As I listened to the commentator on the radio say that most people will spend $1400 on Christmas gifts this year, I couldn't believe it. He also said that most of that expense will be on credit.
My first thought was that I obviously don't give enough. My next thought was that I must disappoint my family because I can never think of very good gifts to give anyway.
But then I remember that I really have too many people in my family that I potentially could give gifts to. Seven children, their spouses, 25 grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins...where do you draw the line before you go broke?
Many of my friends have just a few grandchildren. They like to lavish gifts upon them. (They say that's their love language.) I guess lavishing expensive gifts on kids is not my love language.
Fortunately, my children have told me that they do not expect me to lavish expensive gifts on the grandchildren. They prefer that I make the effort to come see the kids' concerts and games and just be there. That's enough.
But, I always want to give something...something a little bit special.

The new story is about my Grandmother Lora Harmon Thompson. When she was a little girl, she loved to sing. She loved singing so much that when she helped out in the family's co-op store, the customers often asked her to sing for them. (Yes, the singing gene is strong in our family!)
But one day, her father was called on a mission. The older kids in the family thought of ways they could help earn money to send to their father on his mission. Lora wanted to do something, too, but she was just 6 years old.
Then she had a brilliant thought. The next time the customers asked her to sing, she held out her hand and said, "Nickel, please." And that's how she sent $98.50 to her father on his mission. Pretty good earnings for a 6-year-old in 1898!
I hope my family will appreciate having a Family History story for Christmas this year!