How Do You Pick Your Christmas Presents?

How do you choose who gets what present for Christmas?
I hate asking, What would you like for Christmas? It takes the surprise out of it.

Here's what my children Diane and Molly used to do to me.

Kids: Mom, we never know what to get you for Christmas. This year, make a list of everything you would like to have and put the one thing you want at the top of your list.

 Me: It will take all of the surprises out of Christmas morning.

Kids: If you don't cooperate you'll end up with socks, glove, and a scarf again this year. Oh, yeah, and we never forget the chocolate covered cherries. You don't have to put those on the list.

Me: When do you want this list?

Kids: Two weeks. In two weeks we'll give you and Dad our lists and you guys can give us yours.

Two weeks past and we are all at the kitchen table having dinner.

Kids: We have our lists do you have yours? (They look from me to their Dad and give us huge smiles)

Jump forward to Christmas morning. Five-thirty a.m. actually. Molly could never wait. ( Sometime

 I'll tell you how excited she was to go swimming on vacation and jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool before she could swim.)

The kids could never remember who helped clean the kitchen last or took out the trash, but they took turns giving out presents each year. They never forgot whose turn it was.

Everyone gets their first present and we wait our turn to open them so we could ooh and aww at the gifts we each received.

The first present wasn't on my list.
The second wasn't on my list, nor was the third, or the fourth.
As a matter of fact, I did not get one of the presents I put on my list.

I didn't want to act ungrateful or embarrass them so I let it go.
Next year-repeat of the year before.
So I asked, "why do you ask for a list when you never by anything I write down
Answer: If we bought you the gifts on your wish list you wouldn't be surprised.

https://tinyurl.com/ycu3msry     99 cents until Christmas Eve

Why you should plant flowers!

 Flowers are the first plant ancient man cultivated for himself that he didn't need for survival. Isn't that remarkable?

Since the dawn of man, flowers have held a special place in our hearts. We send them to weddings, funeral, and birthdays. We put them on our tables and talk about their smell and shape. They are remarkable onto themselves.

When the first spring bud peeks its nose out of the frozen ground, we can't help but smile. It reminds of us of the renewal of the promise of warmer weather and the pleasant offerings of the earth.

It is the day I go inside, get out my graph paper and begin plotting my garden.

This year, my goal is to fashion a meditation garden. I think I will put it out front and build a small arbor , cover it with grape vines, put rock from the farm as a floor and benches made of planks with legs of tree trunks. I can picture it, can you?

I will fill it with sayings that lift my spirit, such as Follow your dreams, Be Still and Know and perhaps a few more of my favorites.

These projects have a way of growing and taking on a mind of their own, so I won't make too many plans.

My only sister, Sandra, has a spring birthday. We are getting older now. Her birthday reminds me of spring and my mother. Easter was her favorite time of year. When I see little tufts of new grass, Mom comes to mind.

We didn't get to see our mother as an old lady. She died at the tender age of 64. I had to get a lot older to truly realize how young that is. Young folks look at us and think we are old.

I am here to tell you that I still remember something my mother said. She said, "Susan, I still think the same way I did when I was in my thirties. I still have dreams and desires, same as I had then. When I look it the mirror, I am stunned at this aging woman who looks back at me."

The other day, while looking in the mirror, I realized exactly what she was saying.

So, this is my spring thought for you. Plant a flower, or many flowers this spring. Maybe you could plant them in memory of someone you have lost or someone you may have found along your path.

Happy spring. Enjoy the promise it holds for you.

Not only is each spring a new beginning, but so is each morning.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

 Happy Mother's Day
 The sun rises

it sets

the rain comes

and then the sun

winter

spring

summer

fall

am I making the most of it all.

Some days are long

and scary

some are short

and blurry

some are sunny and bright

and everything is my world is right.

Other days I can't figure

it out.

Just want to run away

or sit in the dark

Then a thought occurs to me

how precious this day can be

Surely there is something

memorable

It could not have all been miserable

Then I smile at something small

I wonder how I could be sad at all.

I remember something my dear mother said.

Keep your feet on the ground,

Your eyes to the heavens and your face in the sun.

Happy Mother's day mom.

It has been twenty seven years since I saw you last

I try never to dwell in the past,

but I love you now as I always did.

And I will always be your kid.

The baby of the family.

Ruth Ethelyn Rench.

Died July 18, 1986

Age 64.

missed so much