Christmas gifts and birthday wishes

Wowzers!!!!!!! So I have never even owned an iPod or mp3 player or anything. I even revolted at the idea of satellite radio. Dusty got me an touch for Christmas and I am hooked. In fact, I am blogging from it. That is rediculous! Our Christmas was fantastic. We stayed home this year and my parents and sister and uncle and cousins came too( and all the pooches.... 5 in total). We have two more christmas' left. I am wiped. I think I may hibernate for the next couple of months ( after my birthday... I think I might ask for am iPhone. Did I mention I'm in love

finding in the Unexpected

I had never found someone the PERFECT gift.

I have found good gifts but never "perfect"."

Maybe that's why I have struggled with the concept of "consumerism" the last 5 or so years.

I have a hard time with the gift giving at Christmas. I have felt like the truly important parts of Christmas are drowned by the need for shopping and buying and finding. The sweet sounds of families spending time with one another are muffled by car horns and ripping wrapping paper.

I have been having a Grinch moment in my life for quite sometime.

I KNOW that Christmas is not about gifts and yet,

in passing conversations that is the focus.

All of the "holiday stress" in my life is about the gifts.

I have really struggled this year.

Tonight, 8 days away from Christmas,

I finally found the perfect gift.

The perfect gift

isn't 

a gift that has been picked up just because they are the last person on your list

or

"it's nice enough"

or

the kind of gift that "will do".

It isn't something that you have to buy so you don't offend someone.

It isn't a gift bought to "beat out" the other gifts.

There is no obligation with the perfect gift.

I found a gift that is simple.

It is beautiful.

It has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the person I am giving it to.

I have never found "Christmas" in a package before.

For me, Christmas is a season of giving.

Giving of time

of hope

of love

of peace

of forgiveness

and every once in a while,

 you have the privilege

of giving

someone

something

 unexpected.

and for me,

this year,

 I got the gift of giving someone I love dearly, a present they will truly enjoy.

1 Kitchen sink coming right up.

Yes Yes I have been a blogging slacker. I just can't help it. It's Christmas. and I am busy with all things Christmas. Making gifts, baking, parties, music, trees, sledding, dresses. It is so awesome and happy. I think I could be an elf. I look fantastic in green and red. But for all those out there who still read this thing (if there is any) then I have a treat for you.....

Cure your Cold and Warm your Soul (or tummy) Soup.

(dusty emailed me from work yesterday and said he was SICK. He hardly ever gets sick (thank goodness- cause he thinks he is going to die) and so I made him soup. Only I had no chicken. Or noodles. So this is what I came up with....

2lbs of ground beef
6 cups of beef broth.
4 cups of water
3 large carrots
1 onion
2 heaping tablespoons of garlic
1 large can of tomatoes
1 can of corn
1/2 head of broccoli
1/2 head of cauliflower
1 can of lentils
1 bag of baby spinach chopped.
pepper.
Parmesan cheese.

Cook the ground beef in the stock. Add the water. Bring to a boil. Put in onion (quartered) and carrots and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes, boiling at medium heat. Add tomatoes and corn and broccoli and cauliflower and lentils and baby spinach. Cook over medium heat for 20 more minutes. This is soup. So the longer it simmers the better... I also throw in the rind of my Parmesan cheese and let it simmer with the soup. I think it adds flavor. Season according to your tastes. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on it. Enjoy.
I did.