Gift the Gift of a Christmas Vacation - Now Accepting Entries

My friend and high school classmate Susan White Jones (who is in the US Army and just recently returned from Iraq) sent me this wonderful link.

Smoky Mountain Christian Village is giving away family vacations to those in need or deserve something really special.

From her post....." Do you know a family in need? Maybe someone who has been ill, or has lost a job; perhaps a family with a loved one who will not likely be alive for another Christmas, or a Pastor in dire need of a vacation or time away. Maybe it is a couple in your Sunday school class that your class would like to help by showing them some love during the holidays.

Smoky Mountain Christian Village (SMCV) would like to help!

Between now and December 13, we are offering you a chance to Pay-It-Forward. If you are not familiar with the concept it is actually quite simple. You receive a gift, which you cannot keep for yourself, but you must “Pay-It-Forward” by giving it to someone else in need. The gift should be to someone who cannot possibly repay the gift, or obtain it on their own. "

 

Nominate your person/family who deserves this great vacation before it's too late.

 

How to be a debt free Santa, From Mom Start

How to be a debt free Santa, courtesy of My Parent Rewards

Love This Site Awards :: Southern Savers - DivineCaroline

"Vote for my FAVORITE BLOG - Jenny started it all for me - help her win the "I Love This Blog" Award (I secretly nominated her so please VOTE!)"

No pressure or anything, but I think this site deserves to win a Love! This Site Award from DivineCaroline, so please, vote soon! You can also still nominate your favorite sites.

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My Daughter LOVES Mail - Esp. From SANTA!

Thanks to Brandie over at FREE SAMPLE FREAK, my daughter will be getting a "warning" postcard from Santa. She posted a link to Google's Gmail offering of a free mailed postcard. You can create and send one postcard to anyone you want. I just happen to need Santa to send Grace a card telling her to "straighten up!" Who's on your list that needs a surprise card in the mail? no strings attached - just create and they send it for you via postal mail! Head over to Free Sample Freak today!

Her Barry and My Harry Save the Day

I don't know about your family, but my family has always put our Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving. (Lucky for me, I'm not a Black Friday Shopper.) You see, I am one of those people who hate to see Holiday stuff out the week of Halloween, houses trimmed with lights the week before Thanksgiving, holiday music blaring in Wal-mart by November 1st and getting my first Christmas card BEFORE Turkey Day (you KNOW who you are, lol.)

But this year, well, to tell the truth, I just didn't have it in me. Usually the boxes are out of the "Christmas closet" on Thanksgiving night - and they were. But, also usually, by Friday afternoon my house is twinkling all over. This weekend, I broke tradition. I waited. And waited. And waited - until today. After 7 days of walking around the huge pile of totes loving holding my holiday treasures, I gave in. After 30 minutes of unpacking every bow and bell, I still wasn’t into it. What was missing? I cranked up the heat, brewed a fresh pot of coffee and then set off to work again.

I still struggled. Was it the pile of work on my desk calling me? Was it my sick daughter lying in bed unable to help? Was it that my husband mysteriously disappeared the minute he saw me open the first box? What was wrong with me? I LOVE Christmas – and I love changing up my house even more.

As I pulled the top off the last tote to unpack, I found what was missing…..the Christmas CDs. Barry and Harry to be exact. As in Harry Conick Jr. (my favorite) and Barry Manilow, (my mother’s favorite.) I think I actually caressed the CD cover as I sashayed over to the player. I gently placed the first CD in, pressed “close” and held my breath as Harry belted the first note.

My shoulders relaxed. I let the air from my lungs. I was ready. Christmas was officially here.


You can hear a sample of my favorite songs’s by clicking the links in the Amazon sidebar box – Enjoy!