Like a lot of families, ours has been impacted by the economy in general. We decided to ask the kids to buck up and bit and not be disappointed Christmas morning when they had fewer presents than years past. The tree is up now, sparkling with white lights and adorned with a trove of homemade ornaments. Beautiful, even without presents underneath. What’s odd though is not the children’s reaction, but my own.
I love Christmas and I love filling the tree with as much “stuff” as possible. Turns out the bucking up is entirely on my part…..who would have thought!
Essential Questions for Life 
post script…… After a delightful lunch with a good friend, I was reminded that so much in life is what we make of it.