their little eyes light up at holiday decor and when they see santa. :) Thanks for the vibes, Casie. Michele, I think they had a great idea with writing your thoughts. You express yourself very well and are so caring. I think your family & friends would appreciate your words more than any gift. :) merry xmas. Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdgregory 0 #40 December 23, 2003 Hey Skymama, We never did Santa with our kids so I do not have that problem. Instead what we do is each kid buys one present for everyone in the house and mom and dad each by one present for everyone. Then we draw names and we each fill one stocking. This is a tradition that can last till they move out because it gets everyone involved in Christmas. And it keeps their interest because they get to focus on what they are doing for each other rather than what they are getting. The kids love it and it makes my wife's and my Christmas shopping easier. As an added bonus it actually decreased our Christmas spending because we limit everybody to 50 dollars per person. Except of course this year because I asked for skydiving gear but we make exceptions where Dad is concered Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
