The true meaning of Christmas!
Dec 12, 2004 | 08:50 PM
#11
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The true meaning of Christmas!
Due to my family's limited budget, we can't give too much material things too others. We ourselves are "holding on the edge" most of the time. However, there's gotta be a few minor FREE things in your area that could help others.
Here's something minor that I did in my area.... We got a new neighbour last year and he lives alone. Most of his family is 4+ hours away. He's a big guy and he always has problems with his lower back. An old snowmobile accident when he was 18 and it still haunts him today. He doesn't make very much money either. Anyway, we got 8" of snow the other day and while he was at work (swing shift), I snow blowed his driveway out. Today, while he was asleep (after doing his night shift), I cleaned the plowed snow / ice away from the end of his driveway. This snow turned to ice and I had to use a thick shovel to remove it. It's amazing my hammering with the shovel didn't wake him. This snow / ice had to be removed because it bottoms out the average car. Thus, pulling off mufflers and denting under panels. A few moments ago, I moved our car back into our driveway and my neighbour comes running out. As he was holding his lower back, he tried to thank me. I just smiled and said, "mmmm.... it must have been the local elves - I hear they are very magical this time of year". He laughed, smiled at me then ran back into his house.
Even if you can't afford to purchase things for others or bring a less fortunate family into your home, try to do something special to others. Something that will help another, especially if they can't do it for themselves and blame it "on the seasonal elves". Even a little bit of FREE help goes a long way... Especially this time of year...
.
Dec 13, 2004 | 02:40 AM
#12
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The true meaning of Christmas!
great point spike99, helping others need not cost a dime, and can be far more rewarding or beneficial than giving toys or monetary gifts. when i was about 10 y/o i remember my dad helping a stranger (elderly lady) carry home some grocery bags over a few blocks. he did it to help her, to set an example for me I'll never forget.
Dec 13, 2004 | 08:31 AM
#13
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From: Northern Virginia, near DC
The true meaning of Christmas!
That is the real deal Spike... You should never feel ashamed because of being on the short end of the wage pool. I think everyone has been there at some point in their lives.. It is what is in your heart that defines a person... not how much green stuff is in their pockets...
Something I always found interesting, is that no matter how fat or how thin your wallet is, there is always someone with bigger, or smaller ones. No matter where you fall on the food chain, there will always be opportunities to help someone in need..
I do wish that there were no need for food banks.. or giving trees.. or shelters for the homeless, battered or abused... but with people like you out there... there is still hope that tomorrow may bring us closer to that goal.
Something I always found interesting, is that no matter how fat or how thin your wallet is, there is always someone with bigger, or smaller ones. No matter where you fall on the food chain, there will always be opportunities to help someone in need..
I do wish that there were no need for food banks.. or giving trees.. or shelters for the homeless, battered or abused... but with people like you out there... there is still hope that tomorrow may bring us closer to that goal.
Dec 13, 2004 | 10:12 AM
#14
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From: Hat Creek, Ca
The true meaning of Christmas!
Well I have to admit I am very impresed by the attitude's and outlook's of almost all who have posted here. It warms my heart to know that there is so many good hearted people here. You guy's get the true meaning of Christmas. The wife and I have always helped out at our local giving tree, have been involved with the less fortunate in our area through our church. I am looking forward to doing even more to help in the future, We are at the end of raising our boy's. 19 year old moved out last week and the 17 year old graduates from HS this summer.
Hopeing the financial drain of raising children will be close to over and we can help out even more than we can afford to help now. Should even have more time to share also.
Hopeing the financial drain of raising children will be close to over and we can help out even more than we can afford to help now. Should even have more time to share also.
Dec 13, 2004 | 10:34 AM
#15
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From: Northern Virginia, near DC
The true meaning of Christmas!
You are kidding right? After they move out, that is when they get real expensive... Then there are weddings... and grand kids... Hoo yeah.. you are just getting started..... Ya gotta love being a baby boomer...
Dec 13, 2004 | 11:33 AM
#16
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From: Hat Creek, Ca
The true meaning of Christmas!
Originally posted by: Dragginbutt
You are kidding right? After they move out, that is when they get real expensive... Then there are weddings... and grand kids... Hoo yeah.. you are just getting started..... Ya gotta love being a baby boomer...
You are kidding right? After they move out, that is when they get real expensive... Then there are weddings... and grand kids... Hoo yeah.. you are just getting started..... Ya gotta love being a baby boomer...
In know it is not clear sailing ahead that is for sure.
We still are much better off financially than my brothers, who's kids are 2-8, each have a minimum of 2 kid's some 4.
Dec 13, 2004 | 11:56 AM
#17
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From: Northern Virginia, near DC
The true meaning of Christmas!
Doh!. it is worse than I thought then.... Quick, sell the house, buy a motorhome and run away as fast as you can.... (just kidding).. but there are days when I sure think about it... We have two grown children 28 and 24, and a 9 year old. What a blessing the young one has been. The two older ones have much more complicated (i.e. expensive) issues. 7 years of school for my eldest... thankfully, teh middle child decided to travel his own path.. and so far has managed to do OK.. but that doesn't account for the one year we paid house payments etc while he was out of work...
