last night when the first of my group arrived, she advised that the huge bag of gifts she had wasn’t for me…

as it happens, I like presents, and all my friends know this…

when we were gathered… one by Skype and three of us here (one was at the theatre so wasn’t with us)… she advised that she had filled shoe boxes on our behalf for women in local shelters… she had picked out hats or gloves, and scarves, socks, toothbrushes, deodorant, gift cards for Shoppers Drug Mart, lotion, bubble bath, a dragonfly ornament and chocolate for each person… she had wrapped up a box for each one and brought tissue and cards with her…

we got to go through our box, making sure there were no price tags left on any items and put the tissue in,  and then write a card for the woman who will receive the box…

it was a wonderful gift – for us – and for the women who will receive it… we spent a wonderful hour discovering the different items in each of our boxes and exclaiming over items in the other boxes… writing the cards and trying to find just the right sentiment…

a perfect gift for us, as none of us really needs anything… over the years we have donated animals to people in Africa, purchased items for 1Hope, sent cheques off to various organizations in honour of our group…

it really is better to give than to receive…

since December first I have been opening an Advent gift each day from my daughter in Ottawa… besides a chocolate every day – Ferraro Roche – I have received beautiful circle magnets with pictures she has taken on them… each one has been of our trip to Alaska, visit to Seattle and Victoria… they have brought back some wonderful memories of our time together this spring…

Advent magnet collection to date…

I can hardly wait to open one each morning as I wonder what picture will be there…

giving can bring such joy to the receiver, as well as the giver…