It's That Time of Year Again!

It's that time of year when I'm starting to feel the panic rise over Christmas gifts! Yes, Christmas gifts! By October I usually like to have made a significant dent in my Christmas list. But, with the move and everything else that has gone on in the past three months or so, I feel like I'm only about halfway to where I should be at this point. I have lots of ideas of things I want to buy people, I just need to get out and actually do the shopping! This is one disadvantage to where we live now ... in Anderson, you pretty much had any store at your disposal. Here, you have to drive somewhere else in order to get to any decent stores.

I'm also feeling stressed because family members are starting to ask for "the list." Lately, I've had requests from three family members of, "Can you give us a list of some gift suggestions we can get for you and Jason and Camryn?" Why does this cause me stress? First, when "the list" requests start coming in, I'm suddenly bugging Jason for his list. Although, I have to admit, he's pretty easy to please ... books, electronics, and clothes, and he's a pretty happy guy! Then there's the list for Camryn - trying to figure out what she really needs or what would be a useful gift versus a junk/get-something-just-to-have-it-kind-of gift. Also, the dilemma with her (and all of us, really) is making sure we ask for things that won't break people's budgets. I know you're wondering what in the world we put on these lists we're giving people! But, you never know what someone's budget is, and I'm always so nervous they will look at our lists and think, "Good grief! This will have to last them for the next three Christmases!"

I am patting myself on the back a bit for making my life a little easier this year when it comes to the Heather section of "the list." For the past few years, whenever anyone has asked what I would like for Christmas, my mind has gone blank! I could never think of anything I really wanted, until December 26 when I would suddenly remember, "Oh! I should have asked for that, or that, or that!" So, beginning this past January, I started writing down my wish list. I kept my list in a basket in our kitchen, and anytime I had a "wish" all year long, I wrote it down. I'm pretty proud of myself for that one!

I think another reason I may be stressed is because I am trying to do some of my shopping through Ebay. And, no, I am not buying people used things. Ebay is stressing me because I am bidding on some pretty popular items. Now, I have been pretty good at sniping in the past, but with the things I am looking at, I am putting in my maximum bid early and then walking away so I don't get too caught up in just wanting to win in the last minutes. I know what I am willing to spend, and that's that. Therefore, I am having to exercise patience and just wait for the right thing to come along where I don't get outbid. I know I could probably reduce my stress just a bit by giving up the Ebay and just going out and buying the darn gift, but I want the deal! :)