No Boxes or Bows

 My Christmas present this year didn't come in a box or a bag. There were no bows, no ribbons. Not even fun sparkly  paper! So what did I get that was so huge that it couldn't possibly be wrapped? (you'll have to wait for the answer)

 Most people would be upset that their hubby didn't buy them anything for Christmas, or even more frustrated that he forget their Birthday too! I have to be honest, I was at first just a bit. But NOW my eyes are open to the bigger picture here.......
 See it was while I was on the phone with my sister in law, we were discussing our day, exchanging what everybody had received and talking about family and plans for the rest of the day. My sister in law is on the west coast and we are here in the Midwest by choice.
 Anyways she asked me what I had received, I went to tell her my 3 gifts. She then said wait a minute what did Ray give you?? I answered , "Nothing". She was instantly hot!! She started spewing right from the get go, she called out to her DH which is my DH Brother and told him and he got all hot too!! I told both of them to calm down & listen to me for a second (also told them to not interrupt me too!!)........

 This is what I said to them,"Please understand that I am not upset or hurt by not receiving a gift under the tree. Because I have already received it. See when I was younger before I even met my love, my husband. I would literally dream about the day that I could stay home, raise my children, have a loving husband, live in a beautiful home full of smiles, giggles, hugs, laughter and most of all love. Well I have that dream~my Ray has made that possible, he gave me this gift when he said 'I Do'. Yes it's nice to see a package under the tree from him, however it is not necessary. He has given me my dream, my secret dream that not even my Mother knew about. I always said when I was younger that I never wanted children, never wanted to be married~that was all a lie........I am truly blessed to have my family, live in my home without the worry of losing of it and the freedom to live life & love deeply. He has made it possible for me to do what I want when I want, talk openly, spend freely and in other words what more could a person want? I don't want for anything, nor do my children. Well now that's not entirely true. I do want for one thing; that would be to move back home. So when you ask me what did I get for Christmas? Well guys I got my family, my health, and most of all LOVE."

    BTW they both were speechless...........

                                                   

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,



  I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my own doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out -- over several Christmases.

  Since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles; and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 9 years, so now - -

*** Here are my Christmas wishes ***

* I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (-in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

* I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
* If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
* On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

* I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the l iving room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dogs.

* If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

*If you don't mind, I could also use a few miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

*It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
   Well, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing, and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his red crayon back. Have a safe trip Santa, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door, and come in and dry off, so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always with love and appreciation,
     Wendy
P.S. One more thing . . You can cancel all my requests, if you can keep my children 'young' enough to believe in Santa.    
                                                                                     

                                                          

In the Spirit of Giving

  This past Monday I was thinking about how I could make somebodies Christmas better. You know do something from my heart, something that would bring a smile to somebody, anybody.
  Well the whole day I was working with my group of kids, still this thought  plagued  my mind. The kids were into doing their craft projects and making cards to send out to the men and  women serving our country. This is something we do every year as a way of saying "Thank you". Then it hit me!! Why not send out a care package to one of our  'family members'. See I always think of the kids in my care as part of my family, therefor making their parents part of my extended family. I know that I always have a hard time during the holidays being so far away from my parents and knowing first hand how hard it was on me growing up to have my father over seas for months and months at a time; even during the holidays and birthdays.
  So this is what I did:

     Dear Parents,


   One of our friends here in the daycare has a Daddy that is serving our country. He has sacrificed for his family and ours. He won’t be home for Christmas. He won’t have the pleasure of waking up to see his son’s smiling face on Christmas morning.
  I am hoping that we can make his time in Iraq a little less unhappy during this time. I would like to be able to send him a care package from all of us here at the daycare. This is a way we can also teach our children about the spirit of Christmas and  the gift of giving.
  If everyone would please donate or give a few items to go in the Christmas Box to Iraq I will pay for the postage. The more items we can put in the box the better. My hope is that we can surprise this Dad and show him just how much we care and appreciate his sacrifices.
***Attached you will see a listing of items that all of our soldiers need and would like to have. Anything is better than nothing.
  Thank you,


  Wendy Ray-Jorgensen
  Lil’ Tikes Family Daycare

So as this Christmas Season approaches may you find yourself blessed and loved enough to give from the heart instead of from the pocketbook.