There is supposed to be a life after mom and dad phase... I wouldn't know.. but people tell me there is such a thing...
It made us re-evaluate our retirement plans though... but that is just one of those little sacrifices we all have to make from time to time... Instead of becoming turtles living with our shells on our back and doing some serious trekking , we have decided to buy that retirement property and enjoy a less active pace.. and provide a point on the map where the kids and grandkids can point to and call "home". Being globe trotters in my previous carreer, we thought it might be nice to have some roots growing for a change.
Now all I have to do is win the lottery so I can afford to begin construction on that cabin we have planned.
Peace
DB
There is supposed to be a life after mom and dad phase... I wouldn't know.. but people tell me there is such a thing...
It made us re-evaluate our retirement plans though... but that is just one of those little sacrifices we all have to make from time to time... Instead of becoming turtles living with our shells on our back and doing some serious trekking , we have decided to buy that retirement property and enjoy a less active pace.. and provide a point on the map where the kids and grandkids can point to and call "home". Being globe trotters in my previous carreer, we thought it might be nice to have some roots growing for a change.
Now all I have to do is win the lottery so I can afford to begin construction on that cabin we have planned.
Peace
DB
Dec 13, 2004 | 12:04 PM
#18
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From: Hat Creek, Ca
The true meaning of Christmas!
Originally posted by: Dragginbutt
Doh!. it is worse than I thought then.... Quick, sell the house, buy a motorhome and run away as fast as you can.... (just kidding).. but there are days when I sure think about it... We have two grown children 28 and 24, and a 9 year old. What a blessing the young one has been. The two older ones have much more complicated (i.e. expensive) issues. 7 years of school for my eldest... thankfully, teh middle child decided to travel his own path.. and so far has managed to do OK.. but that doesn't account for the one year we paid house payments etc while he was out of work...
There is supposed to be a life after mom and dad phase... I wouldn't know.. but people tell me there is such a thing...
It made us re-evaluate our retirement plans though... but that is just one of those little sacrifices we all have to make from time to time... Instead of becoming turtles living with our shells on our back and doing some serious trekking , we have decided to buy that retirement property and enjoy a less active pace.. and provide a point on the map where the kids and grandkids can point to and call "home". Being globe trotters in my previous carreer, we thought it might be nice to have some roots growing for a change.
Now all I have to do is win the lottery so I can afford to begin construction on that cabin we have planned.
Peace
DB
Doh!. it is worse than I thought then.... Quick, sell the house, buy a motorhome and run away as fast as you can.... (just kidding).. but there are days when I sure think about it... We have two grown children 28 and 24, and a 9 year old. What a blessing the young one has been. The two older ones have much more complicated (i.e. expensive) issues. 7 years of school for my eldest... thankfully, teh middle child decided to travel his own path.. and so far has managed to do OK.. but that doesn't account for the one year we paid house payments etc while he was out of work...
There is supposed to be a life after mom and dad phase... I wouldn't know.. but people tell me there is such a thing...
It made us re-evaluate our retirement plans though... but that is just one of those little sacrifices we all have to make from time to time... Instead of becoming turtles living with our shells on our back and doing some serious trekking , we have decided to buy that retirement property and enjoy a less active pace.. and provide a point on the map where the kids and grandkids can point to and call "home". Being globe trotters in my previous carreer, we thought it might be nice to have some roots growing for a change.
Now all I have to do is win the lottery so I can afford to begin construction on that cabin we have planned.
Peace
DB
Dec 13, 2004 | 12:29 PM
#19
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From: Northern Virginia, near DC
The true meaning of Christmas!
Every time I have the cash lined up... something bad always pops up.. and I am forced to put the cash to use in other ways. I swear there is some sort of conspiracy going on... I did manage to buy the land though (See personal webpage for picture) 9 acres of sheer beauty in Wisconsin.. only problem is I am living in VA, so 1200 miles is a little too far to go for the weekend.
My wife and I and the young-in did manage to go back "home" last summer... but not long enough to get much done. We were making a quick trip for a wedding and saving vacation time for when the grand baby came along... so maybe next year. We did manage to pick a lot of wild blackberries though. It was the first time my son had tasted them.. and he stuffed himself... What he didn't know, was that the juice makes a real good permanent dye, and his fingers and mouth were a nice shade of purple when he was through.... His mom and I just laughed. He had terminal ring around the mouth for a week or so... We could have warned him, but it was way too much fun to watch... knowing what the end result was going to be...
Anyway, I am saving again... and maybe this spring... but we are re-evaluating our plans right now, and may just forgo the whole deal and sell the house and move sooner rather than later. It wouldn't take too much to get us to pull up stakes and take the plunge.... but with the grand child in Miami, it would be an even longer trip than what it is now from Virginia.... so a lot is going to go into our final choice. I really need that garage though. I am also staring at two major surgeries in the next year too... one being a heart bypass, the other a look see inside the infamous knee... so much has to do with what happens there too.
