No, I still do not have favorites.....

but, I sure did enjoy spending the day with my middle child today.  We did a lot of walking and a lot of shopping and I enjoyed it a lot.  He even took me to lunch at a place he liked and I had not been to before.  All in all, this is a day I will treasure.  Thank you, Ralph!

I had hubby bring in ALL the Christmas items and boxes we had stored out in the shed - and I cleaned out the storage closet.  We have LOTS going to Savers tomorrow.  I decided I needed to get rid of some clutter - even though it comes out only once a year.  I don't put everything out - and if I'm not using it - why keep it!  So, the Christmas tree is up and all our ornaments are on it.  I thought I had given all the grandchildren their ornaments last year from all the years we have given them. (will explain below)  But - to my surprise, I found several bags of ornaments with the grandchildren's name on it.  Guess I will need to get them sent out so that they can put on their own tree.

Ok - the Christmas ornaments for the grandchildren.  Years ago, when my children were born, my in-laws started the tradition of giving each child an ornament every year - so that when they got married or moved out and had their very own tree, they would have their very own ornaments to put on it.  I started that tradition when each of my grandchildren were born.  Obviously the 20 years old has more than the 5 years old, but it is still a start.  Yes, I'm still giving an ornament out - but since we don't put up a 'grandchildren tree' anymore, they may as well put on their own tree.  Yeah, we used to have two trees.  (Actually at one time we had five)  The smaller tree was the 'grandchildren tree' and they would hang their ornaments on it every year.  Then we would make gifts for their parents, wrap and put under that tree for their parents to open on Christmas morning when they came over.  We stopped doing that a few years back as I had run out of ideas for the grandchildren to make for their parents.  So - now when they come over we bake cookies, make Christmas mice, or I find some other treat for them to make - and take home.

Ironically, we also found the container that has the grandchildren's Christmas tree in it.  I wonder if anyone needs it - if not, it will go to Savers as well.  Will have to check with everyone.  I have wreaths and a few other little things - I just can't put everything out anymore.  Still, I do have lots of things setting out.  Precious memories on several ones, like the Santa sitting on a train that I bought the year after my brother, who loved trains, died.  I have the Santa sleeping in the bed - and snoring - that my mama had put out every year.  I have a stuffed animal I named 'Aspen' that gets put out - a gift from my sister-in-law and brother-in-law when we did a late November trip to Lake of the Woods.  Have a Santa that won't stop laughing that my sissy sent me last year.  Another dog on a sleigh that sings and barks from the in-laws.  I love Christmas, I love the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and I love the celebration of the holiday.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.

I hope to finish up my shopping this week so that I can start my baking and canning next week.  Have picked up cucumbers and onions to make my bread and butter pickles.  I don't have to make as many this year I guess with not working.  Oh, I did find a 'white elephant' gift to take for the Finance Christmas party that I was invited to later this month.  I hope everything will work out so that I can go.

So how are things coming along with your Christmas shopping?  Are you caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season - and have you stopped to take time to put Christ back into Christmas?  What are your plans up until then?  Lots of shopping yet to do?   Whatever you decide to do - keep in mind what the REAL reason for this season is.  Celebrate Jesus!

Blessings!