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My wife and I use to spend money on each other, but now that we have a little one, we don't spend much on each other (maybe about $40). That said, we will probably spend about $400-500 on xmas presents b/c of parents, siblings, nieces, friends, etc.
However, next year we are planning to stay in Knoxville and donate our time to local charity organizations and soup kitchens. I would like to buy the biggest turkey I can find and cook it up on a smoker for a shelter that is having trouble with meeting the demands. My wife thought it would be great if we not only donated our time to serving and helping out, but actually ate our holiday meals right there at the shelter instead of driving away to our own feast. It would give us a better appreciation for the hardships many deal with, and how our lives have been blessed so far and we should share our blessings with others because who knows? One day we may be the less fortunate ones.
Very thoughtful and we all should take heed to your last sentence.
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Originally Posted by cremebrulee
My mom just passed away, and I'm not saying this for sympathy, but I am actually looking forward to spending my very first Thanksgiving alone...ever...I'm cooking a Turkey and all the trimmings and taking some of it, to some friends who are also alone...my sister is mortified that I want to be alone, and my other sister is mad at me...but she'll get over it....
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone....
wouldn't it be wonderful if we would all extend ourselves to others...over the holidays...instead of buying gifts and think we've done our deed?
Wouldn't that make a great movie....Christmas without gifts....I bet, the gifts would be indeed bountiful....if we sat down and had to figure out, what we could do for someone else that was nice, instead of just handing them a gift. Maybe inviting someone from a nursing home, who is alone this year to our homes....or maybe giving more to the salvation army or the visiting nurses of America...
Maybe cooking a turkey and making up sandwhiches and taking them to the city and leaving them on the street, with a sign, for free?????
Sorry for your loss. My uncle passed away in August. last Thanksgiving he came to visit with his wife and cooked us our very first fried turkey and it was our first time hosting a holiday dinner in our new home. We laughed, ate, reminisced the entire weekend. It's going to be rather lonesome without him, since he was our nearest family member (with the exception of 1 brother and 2 nieces) - all others are at least a thousand miles away. In any event we will reflect on the good, celebrate his memory, and be thankful that we have food to eat, decent health, and a roof over our heads.
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Originally Posted by Mooseketeer
I just wish people would stop seeing Christmas a shopping experience. There is so much waste in our world as it is and so many deprived and lonely people. Forfeiting some un-necessary stuff is hardly a hardship! It never ceases to amaze me that people are so incredibly greedy. Stuff we never knew we needed or wanted has now become "must haves". It's really sad. Conspicuous consumption is now the order of the day and what for ? Our little fads only last a few months generally and then , onto the next thing...
We completely forget what is truly important, such as love, friendship, health and happiness.
Love, Friendship, Health, Happiness and I'll add to that Appreciation & Compassion for those less fortunate.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my Grand-Mother ( who was like a Mother to me) so I know how you must be feeling. Grieving is a very personal thing and you are doing the right thing doing whatever is right for you.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and I am sure your friends will appreciate your kind sharing gesture.
Don't let family or anyone else dictate what to do or how to feel. You are you and as such unique, so only you knows what is best for you.
I am not Christian but I still love Christmas, I see it as period of reflection and a good time to get to terms with what life has thrown at you in the past 12 months.
I was born in December and this year will be 40 so even more of a reason to try and take stock !
I just wish people would stop seeing Christmas a shopping experience. There is so much waste in our world as it is and so many deprived and lonely people. Forfeiting some un-necessary stuff is hardly a hardship !
It never ceases to amaze me that people are so incredibly greedy. Stuff we never knew we needed or wanted has now become "must haves". It's really sad. Conspicuous consumption is now the order of the day and what for ? Our little fads only last a few months generally and then , onto the next thing...
We completely forget what is truly important, such as love, friendship, health and happiness.
I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving !
Thanks so much...hugs and Happy Thanksgiving right backatcha...I am a December baby to...maybe it was something in the womb, think?
thanks so much to, for the condolances....I am very sorry to hear for your loss as well.
I am so thankful for my mom and who she was...I don't have a lot of friends, cuz I don't stand with the crowd...what is more important to me, is standing up for what you believe in, no matter who agrees or not...I'm not in this world to win a popularity test.
I remembered the one thing the minister said about my mom...."He didn't know her long, but knew what she said she meant. She did not mean to step on toes, but, she was brutally honest...." Without her I wouldn't be where I am today...she saved my life, literally...she was quit a woman...
anyway...hugs to ya...and thanks so much for your kindness.
I got a wild holiday spirit feeling the other day and sent money to my favorite food pantry in the states, planned parenthood, doctors without borders and mercy corps. I couldn't afford to buy anything else now. Makes me very happy.
I got a wild holiday spirit feeling the other day and sent money to my favorite food pantry in the states, planned parenthood, doctors without borders and mercy corps. I couldn't afford to buy anything else now. Makes me very happy.
You only contribute to a food pantry once a year? Shame!
Good for you. But that's no excuse to disparage the contributions that others make, however infrequent that contribution may be.
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