This blog was inspired by two of THE BEST BLOGGERS on MD. CIW and Skydog. 
A few years ago, I was out of work, on medical leave at Christmas time. My sister was going through a divorce and was also out of work. What were we going to do? I had never had a Christmas where I didn't get every member of my family something, which included, 2 sisters, 2 brother in laws, 3 nieces, 2 nephews, a great niece, a great nephew and my 2 children. (not counting the friends I always give a little something to)
My sisters and I are quite crafty. (the reason I own so many power tools) I had discovered a dumpster in a little town that I had been "diving". It is for a place that builds cabinets, entertainment centers and the like. Their dumpster only has scrap lumber, plywood, counter tops and such in it. Oh, an occasional to go box or cup, and of course lots of sawdust!
I had been "diving" for a while and had stock piled quite a bit of "treasures". I am also the remnant queen of Walmart. I won't bore you with everything that I made, but will tell you instead of what my sister made for my son. He turned 13 that Dec. and 6 days after his birthday, he killed his first deer. (which fed us that winter) My sister took scraps of the lumber and built a simple box. She took some of my remnants and covered it in Camo. Then she took another board and laminated a picture of a deer, (from a scrap of wall paper) and using a wood burner wrote Jamey's first Kill 12-15-2002.
My little Jamey, is now James, and turned 18 this year. That box and board, are two of his most treasured possessions. He uses the box to hold his collection of knives. I can almost guarantee he can't tell you what else he got that Christmas, that was bought in a store, but he will never forget the box and board his Auntie Cheryl made him.
The other kids and adults alike, were thrilled with what we made them too. My other sister still has a sad little heart pillow that I made her, on her bed now.
Merry Christmas everyone, and remember, give your LOVE this Christmas. 
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
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| No job, no money, its a dumpster Christmas. |
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chris549547
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Dec 16 @ 6:12PM
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ColdinWisconsin
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Dec 16 @ 6:13PM
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This blog was inspired by two of THE BEST BLOGGERS on MD. CIW and Skydog
I am honored to be mentioned in your blog. 
If only I had kudo's left, I would give them to all of the creative women who go above and beyond. Not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.
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Skydognc
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Dec 16 @ 6:20PM
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ditto............ What CW just said!
and an awesome blog......... about what is truly important.
"the gift of love, is the greatest we have to offer, priceless in value, yet costs so little"
>>>>>>>>>>>>> will be back tomorrow, wit a kudo! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
(cw's fault) 
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Skydognc
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Dec 16 @ 6:21PM
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YAY !
had one left !
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ladykay488
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Dec 16 @ 6:21PM
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No gift is greater than the one's that come from the heart!
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luvmycats
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Dec 16 @ 6:35PM
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Thanks for all the comments.
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MsLani
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Dec 16 @ 6:56PM
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What a wonderful memory for your son! And thank you for showing us what christmas is about! Kudos
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luvmycats
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Dec 16 @ 7:02PM
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Thank you MsLani for your comment and your BEAUTIFUL GIF.
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BandTMom
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Dec 16 @ 7:03PM
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Great blog, Luvvy!
We should all remember that love is the greatest gift we can give.
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SallyF
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Dec 16 @ 7:10PM
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Beautifully written---the gift of self.....priceless.
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luvshorses644
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Dec 16 @ 7:10PM
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Ah,other C... what a great story of love and Christmas...
Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of your very own jigsaw puzzle of life...
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sciurusniger
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Dec 16 @ 7:11PM
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The real magic of Christmas can't be bought.
We can only make it with our own two hands and our own hearts.
~*~
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luvmycats
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Dec 16 @ 7:29PM
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Thank you ladies. I do try to put my heart into every gift I give. Even if its a silly pair of sunglasses and a boa!
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a1computerdoc
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Dec 16 @ 7:41PM
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Great Blog thanks for sharing.
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Mellajenn
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Dec 16 @ 7:42PM
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Thank you for sharing
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honeybear285
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Dec 16 @ 8:06PM
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Beautiful......that is what makes wonderful memories.
here is a kudo....given for CIW since she was out.
Peace and Love
Honeybear
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missliss78
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Dec 16 @ 8:39PM
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Thanks for sharing your lovely story! 
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SpiritOrnery
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Dec 16 @ 10:11PM
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 I love you. You are a sweetie.
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carpediem48
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Dec 16 @ 10:37PM
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Time is the most valuable tool we can use to show our love,,,especially when the time is used to think about and then create something with our own hands
We can also use time to create something in writing like a poem or a story
If we have writers block,,,we can use time to search out just the right poem or story and give that to someone
Thanx Luvvy,,,,wonderful blog
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beckyiv42000
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Dec 17 @ 1:39AM
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Luvvy you must have grown up like me where things from the heart mean so much more than store bought because they show the person you took so much of your time to make them especially for them...Most every year me and my kids pick a project to make for pressies.. wood works .. jewelry..ornaments , etc. something yanno?? and some years that is all we can give.. and others they are just an added touch... the thing is they are made with LOVE and my kids understand that is the most important thing to give LOVE ...
Huggs and much love to you Luvvy
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SunBabe
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Dec 17 @ 3:49AM
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~grin~ That's why I had to buy a house with a "barn" and a workshop...so I could continue making all my Christmas presents. I still have tubs and tubs of "parts" (yep, some "rescued" from dumpsters ) and hundreds of yards of "fabric bargins" 
...  I coulda bought a whole lot of "stuff" at Nordstoms, couldn't I, if I hadn't had to have the extra storage space? -- but then Christmas wouldn't be quite the same. At least not according to my kids (who are usually the only ones I send gifts to anymore...but our family is very small)
Maybe when I get my "studio" and kitchen set up, I'll get back into my "random gifts of kindness" mode again. I really do miss "sharing of myself" ~sigh~ (And if I hit anymore good dumpster dive scores, Luvvy, I'll let you know )
...One short story:
When my husband got laid off just before Christmas one year, I decided everyone was going to get gifts from my kitchen or hands. I really didn't panic, which surprised a lot of people. I knew I could be "inventive".
The local food pantry contacted me and insisted I stop in for some "commodities". I got there and reminded them I was a "giver" to the food pantry for all those years, not a "taker" and that we'd be fine. The director knew that I'd been baking professionally for years, so she insisted that I take pounds and pounds of butter and sugar because most of her elderly clients had eliminated that from their diets. I made a deal -- I accepted the bags of baking ingredients , but only under the condition that I could return half the ingredients back to them in the form of Christmas cookies for her clients Christmas baskets. We were both happy. 
(She also called later and asked if my son would like a brand new bicycle someone from town had donated for a "needy" young man. I blushed and tried not to laugh, tried to decline graciously, as I explained that my teenage son already had transportation...his ~ahem~ Mustang.  )
That was also the year I traded a (fancy) gingerbread house for a 14' Christmas tree from the tree farmer down the road. Again, we were both happy -- and we both saved $50, lol. (yep, my gingerbread houses were kind of expensive, hehe  ...but people bought them anyway.)
Sounds like Yankee ingenuity runs from coast to coast...or maybe it's just old fashioned values: sharing from the heart, not just the wallet.
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luvmycats
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Dec 17 @ 7:06PM
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You ladies are so kind. Thanks Honeybear. No need though, I just wanted to share and hope that someone thats having a hard time this year realizes its their heart thats the important thing.
Becky, you go girl!
Sunny, that is an awesome story, thanks for sharing it. Don't you forget to give me a holler when you find a treasure of a dumpster! 
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hunt4luv
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Dec 17 @ 9:19PM
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Beautiful
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