tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117591712009-02-21T03:00:57.085-08:00Random thoughts from a writer and homeschool mom.Sue Merriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14989317878959830284noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11759171.post-1119924809808613972005-06-27T19:13:00.000-07:002005-06-27T19:13:29.813-07:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/110/6617/640/Me%20and%20Tman%20002.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/110/6617/320/Me%20and%20Tman%20002.jpg'></a><br />Me! A self-portrait.&nbsp;<a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11759171-111992480980861397?l=suesnovelblog.blogspot.com'/></div>Sue Merriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14989317878959830284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11759171.post-1119922283882214372005-06-27T18:29:00.000-07:002006-11-03T14:52:01.123-08:00Christmas is rapidly approaching, which means my son is collecting toy magazines and circling virtually every item on every page. The list includes about a hundred toys so far, all within the reasonable range of $25 to $100, which will come to a total cost of $2,500 to $10,000, if we buy everything he wants. Sadly, I am not Bill Gates. I am not even related to Bill Gates, much as I wish I was. The more than one hundred toys my son has listed will not be sitting under our Christmas tree this yuletide season.<br /><br />We keep trying to explain this to our son, but he's not good at numbers yet. I'm afraid Christmas is going to be a big disappointment. Maybe a box of Legos and a package of candy will help.<br /><br />In any case, I have noticed, that the older I get, the less important "stuff" becomes to me. I can't think of a single thing I want for Christmas. Or maybe I have come to realize that the important things are items money cannot buy. I want happiness. I want to experience joy in my work. I want to see my children laugh and play together.<br /><br />And I hope you don't mind if I wish the same for you. May you have no end of laughter in your home, joy in your work and happiness. <br /><br />Happy holidays, a little early.<br /><br />Sue<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11759171-111992228388221437?l=suesnovelblog.blogspot.com'/></div>Sue Merriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14989317878959830284noreply@blogger.com0