Draggin_Wings

12 wonderful years ago I met my husband. When we married, together we had two 15 yr old boys, two 14 yr old boys, and one 12 yr old girl. Economically, we were just barely above the poverty level -- too broke to pay attention, but to "wealthy" to receive any kind of help from social services, etc. All of that was ok because we were a FAMILY--a non-pasturized, let alone "blended" family, but still we all knew we were in it together. My husband HATED Christmas because of residual family drama and chronic poverty, but my stepdaughter and I refused to believe that "giving" meant "spending". That first year, we began "Little House On the Prairie" Christmas traditions. If we couldn't make a thoughtful gift from something readily available, we weren't going to have presents! All the boys scoffed at the idea (circa late '90's, and the ever-present designer label fixation) but she and I did it anyway, with joy and delight. Flash to 2008: My stepdaughter is a FANTASTIC knitter who has submitted patterns to KNITTY ezine, we've both become passionaate about making presents from the heart, and guess what?? Even the guys now look forward to "the amazing presents the women make!" My husband has taken up woodworking, and all the guys have learned crafts, whether autobody repair, house remodeling or paining. My husband just got laid off so we are back to kinda broke, but nothing will ever stop me from expressing love with handmade gifts. I laugh, cry, pray and sing over my projects, no matter how simple, and know that gifts from the heart are SPECIAL. So maybe America has lost its dignity after the world viewing a winky, flirty fluff of a presidential candidate, and maybe we will all be eating a lot more peanut butter, but we can still LOVE. Ending on the lines of my favorite quote:
"If of worldly goods thou art bereft, And two loaves alone to thee are left, Sell one and with the dole Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul."