Unwrapped Gifts

With another holiday season upon us, people are busy preparing for celebrations where gift buying is part of the yearly custom. For the Christian tradition, Christmas presents are a time to surprise and delight those we love which is based on the nativity story and the three wise men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Baby Jesus.

I like to think I am an excellent gift giver, however this year there will be no presents to buy for my children….gasp! It actually seems odd and frankly I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. Over the summer, after coming home from my brother and sister-in-law’s cabin, my son, his wife, my daughter and I talked about getting a place of our own together. We had talked about it over the last couple years, but this year was different; everyone was ready to make a commitment.

The feeling we get when we go to the cabin every summer is that of pure joy. Everyone looks forward to going, and no one ever wants to miss the weekend. Year after year it’s a place that family and friends gather to create new memories as well as share old ones. Every summer we can’t wait to go back. Although, it’s usually only one weekend a year we’re all together, we wanted to be able to recreate similar feelings throughout the year.

We decided, in lieu of buying birthday and Christmas/holiday gifts, we would put money aside every month as well as triple down on holidays such as Christmas and Mother’s Day, to go towards a downpayment on a vacation home. Although the housing market is a bit crazy right now, and we know it will be a while before we are ready to buy, it’s exciting to plan.

Even though buying handpicked personal gifts, wrapping them in beautiful paper and ribbon, and placing them under the tree is a well-honored tradition, I’ll take unwrapped gifts in the form of spending time together any day. Time is the greatest gift of love we can give to someone. Wouldn’t you agree?

xoxox…..Sheryl

PS….I may or may not have already purchased a few stocking stuffers…..shhhh

PSS…I’m having a difficult time not purchasing the annual Christmas pajama pant tradition.

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