Sick of Shopping?

Are you sick of shopping yet? Women love to shop. At least most women. That's what I hear. We could shop everyday of our lives. Heaven will look like a mall, filled with greasy juiced up food that doesn't make you fat.

Not my Heaven! Shopping is fun, it's has it's moments. You could argue that it's a healthy workout, carrying all those heavy bags. Rushing from store to store may give your cardio a boost, but for me it's like eating chocolate. Too much makes me sick.

I started my Christmas shopping last week. I'm almost done. My dad, my husband, a couple generic gifts for a big family exchange, and 1 more for Megan- 2 more for Katie. Oh don't forget they both need bikes. Can you believe our kids are 11 & 9 yrs old and they don't have bikes?!? I guess they don't need bikes. Really they don't NEED any of this stuff. How much does the American kid need? I guess about as much as their parents need, and by looking around that seems to be a lot. We have so much stuff that giving to goodwill became a monthly event. A tax write-off. Hey! it's tax time...time to gather up ALL the charity receipts. I'm guilty.

So how much is to much for Christmas?
This year I asked the girls "how many presents do you expect to get this year from us (mom & dad)?"
My oldest said, "between 3-5." mildly surprised, I ask the younger one. She perks up and begs for 5. "please... 5 presents!"
This was an easy one! I compromised and said 4. "Okay, 4 gifts...plus Santa."

So that's that. Four gifts each.
But wait a minute...let's do the math...
4 from parents
?? from grandparents (far more than 4...)
?? from cousins, aunts, uncles, friends

In years past it has added up to one great big number!
So, we ask ourselves...Are we raising spoiled brats?
No.
At least I'm not trying to.
We start off in Sept. singing Christmas Carols in the car. Then the decorations come out. (I put up a fake tree in October...uhm- it's a seasonal tree). Baking for friends, thanking God for His gift, and yes, shopping.
Shopping is just one part of the tradition. Definitely not the most important. I think they know that. I hope they know that.

Yesterday I shopped all day with a GREAT friend- Denise. It translated into 2 gifts. Today I'm shopping all day with my husband (love spending time with him). I hope that gets me to the end of my list. I'm a slow shopper. I make all the other people angry. Sorry. I just want to get the perfect gift. That takes time.
Why is everyone in such a rush? Is it that awful if you forget something? What's awful is fighting over some toy. How about smiling- saying "excuse me", or here's one "Merry Christmas". I said that to a Kmart manager (while she was being rude). She slowed her pace, looking straight at me, said "I wish I could say that."

Shopping? Let's go see a movie.

Then I'll soak in a hot tub! :)