Christmas Challenge

i have heard about a great challenge from friends, a youtube video ... and even a priest!

what if we took some/all of the money we were going to spend on a christmas gift and gave it to charity? i can think of several charities that are in much more need than me of a gift. do we really need a gift this year?

this year is the first one where i actually feel sick to my stomach when i see commercials and the news reports about black friday and cyber monday. i hear stories about people being trampled and fights breaking out in stores. really? has your child been taught that they need that toy or video game system that badly.

Here's the challenge: give a gift to charity in someone's name as part of their present, ask for the same to be done for you this Christmas.

Weddings, Houses, Babies ... Oh, my!

it is definitely that time of life when i am excited to find out that friends are engaged, having their weddings, pregnant, buying a first home, or already playing with their first child.

it's amazing to see friends that i have grown up with - whether that's from wisconsin, btown, or butler - getting married and becoming moms and dads. (doesn't it seem like those were such "grown-up" things to do?) i am really proud of all of my friends who are growing up so happily with their new spouses, big bellies, new children, and beautiful homes! (all of your children are ridiculously cute, by the way!)

it is funny that almost everytime i catch up with a friend, there is some big news to hear, such as an engagement, baby, or house. what fun conversations to have! so, this is a big CONGRATS to all of my friends who are doing such grown-up things, and doing a darn good job, too!