The Whole Holiday Package

Grandparenting has a push-me-pull-you quality this time of year that some younger generation they envy.

If you officially now the oldest generation, there are the memories of long ago, some nostalgia watching old movies, maybe a sigh as you unpack the last of the Christmas ornaments off your growing-up tree.

And there is the excitement of the newest generation - the true faith in presents that appear magically, the real pain of waiting for the big day.

 In between are our kids - we watch them maneuver through the parenting years and juggle it all as we did. And now we don't. We watch more than do.

Tears, smiles, laughter, sighs, memories. Let them all come and fully be present in whatever place you are in.



May the hope, peace, joy and love of a new baby in Bethlehem be yours this Christmas.

Gifting

This year I read some good gifting advice: give children 1 thing they want, 1 thing they need, 1 book and 1 article of clothing. Spend the rest of the time you would be shopping or wrapping, playing board games and being together.

Sounds really good! It has pretty much been my strategy for years. Then as the grandkids age, they get gift cards in Middle School and cash beyond that.

But I still love the catalog marking event...