AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES!

Yesterday I went shopping. Can you believe it??? After a month of frantic shopping for perfect gifts, there I was in the store trying to find more stuff to buy. Okay - I had gift cards - but still, it seemed ridiculous to me - especially after I stopped for a moment and looked around at all the other people wandering through the store like zombies. Of course, everything has been picked over - and all the merchandise is jumbled and tumbled to the point of having zero appeal. I watched at least ten different shoppers pick up and quickly put down the same items. After all - how many fuzzy Christmas earmuffs can one person use? I realized that I could not list all the wonderful gifts I had received that were still at home under my tree - and so, today, I have been sorting through, putting away, and appreciating each gift - and giver. It has been a pleasant way to begin the "declutter" process of the holidays.


I look forward every year to the decorations - but after a while, I feel like those ubiquitous blow-up figures....completely deflated. I am still loving our tree, though. Enjoying the bright lights while we watch TV. But - I know that after New Year's Day - it, too, will be history...at least until next year. For right now - for THIS day - I will enjoy these slow days at the year's end. They are a wonderful time for reflecting and counting my blessings. When I do that - I always realize how much I have to be grateful for - and how little need I have for any more "stuff"! All that said - I still have those gift cards burning a whole in my wallet!!!