Christmas!

I can't believe I'm talking about the up and coming Holidays. It's not Thanksgiving yet here in the states but the daughter is watching all the toy commericals and I have to hear everything she wants and at the same time I have to let her know in our family we don't have a free for all of how many presents she's going to get. I want to keep to the meaning of what our beliefs are in our home. Christmas is about giving, sharing and being with family. When my daughter was a baby my hubby and I decided to do a new tradition and go buy toys for children who wouldn't have a gift under the tree. She was 8 months old and I thought she was going to scream when she saw the Marines in front of ToysRus but she didn't and handed over the toys we picked out. She enjoyed it and we've been doing it every year since. I kind of look forward to it every year and the daughter had a blast last season and for a girl her age she understood the toys she was picking out were not for her and handed over the toys with grace. It made me think I am doing something right as a mother. Now each child had there first Christmas and this season won't be ridiculous with gifts like last year as seen in the picture above. Last season was crazy with presents in our home because of the son's first Christmas so with a new year we are going back to simple like we planned before having children. I think the meaning what Christmas is about gets lost in receiving the latest "IT" toy and not the understanding that some people can't afford to feed their families. My hubby and I are blessed to have a nice home with food on our plates so knowing we are helping not only at Christmas but year round the meaning of giving without receiving something back is important to teach our children they are not the only children in the world and to appreciate what they have and not what they think they should have. We will have a great Christmas and hope all who celebrates do also.. Take Care,Peace!