The first thing on my list this year is to not repeat last year. As you may recall, I returned home from the hospital with a new diagnosis and half my gifts labeled “contraband!” No sugar, sodium, caffeine, or stress. (And no Splenda/sucralose).
Over the year, mom & dad got in on the hospital bed visits…. can we be done with those? We agree that Mt Carmel is a great place to be if one must, but we don’t really want to move in.
My weight went down, more cookies for you, but clothes have become an iffy prospect. I’m well stocked on pj’s, gloves, coats, and scarves of both the warm and decorative variety. I’ve swiped some of dad’s 34×30 jeans, so equivalent dark dress slacks might be good.
I’d love to list restaurant food cards, especially Chipotle & Chick-fil-A, but processed food has a higher sodium content. Homemade yummies with long-term storage capability, or even invites for home cooked meals are always a hit. Especially if it includes games & laughter with friends.
Of course, being in the right state makes a difference… I might have competed with you for North American sleigh miles this year. Yours runs on reindeer, mine on gas, so a fuel card in my stocking comes to mind. I expect to relocate in the spring, which should reduce mileage somewhat. It will be another “not my house” arrangement, so decor is still off the list (not counting all the decor waiting to go back up when I have my own walls again).
Books, if I’m sitting still & not steering, might include two about the formative years of Elizabeth Elliot. I’m also a bit behind on my Kendrick brothers DVD collection. Courageous Legacy and the other Kirk Cameron film come to mind, I have Overcomer.
Dents in the debt would certainly be nice. The $32k school loan is still there, and though the cards were kept empty last year, fuel & pharmacy have changed that a bit.
Tissues are always a hit. Whether the purse packs or the boxes, one can never have too many. The hairbrush and shower scrubbie could be replaced. Sam’s Better Bars are back on the ok list since the diabetes is something to be careful with, but not overly strict about. I actually overdid the low carbs at the beginning of the year, making myself sick for lack of them. There’s a place of balance.
In case your elves are all about online shopping and delivery, I have an Amazon list of a few things.
Mostly, if I could really expect you to deliver my heart’s desire, it would be time with loved ones. It would be great if memories of 2024 were filled with the phrase “__person__ and I visited and saw/discussed/laughed about…” Let’s make that my big Christmas wish, shall we?