I collect things for this all year long. The tote is filled with books. I have never seen people so pleased with a box of books. So every time, I see a book that I think they'd enjoy, I pick it up and toss it in the tote. Since there are all ages, the books vary widely from children to adult.
Practically everything is thrifted. I don't feel bad about that...it is how they do it, so I do the same. The doll house was a dollar. It comes with furniture and two little dolls. The Noah's ark was a happy find. They love wooden toys. I have a brain teaser game in there. Games. puzzles, a tin carousel, play dough... To be honest, because I wrap them a few at a time, I don't remember what some of the things are. That's part of the excitement for me.
(There are some advantages to having a brain like mine.)
As I collect these things, they get put away. If DJT has been particularly outrageous, I retreat to the bedroom and wrap a couple Christmas gifts (cue Julie Andrews) "...and then I don't feeeeeeeel so baaaaaaaaaaaad..."
I have gifts stacked by family. One pile of gifts went out the door to my son and daughter-in-law's house. They are stashed away in the dresser in the guest room. My oldest granddaughter knows they are there and has been assigned a 'secret mission' to sneak everything under the tree on Christmas eve after her sister goes to bed. She loves being a spy, and is surprisingly good at it. Her parents know about the secret mission and will helpfully be otherwise occupied, I am sure.
Friday night, another pile of gifts will go the pile of gifts pictured. Little by little, we are getting the guest room back.
It will be another fun night. This is probably our 4th or 5th year celebrating with our friends. I need to go back in the blog and see. It is a beloved tradition for us. I hope it is for them, as well.
After our snow 'event', the temperature is 42. Tomorrow we will be in the fifties. Snow and rain mix through 'til Christmas, temperatures in the thirties. We woke last night to the sound of snow sliding off the roof. The wind was picking up.
Tim laughed in the darkness. "Spring is here!"
I answered back from my side of the bed. "Winter may have been short, but it was a tough one. I am glad to see it go."
What a great way to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun. The kids get SO excited. We eat supper first, and the kids chatter away in Dutch to each other, eyeballing the presents. Even the oldest ones. Their excitement is contagious. This year, they have 2 gifts apiece to open. Once the word is given, just get out of the way. 9 excited children are out of their chairs and running. The noise is joyous!
DeleteI'm guessing you don't take many photos of the event with your Amish friends as they eschew photographing faces. What a lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteNo pictures.
DeleteThat sounds like so much fun. I love the fact that you wrap and forget, and so it's all new for you, as well. Amazing warm up after all of that snow.
ReplyDeleteLol. As the saying goes, pretty soon, I will be able to hide my own Easter eggs.
DeleteDebby this was such a nice read and that's a sweet collection of gifts, what a super photo. I am a huge Sloppy Joe fan, you should post your recipe on here sometime. We got the same change in temps as you, and are expecting the same for Christmas, but haha you don't really think winter is over yet do you... ;^)
ReplyDeleteDoug, I mean this in the very kindest way: shush!
DeleteClearly a labor of love!
ReplyDeleteI do love Christmas shopping...which is why I do it all year around.
DeleteThat's the sort of Christmas I remember from my childhood ... all those centuries ago ...
ReplyDeleteLol. Quite seriously, when I was a kid, my parents had a little cabin with no plumbing or electricity. We would spend weekends there. We had 'old fashion Christmas'. It was a special time. We cut down a tiny tree, made little ornaments for it, and made each other presents. It was special to us, and although these Christmases are not at all alike, still, the simple happiness of it brings back warm memories.
DeleteWe are slightly above freezing today, but not much and it is dull and windy. Give me a cold and sunny winter day just about any time. Glad you are all set to bring cheer for a Amish Christmas.I passed a poor guy on the sidewalk with a very big load of belongings in bags. He wasn't begging. I walked by, opened my wallet where he couldn't see me, pulled out a twenty and asked if it would help him. He said yes.
ReplyDeleteAC, I am convinced it will be the kindnesses we extend to each other that will turn this world around. I hope your gesture made your day brighter. It always seems to do that for me.
