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*** Not me but my Mom, but I was only 12 and with her. My church did a pounding for an in need family.
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*** Mom always canned way to much food for us and she donated several gallons of Green beans.
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*** When the lady saw the green beans she screamed and hung my Mom with all her might.
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*** She said she had been praying from green beans for their Christmas dinner.
***

Clearly by accident!!! I was shopping the clearance rack at TJ Maxx, happened to look at the lower rack(mostly out of sight) and there were the cutest toddler rain coats with quilted flannel lining for $2! So I grabbed one for my 2 yr. old niece who loved, loved, loved it, she wore it non-stop. She would put up a fuss when it was time to take it off so she could get in the tub. Then they hid it from her. My other brother was so impressed with it-- we had to run back out to the get his son one. Best 2 bucks or 4 I ever spent! More recently (4 yrs ago?), My mom picked out a 4 ft pre-lit Christmas tree for her room at the nursing home, perfect size for her to sit in her wheelchair and arrange and rearrange her ornaments. My mom knew Christmas 2013 was going to be her last, she left her tree lights on 24/7, this was the one and only time she ever did this. Mom died Sept. 2014, my new tradition is to put up moms tree along with our own and keep the lights on 24/7.

my best giving gift was this year to some vets. when I delivered the quilts, food and book their faces just lit up. and they were genuinely thankful for whatever I had in that car. it certainly made me feel good.

JoAnne, that is a beautiful story. I'm so sorry for your loss. I've heard it said that a person continues to exist on this earth for as long as they are remembered. One of the most touching things that I have ever seen is in a cemetery I often drive by. Every year I see a miniature tree with blue lights. What a beautiful thing!

I gave myself a gift one year by paying one of my student's senior dues. He was so grateful, he had his grandma invite me to dinner!

My favorite gift was given to me on Sunday. My best friend made up IOUs for different favors like a lunch, trip to the Dr or help around the house. We both laughed but it is the gift of kindness that touched my heart.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

This year I had a surprise at the grocery store. I had found a small stuffed Christmas tree that played music and danced. I ( of course had to try it to se what it did) . There happened to be a young lady there with 2 small children --guessing about 1 and 3 yrs old. She asked me where I got it and I told her. As I was cashing out my groceries--she said she couldn,t find any more of them. Her little boy put his hands out and wanted it so badly -he was actually was crying to have it. 1 look at his little face and I couldn,t resist--I gave it to them and said Merry Christmas.
That made my day and those 2 little adorable children. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all.

Wolf3349, you are a Christmas Angel. Just sitting here by the tree, reading your story, and thinking that there is still hope for humanity.

This Christmas. My friend has arthritis in her hands and I went over and spent 8 1/2 hours wrapping all her presents She picks things up through out the year and puts them in her Christmas Closet. She still has an 18yo son and a 14yo daughter at home and 3 gs's and 1 gd ages 3 thru 12. Barely got them under the tree before the sun started to wake up. This year I'm giving myself a couple hours nap. Hope every one has a very Merry Christmas.

Sewingsew-Thank you, moms tree goes up before our own. Got to have that me peace and serenity first. For now I don't see me ever giving up my new tradition. It was fun for me to watch mom beam with pride when passer-byers would stop and compliment her beautiful tree. I would do the original decorating then mom would do her touch ups. Thank you for letting me share.