HOW IMPORTANT ARE GIFTS?

Now that the Holidays are over, what makes you smile?😄

Is it the sweater from Aunt Barbara, or the homemade cookies from Aunt De? Or maybe the silver coins from Grammy and pop. It really doesn't matter, what matters most is that you were there to give and receive those gifts. The art of gift exchange has been going on for as long as I can remember. Through the years, my family modified this age long tradition, we tried to turn it around so there was so much more giving than receiving .

We started this process by asking all our children to make gifts for their cousins, so the parents didn't have to buy gifts for them. Now this required time and focus from the parents, we needed to teach our children the art of giving, to show them that with creativity, some glue and art supplies, they could create some really cool presents.

My daughter, Erica is pretty artistic. She loves to knit, draw, macramé, loves photography. Almost all her Christmas gifts are homemade. She starts Christmas gifts in July and has everything wrapped by Dec. 1st , nothing like her mother, who won't even think about Christmas until Dec. 1st.

Anyway, I tried very hard to teach my children, the Holidays are about being with family, sharing food @fff, just enjoying that visit with a cousin you haven't seen in awhile, or that really great big bear hugs from your brothers. It's NOT about the gifts you were given, but the gifts you gave.

It's all about the love that went into that present, even if all you gave was your presence.

I think anyone who does crafts and homemade gifts, including food like @lizelle, know how they felt while creating that
little something for their friend or family member. It's the joy of giving. It makes YOU feel good. My daughter really understood me when I taught her, the giving part is the best place to be.

These are just a few #photos of the beautiful gifts from Erica, my superstar daughter who is my best friend now and forever.

The tree of life.

A special day for farm-mom.

A #farm warming gift when the new bathroom was completed.

Hats, scarves and shawls to keep us toasty. We call it "farmwear"!

These are the newest addition to the farmwear collection.

These are head bands, one for myself and 1 for @thebigsweed, but notice the flower applique with the button center.
These make great face covers that warms the air so your lungs don't explode(just kidding), yet allow the fresh air in through the button holes.

They are great to wear when we go out on our ATVS.
Smart and cute, the sweeds got a very nice camo flower on his. hehe

This ornament was a gift from a ten year old Erica, notice the hook is a bent paperclip.

Can you feel the love?

Time flies, but warm memories stay forever.💖