the gift of time.

Been tying up some loose business ends around here this week and enjoying preparations for Christmas. I'm totally soaking up the holiday season this year since I felt like I was celebrating in a fog last year with a newborn and a family of mice in the house. This morning Sarah helped me grab some images for my business holiday card to go out next week. She was more than happy to help when I told her what her job would be...



And that she would get to eat the product she was featuring when she was finished. She's all about that. (which, coincidentally, is a phrase she's taken to using lately.)

So in my holiday glee I've been flitting about from store to store and website to website hoping to choose the perfect items for those still on my list. Often (like today) I walk out of the store with items for no one on my list...but myself. Tis the season, right?

We're trying to establish a tradition (borrowed from my friend Nicki from years ago) of giving our children three gifts from Santa Claus, to represent the three gifts given to Jesus by the wisemen. Yes, I realize the bible never actually says how many wisemen there were but it's a nice way to tie in the story nonetheless. And this year we're adding a new tradition - the gift of time. The latest issue of Wondertime (Sharon , I still need your address for your subscription!) had a fabulous article about a family who chose to go this route for their holiday celebrations. The idea behind it is gifting things to your children that require more than a trip to the store and a few bucks. Instead this article highlighted a mom and dad who spent careful time planning and making special gifts they knew their children would enjoy - a homemade children's book with the child as heroine; a mixed CD of favorite tunes, etc.

My mom has been a master of this often over the years. One year for Christmas she bound and restitched my sister's childhood blankie that had been loved to smithereens. She could barely contain her excitement at giving my sister that treasure. I'm finding this year that I too and most excited about giving our children the gifts we're making for them. Sarah will be getting a brand new blog book covering 2007 -she's obsessed with our 2006 version and I know will spend most of January pouring over the new one. Ephraim will finally have the scrapbook from his first year finished and under the tree. Brent will be working on a new video set for each of the kiddos with highlights of their year. I'm also hoping to gift Sarah a new scrapbook and Ephraim a board book filled with faces of babies he knows and loves. I'll be sure to share finished products once it's all said and done.

Of course each of the kids are still getting storebought gifts and stocking stuffers galore but I have a feeling the things they'll still treasure years down the road will be the ones gifted, with love, by time.