tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2243146507977508745.post3868028584427658205..comments2023-06-22T11:49:14.084-04:00Comments on consider it pure JOY: holiday presencepurejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095975148508760030noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2243146507977508745.post-75152408238937303812010-11-08T10:50:40.480-05:002010-11-08T10:50:40.480-05:00Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this, and I am of...Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this, and I am off to read all about it.Sara @ Domestically Challengedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10245599062507705190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2243146507977508745.post-9250021704235206392010-11-06T16:44:56.706-04:002010-11-06T16:44:56.706-04:00I have very little, but every year I add another $...I have very little, but every year I add another $25 to Kiva.org and help micro-finance a loan for someone. I never take the money out when it gets re-paid. I just re-loan it to someone else.Claudya Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17034216831504207496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2243146507977508745.post-83337652281182379752010-11-06T14:52:23.522-04:002010-11-06T14:52:23.522-04:00I so agree with this. I've long thought that ...I so agree with this. I've long thought that all the presents and focus on getting have reached ridiculous proportions. So about four years ago, we stopped giving gifts to the adults and gave only to the children. The money we would have spent on those other presents, we each give to a charity of our choice and then as the kids are opening their gifts, we share about what we chose and why. This has been hugely meaningful to me, though I will gladly admit that many in the family, though they agreed when I proposed the idea, still groan and complain, and yes, sneak in gifts. "Oh, I know, we're not doing gifts, but I just couldn't resist..." Each year we revisit this idea, and get everyones buy-in. And then those, who despite sitting there and agreeing (again) that this was the way to go, complain. I just think it's a totally sad thing that what is supposed to be so meaningful has turned into, "How to survive the holidays". Thanksgiving is my favorite day of the whole year. Focusing on gratitude, and family, and not a present in sight!Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925730745204736744noreply@blogger.com