[notfarnow]

3 years ago I was at the mall doing my typical last minute "I don't care what I get them as long as I get them something" shopping. Once again, I had spent more money than I could really afford, was tired and really foul. I was just getting ready to leave and stopped to make a quick call on a payphone. Set my bags down, dialed the number, got a busy signal and hung up. Went to grab my bags but they were gone. All my shopping...about $600 worth of stuff - stolen. I was a student at the time so that stung BAD. I was foul all Christmas. I swore I would never have another crappy Christmas where all my time and energy is focused on STUFF.

The next year, I gave homemade Christmas gifts... my girlfriend (now my wife) made chocolate truffles and pesto, I made cookies and took some pictures that I had framed.

Last year, I got my family, and my wife's, to commit to a "Make it, Bake it, or I won't take it" Christmas. That was the best Christmas I have ever had. I had tapped all the maple trees at our house the year before, and gave maple syrup for presents, my wife made truffles & pesto again. Everyone in the family gave homemade gifts... paper mache things, woodworking... it was awesome.

This year is the same thing, I just bottled the maple syrup last night. My wife and I are baking tonight. I helped my mother bottle 60 bottles of homemade wine last week. Instead of running around at the mall, we're all enjoying time with each other. I cannot even describe how much fun we have... I LOVE Christmas again!