DeleteNew reader, first time commenter… what is your connection with the Amish family? It’s not clear if they are friends or relatives. Also curious about your mentions of buying things so inexpensively at the Amish stores - are those open to anyone or just to people with connections of some sort to the Amish?
ReplyDeleteLevi has a sawmill. Our acquaintance started out as a business relationship. They have a son with health issues ththe stores that i am talking about are actual businesses. at require trips to Pittsburgh and back on a regular basis. They use drivers for that. I was sad to find out what they were paying for these trips. I offered to drive them when I could. They pay to fill up the tank. They have repaid us many times over for those trips in our mind. Levi and his sons installed the tin on our roof. It has turned into a true friendship valued by all of us.
DeleteAmish own stores. Most of them are right out of their own home. Nearly every Amish has a business. Levi has a saw mill. Mattie has a greenhouse and she sells health supplements. They have a farm to run and a huge garden. I admire that.
The stores I shop at are actual businesses. One is close to home. Another is a huge grocery store cslled Hornings that I pass by on my way home, which is actually a Mennonite store. These businesses are open to everyone. Truth be told, so are the little home-based businesses. The problem is that most people would not know where to find them. We buy a lot of produce from them in the summer.
Sorry about the garbled text. Ask more questions if you can't make it out.
DeleteThat would be a lovely way to spend an evening, a family of children excited about their gifts. It's always the kids, they still believe, they're still innocent in so many ways. Have a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteTheir Christmas does not involve decorations, trees or Santa Claus. Good food. Presents by lantern light in a big kitchen warmed by a wood stove. Pleasant converdation. It really is lovely.
Delete9 excited children sounds wonderfully crazy, have a lovely time.
ReplyDelete(If someone brought me a box of books I would be very happy too!)
If I drop off books, everything stops as the children go through them. They really do love to read.
DeleteIf you believe winter is over, I know a bridge for sale.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I really don't believe it. But it is a happy think!
DeleteLOL! I would also forget if I slowly wrapped presents randomly all year long. What fun!!
ReplyDeleteOur snow melted away a lot in a couple of warmer days, but winter is returning rather enthusiastically tomorrow.
Happy holidays!! :)
A mind is a terrible thing to lose!
DeleteI know that is going to be a happy evening. What joy you bring those children.
ReplyDeleteWhat joy they all bring me!
DeleteYou are well prepared, by the sound of it. As someone would describe it, a fake spring.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. I read about the fake spring in the fake news.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good time for everyone. Cali
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of fun. One of my favorite things.
DeleteOur late fall has been catastrophic, weather-wise. I would like to skip winter. The gifts sound wonderful; it certainly is heart-warming when people enjoy their presents. It's the spirit of the season.
ReplyDeleteMy old editor lives out in Concrete. He has been posting so.e awful pictures of the flooding. Is it still raining?
DeleteEnjoy your Amish Christmas celebration.. It sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very special evening.
DeleteFriday night is going to be so much fun, the children must be bursting with excitement.
ReplyDeleteThe children range from 3 to 16, but I think that the oldest ones are just as excited as the little ones.
DeleteThere is nothing quite like a Christmas celebration with little children, I miss those. Enjoy, I know you will.
ReplyDeleteI sure will. It means a lot to me.
DeleteThis Amish Christmas tradition sounds incredibly special, especially the way you thoughtfully thrift and collect books and toys all year so each gift feels both humble and full of heart. I can't wait to hear all about it. Enjoy the festivities.
ReplyDeleteYou will! You surely will!.
DeleteMakes you and Tim feel like Mr. and Mrs. Claus! A sweet and generous gesture for sure! It's so nice to hear good news like this!
ReplyDeleteWhen we pull up, the kids burst out of the house and start carrying things in. They are so excited. I have an idea that their gifts do not generally get wrapped. They tear through that paper in a big rush. The gifts are not labeled for a specific child, but they hand them of to the people who they belong with. It is fun to watch them.
DeleteLovely celebrations ❤️
ReplyDeleteWinter doesn't give up that easily....
I am sure you are right, but a girl can dream, can't she?
DeleteGave a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteAck, that should be HAVE a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteWe will give a good time an have a good time as well! Happens every year!
Delete