Dad worked odd construction jobs in the dead of winter in Maine to pay the bills. Both my parents made gifts for us. I can’t imagine how he and mom managed to make gifts after we had gone to bed. I don’t know how Dad could manage to stay up late and make toys after a long day at work in the cold. Then in the early morning he would have to get up and do it all over again.

Dad made me a doll bunk bed and toy trucks for my brother out of scrap lumber. Mom sewed quilts and pillows for the bed from scraps and my dad’s old police uniform shirts. She sewed us each a sleeping bag that looked like a turtle. They had a small amount of money and went to the 5 and Dime (remember Woolworths??? OK so I’m getting old) and bought a few inexpensive little toys. Each item no matter how small was wrapped up and put under the tree. Relatives had sent a few “store bought” presents, so we really didn’t notice the lack of commercialism.

As long as I live, I will always remember that Christmas as my favorite.

Anyone that doesn’t understand or appreciate a handmade gift in these tough economic times, doesn’t understand the true meaning of the holiday. Christ’s birth was a humble, simple event, in coarse accommodations. God chose to deliver his only son not in fanfare and pomp but simply. The gift was much greater than the “wrappings and trappings”. We should remember this when we both give and receive this season.

Cheers!

I can recall giving homemade gifts while in college, tho that was more out of necessity than a statement about consumerism!

The best was the one I made for dad. It was a picture frame. Fairly simple design, yet unique. Heck – it was made out of scraps from other projects (the scraps that would work happened to be white oak, but hey). In the frame, I put one of my favorite pictures from childhood – one of my father and I cleaning some antique toy tractors. I was probably 4 or 5 in the picture. It was only the second time I’d seen my father cry.

you can’t buy that.

It’s worth mentioning that one of the best things we can do is to spend time together. Rounding up the family and decorating the home with homemade decorations is one of the best things you can do for your holiday season this year. I promise they will never forget it… and neither will you!

Let’s start some new traditions.

Way to go Jesse… what are you going to do to top it this year?

Cheers.

I think everyone should commit to doing all homemade decorations, ornaments, and gifts for ONE YEAR… and see if you ever go back!

For those reading, we’re trying to set it up to have the family over this year to decorate our home with all those same homemade ideas… I am so pumped!