Christmas Cards

Saturday we received several Christmas cards. Two in particular stand out. One we received from a family who lost their 16 year old daughter. They sent a photo card, in the center was a Christmas ornament with her name on it. Then on either side was a photo of the family. They also included a free-form poem, basically listing things that they did through out 2009, meaning that their daughter was with them as they experienced these things. I cried when I read it, so beautiful and touching.

The second card was from a young family, they sent a photo card of their nearly 2 year old daughter. Their poem included the news that they are pregnant again, due in the summer. I couldn't help but think, "I hope nothing happens to the baby." I know I wouldn't be comfortable making an announcement that way.

Ethan was honored in his great-grandparents' Christmas card. They handmake their Christmas cards, have been for 60 years! The cover showed a little drummer boy. Inside they wrote that this was the 60th year of their making cards and it was dedicated to the two new drummers in the family, Ethan and a cousin who started playing drums in her jr. high band. I found it to be a wonderful coincidenece because we took a picture of Ethan playing on a full drum set, then on our Christmas card the message was " I'll play my drums for Him... pa rum pa pum pum..."

Toys and Donations

Since Halloween, the toy manufacturers, as always, have increased the number of commercials they show, especially on the kid channels. Thankfully, Ethan isn't sucked into them yet. One day during a B@rbie commercial, I thought to myself , "Good lord, that's a lot of little pieces. I'm glad, I don't have to put up with all the girlie toys." But I knew as soon as I thought it that I would love to play B@rbies with my little Sara.

Several weeks ago, we received a letter asking for donations to S+. Jude'z Research Hospital. The letter has a postscript. "I hope that your own family never suffers the tragedy of losing a child to an incurable disease."

It stung a bit. Don't try to guilt me into giving money. Yes, I think this is a good cause to give to, but I have chosen other equally important causes to give to, causes that don't make me want to slug Marlo Thomas.