[Guest]

So I thought I'd put a little post about the upcoming holiday season here.
Last year things were really tight for us, this year is looking to be no different really. We have a reasonably large family with relatives, and unfortunately, the past has always been that you buy something for every family... That equates to about 10 extra families within our family that we have to buy something for.
Last year it was bothering me that we were going out and spending $20 or $30 on each family for some little trinkety crap that will get tossed in a drawer and forgotten about.
So we did something different, and I encourage you all to consider it.
The past couple years, Diabetes has hit our family with a couple members. This past year Cancer has hit a family member. Last Christmas, instead of buying all those small gifts, we decided to make a donation to the Diabetes association in everyone's name. It went over great, everyone thought that was a far better gift than the typical coffee mugs, or walmart picture frame etc.
We picked an organization that had meaning to the family.

So this year, while you're making your wish list, and trying to figure out what you will be giving to the rest of your family, keep a donation in mind, my drawers are full of useless stuff anyway

[Dave Holmes]

I totally support this idea! I have been encouraging my family to go this route for years. Christmas before last my wife asked me to get her a foster child in a third world country. and last Christmas she asked me to buy her a goat to be provided to a family elsewhere. Naturally, I go along with that. (She loved the amethyst jewelery I bought as well, though, and wears it regularly)

[Flyboy76]

guys.... both of those ideas are awesome!!! My wife was diagnosed with a acoustic neuroma in 2005. It is a non-cancerous (thank god!!) tumour that grows off the 8th cranial nerve. That nerve is the one that controls the hearing on that side of your body. Anyways ever since her surgery and recovery we have done the same thing.. at xmas time instead of exchanging gifts with family we ask that they donate to the Brain Cancer Foundation of Canada. Much more meaningfull gift....

The sad part nowadays is that it is virtually impossible to find a family that hasn't been touched by Cancer or diabeties in some way....

Geoff

[reo]

Good ideas.....we haven't spent money on gifts for the adults in the family and extended family for years....just for the grandkids. The adults have everything anyway, and if they don't they buy it for themselves when they need or want it.

Christmas is a stressful time of the year for a lot of people. There are folks dealing with illness, bereavement, stuck in long term care faciltities, unemployment, etc, that just want the Season to come and go quickly because they either don't want to be or can't be part of the festivities so to speak.

I apologize for the gloomy post, but this is reality.

Ron

[Randy Brown]

Im just waiting for 2010 to start i hate this year so much

[mtnflyer]

I completely pay for the nursing college education of a young, down and out Philippino lady in Manila. That includes schooling fee's and room/board. I've never met this woman who I pay so much for, but, her future is dependent on my efforts.
I"m contributing to two World Vision children every month. and have been doing so for some years.
I'm not bragging, nor do I seek any glory. Very few people know how much I give. These are things that are natural for me to do, its like paying the mortgage every month. One cannot complain.

Come Christmas in Canada, though, I want to see a present under the tree, a big present. Preferably a new model engine and beer over the usual socks and underwear. Giving something here is just because we can.