Sorry I haven't been back here for awhile. Thanks, guys, for all your wonderful comments.
I have also heard of the star program. What a wonderful idea that is.
Kyside, what could have been a disastrous Christmas for you and your family turned out to be the best Christmas ever. I'm so glad for you!
I agree with you, Stanley and Fins, Christmas without gifts wouldn't be Christmas. I think it helps to teach our kids to give. One year, we had a friend who had just gotten divorced and had three small children. She wasn't going to be able to afford Christmas for them. My older son and daughter were about 12 and 13 at that time. They told me that the money I was going to spend on them for Christmas I should spend on presents for my friend's kids instead. We all went shopping, and my son and daughter picked out the gifts. They were excited to see my friends' kids open the presents that they had picked. Of course, I also bought my kids a couple of gifts, too. But I think they had more fun watching rather than opening gifts themselves.
Boy, I'm just full of Christmas stories this year!