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SeaStar
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| Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 5:24pm | IP Logged
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You know when you read the Little House books and Mary and Laura are so thrilled to get a stick of candy and a pair of mittens in their stockings? That always makes me wish for simpler times and makes me think my kids are too, too spoiled.
Well, today we read "Christmas Comes to Little House," and somehow I do not remember ever reading this story before. This time the girls are made speechless by a tin cup, a stick of candy, a penny and a little cake made of white flour and white sugar in their stockings. BUT THEN- Pa has a breakdown because along with all these treasures, the neighbor, Mr. Edwards, has also risked his life (through the raging creek) to bring them nine sweet potatoes.
"It's too much, Edwards," said Pa. "It's too much."
Oh. My. For some reason that just really got to me. They had so little and were so grateful, and I have so much and largely just whine and complain.
What a powerful lesson. Kind of makes Black Friday look ridiculous.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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mathmama
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| Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
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Christmas will be much simpler in our house this year. This is largely due to recently finishing the Little House series. I will be making the girls nightgowns and perhaps a pair of slippers from scraps. I think it will help to put the focus back where it belongs.
Beth
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Anne
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| Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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I feel the same way Melinda. We are definately down sizing our gift giving this year. I am making wash clothes and soap for family and friends. I also got together with some other HS moms and together we made 15 homemade apple pies ready to bake. I have frozen mine and plan to hand these out to family members. Many hands make light work.
I am having a hard time trying to stay out of the hype of spend spend spend for my dc. I just don't know how to give a little. I really want to get them what they want and still have a modest Christmas. As they get older the prices of their wants go WAY UP! 
I too wish for the simpler time.
Blessings,
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Anne in TN
WIFE to Brett (91)
MOM to Rebecca(97), Catherine (99), Grace (99), Stephen (00) & 2 Angels in Heaven.
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chrisv664
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| Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Kind of makes Black Friday look ridiculous.
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I never got into the whole Black Friday mania, but I think reading the Little House books puts it all into perspective, doesn't it? I better revisit some of those books before I start my shopping! 
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Chris
Loving Wife of Dan and Mom to Kate, Jessica, Ben,
Rebecca, Thomas and Hannah
Burning The Candle At Both Ends
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Nov 27 2008 at 7:19am | IP Logged
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It makes me feel like we just have too much of *everything*. I think of all the time spent around here caring for things- picking up, putting away, organizing, cleaning, etc. It is too much.
I saw a quote from Proverbs about honoring God with your possessions.
I think I will use my Advent time in part to do a major purge.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Nov 27 2008 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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I had a nice visit with my mom this past weekend. When my parents come up every six months, she and I try to sneak a way for a few hours. It's interesting now just to learn about my mom as a real person, no "just mom".
Anyway, she was talking about how hard-up her family was when she was a kid. While I knew that they were not rich by any standard, I figured that they at least had as much as the Ingalls if not a little more. But apparently things were so tight that they were supported by their church for a few years. She said that they didn't get anything for Christmas most years. She said that one reason she is so involved with Toys for Tots was that she received one of her few "real" Christmas presents the first year the program started...a little toy piano. Her eyes teared up as she said it.
It made me think about the Christmas when I was about 14. My mom had been too sick to do much shopping, so she had ordered this dress through a catalog that I thought was ugly. Within ten minutes of seeing my pile of Christmas loot, I had cornered her and complained about it. I've been embarrassed enough about that incident at times, but after hearing her talk about her Christmas experiences I just wanted why she didn't smack me upside the head for being such a little ungrateful *#&.
I worry about this ungrateful tendency in my own kids, too. And I do try to keep Christmas simple in some ways, but it is hard. I think I justify going bigger with Christmas because I try to avoid buying them too much "stuff" throughout the rest of the year. It's like the time when I "catch up" on educational as well as fun stuff.
Note: I've never been into Black Friday. Get up early to go shopping in a mob; are you kidding? And every time I hear the term "Black Friday" I think of Steely Dan and the stock market crashing.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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Connections
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| Posted: Nov 28 2008 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
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We are celebrating our first Christmas as a Catholic family and I am really trying to shift the focus from Santa to Jesus.
The Advent Conspiracy video online helped a lot. It really touched the boys (6 and 7).
I spoke to both of them about receiving less presents this year and my son said, "It is your and Nana's fault. You set our expectations too high." Oh, the wisdom of youth sometimes. He is SO right. I explained that he was right and we are trying to change that this year. (Nana has explicit instructions to limit as well.)
One son just said today "This is my first year as a Catholic. That's why I am so excited about Christmas." I almost cried!
In the past I have SO overdone Christmas. I would save things that I wanted them to have for HSing, for example, and give them as presents. EVERY year there have been presents unopened under the tree after Christmas day. (You would think I would have caught on sooner.)
I am very excited about limiting the shopping and focusing on the real meaning of Christmas with my family.
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Blessings,
Tracey
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Bella
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| Posted: Nov 28 2008 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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Melinda,
I absolutely agree!! I am kind of a geek,in that I LOVE to reread the Christmas stories,from LH.
I am like Barbara,in that we just don't buy our dc things on any kind of regularity,and we have no parents that even remember they have grandchildren, let alone spoil our dc with tons of stuff-I wil admit,I find myself envious of friends whose parents provide so many of the basics for their dc...therefore making it easier for my friends to not have to go overboard at Christmas(and BDs!).
I hontestly think,I will not grow tired of reading LH winter and Christmas stories. 
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Peace and Blessings,
Bella
Wife and Mom to my sweeties!
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Anne
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| Posted: Nov 28 2008 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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I just thought I'd mention that we are studying the Little House series using the Prairie Primer
this year and we are loving it!!! I highly recommend it.
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Anne in TN
WIFE to Brett (91)
MOM to Rebecca(97), Catherine (99), Grace (99), Stephen (00) & 2 Angels in Heaven.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Zinged again by Little House