Everything in it's time I guess..
DB
My wife and I and the young-in did manage to go back "home" last summer... but not long enough to get much done. We were making a quick trip for a wedding and saving vacation time for when the grand baby came along... so maybe next year. We did manage to pick a lot of wild blackberries though. It was the first time my son had tasted them.. and he stuffed himself... What he didn't know, was that the juice makes a real good permanent dye, and his fingers and mouth were a nice shade of purple when he was through.... His mom and I just laughed. He had terminal ring around the mouth for a week or so... We could have warned him, but it was way too much fun to watch... knowing what the end result was going to be...
Anyway, I am saving again... and maybe this spring... but we are re-evaluating our plans right now, and may just forgo the whole deal and sell the house and move sooner rather than later. It wouldn't take too much to get us to pull up stakes and take the plunge.... but with the grand child in Miami, it would be an even longer trip than what it is now from Virginia.... so a lot is going to go into our final choice. I really need that garage though. I am also staring at two major surgeries in the next year too... one being a heart bypass, the other a look see inside the infamous knee... so much has to do with what happens there too.
Everything in it's time I guess..
DB
Dec 13, 2004 | 12:57 PM
#20
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Former Chinese POW!
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From: Hat Creek, Ca
The true meaning of Christmas!
Originally posted by: Dragginbutt
Every time I have the cash lined up... something bad always pops up.. and I am forced to put the cash to use in other ways. I swear there is some sort of conspiracy going on... I did manage to buy the land though (See personal webpage for picture) 9 acres of sheer beauty in Wisconsin.. only problem is I am living in VA, so 1200 miles is a little too far to go for the weekend.
**I have that same conspiracy going on here.**
My wife and I and the young-in did manage to go back "home" last summer... but not long enough to get much done. We were making a quick trip for a wedding and saving vacation time for when the grand baby came along... so maybe next year. We did manage to pick a lot of wild blackberries though. It was the first time my son had tasted them.. and he stuffed himself... What he didn't know, was that the juice makes a real good permanent dye, and his fingers and mouth were a nice shade of purple when he was through.... His mom and I just laughed. He had terminal ring around the mouth for a week or so... We could have warned him, but it was way too much fun to watch... knowing what the end result was going to be...
**Did the same thing with our boy's, They usually have to learn on their own anyway. Why cant parent's have any fun while they are learning?**
Anyway, I am saving again... and maybe this spring... but we are re-evaluating our plans right now, and may just forgo the whole deal and sell the house and move sooner rather than later. It wouldn't take too much to get us to pull up stakes and take the plunge.... but with the grand child in Miami, it would be an even longer trip than what it is now from Virginia.... so a lot is going to go into our final choice. I really need that garage though. I am also staring at two major surgeries in the next year too... one being a heart bypass, the other a look see inside the infamous knee... so much has to do with what happens there too.
**Keep me informed with your surgery schedule DB, Would love to keep you in my prayer's at that time of special need.**
Everything in it's time I guess..
**Why cant anything be in my time??** OK, maybe just one thing!!**
DB
Every time I have the cash lined up... something bad always pops up.. and I am forced to put the cash to use in other ways. I swear there is some sort of conspiracy going on... I did manage to buy the land though (See personal webpage for picture) 9 acres of sheer beauty in Wisconsin.. only problem is I am living in VA, so 1200 miles is a little too far to go for the weekend.
**I have that same conspiracy going on here.**
My wife and I and the young-in did manage to go back "home" last summer... but not long enough to get much done. We were making a quick trip for a wedding and saving vacation time for when the grand baby came along... so maybe next year. We did manage to pick a lot of wild blackberries though. It was the first time my son had tasted them.. and he stuffed himself... What he didn't know, was that the juice makes a real good permanent dye, and his fingers and mouth were a nice shade of purple when he was through.... His mom and I just laughed. He had terminal ring around the mouth for a week or so... We could have warned him, but it was way too much fun to watch... knowing what the end result was going to be...
**Did the same thing with our boy's, They usually have to learn on their own anyway. Why cant parent's have any fun while they are learning?**
Anyway, I am saving again... and maybe this spring... but we are re-evaluating our plans right now, and may just forgo the whole deal and sell the house and move sooner rather than later. It wouldn't take too much to get us to pull up stakes and take the plunge.... but with the grand child in Miami, it would be an even longer trip than what it is now from Virginia.... so a lot is going to go into our final choice. I really need that garage though. I am also staring at two major surgeries in the next year too... one being a heart bypass, the other a look see inside the infamous knee... so much has to do with what happens there too.
**Keep me informed with your surgery schedule DB, Would love to keep you in my prayer's at that time of special need.**
Everything in it's time I guess..
**Why cant anything be in my time??** OK, maybe just one thing!!**
DB