We shopped til we dropped

Mike and i took our annual Christmas shopping trip yesterday. Overall, it was a very successful trip. We always have the best time and we laugh so much. I am thankful for Mike and the fact that we still have so much fun together after 21 years!! I was cracking up yesterday before we left because as I was making sure I had our Christmas cash and coupons, I was also making sure I had tums and Advil! We know we are getting older and can't make it shopping without being drugged!!

I had completed about 75% of our shopping online already (YAY for Amazon and their free shipping) so the list I had was very short and specific. I am always torn this time of year because we ALWAYS say we are going to cut back this year, but I LOVE to buy for family and friends. I simply CANNOT stop buying for the kids. And Mike is WORSE than I am. Our kids don't need anything at all, but I love to give to them and see the look on their faces when it's exactly what they wanted. And now we have Miles in the family and we feel the same way about him! My parents say every year not to get them anything, but I love to try to remember things they've said they wanted and surprise them with it. Mike's mom is a little harder to buy for and I really stress about it. So at the end of the day, I would say we are 95% finished with Christmas shopping. I still have to take Jenna to shop for her friends, so by Saturday, I will be done.

I would like to end with a verse that I thought of several times yesterday!!

Matthew 7:9-12 (New Living Translation)

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.