Done!

I'm finally done Christmas shopping. I think Robyn pretty much wrapped hers up a week or two ago (punny, I know), but as a family and as me personally, I'm finally finished. I have to admit, I did let Robyn do a lot of her own shopping this year. When she knows the shirts she wants, and we're at the store, and she points them out to me... what's the point of making a second trip, ya know? Or even a third if the second trip turns out to be a cop out and ends in me just buying a gift card?

But I am happy to say that I bought her at least one present which I wrapped without her knowing what's inside. So that'll be fun. We're also done with shopping for the kids. I don't think we'll need to go to another store until December 26th... with the possible exception of groceries. Thank heavens.

Just an additional reflection:

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season this time of year, and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. Last Saturday we went to University Mall to visit Natascha at Zales and get Robyn's wedding ring cleaned... the only trouble is that we got there about 2 hours before Natascha's shift started, so we had to kill time in a crowded mall a week before Christmas... with three kids in tow. THAT was kinda crazy. In years past, I've enjoyed shopping with the crowds. There's something about the generosity where just about everyone is there to buy something for someone else that lends a spirit to the air that's just not there the rest of the year. However, that atmosphere is a lot easier to enjoy when you're not worried about kids running off in all directions in a crowded mall. That one factor made it easier to feel overwhelmed by it all.

At times like that it's helpful to pause and remember why the celebration is happening to begin with. As politically incorrect as it may be, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Regardless of the incorrect timing of it all (how much nicer would it be to do your Christmas shopping in the relative warmth of April?), it is the birth of the King of Kings that is celebrated. One would do well this time of year to lend a little extra time to study His life whose birth is celebrated. It might just make a couple hours at the mall on Saturday a little easier to bear. A little cliche' maybe, but that's the way I see it.

Oh, and there's only 5 shopping days left for those of you that haven't finished up yet.