Well, as of today, Friday, December 14th, we've got 12 days (11?) to go to the "Big Day." Lists have been made and checked twice, and hopefully you're almost done with your present buying. I have a few more things I'd like to get for my husband (but I don't have a clue what they might be), but everything else is done. I do have to wrap and box up some gifts that need to be put into the mail. I just checked and I should be still in good time to get mail out in time for Christmas delivery. Here's what I found on the usps website:

The U.S. Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates so that holiday cheer arrives safely and on time:

Dec. 4  --  Military mail destined for Iraq or Afghanistan

Dec. 11  --  Military mail to other international destinations

Dec. 15  --  Parcel Post, the most economical service

Dec. 20  --  First-Class Mail

Dec. 20  --  Priority Mail

Dec. 22  --  Express Mail

And remember these dates as well:

Dec. 17  --  The busiest mailing day of the year

Dec. 19  --  The busiest delivery day of the year

Hope those dates come in handy for you!

Quick Reminder: When you only have one child, it's easy to go "hog-wild" on presents. Like every parent, we see something they'd like and sometimes do some stockpiling before the holidays even are in sight. Just because the money doesn't have to be spread thin to provide both needed and wanted gifts to many children, it doesn't have to be lavished upon the only child. As a friend of mine wrote recently, "Christmas is in the little things. The gift doesn't have to be huge (in size or $$), the tree can be simple, the purpose is to be reminded about the Child and the reason we celebrate the season." She wasn't speaking for those who only have one child, in fact she has several children herself, but it's such a good reminder. So if you find yourself counting an excess of presents for your "singleton," and realize the emphasis on the season has become more on "what's under the tree," remember you can store away some of those gifts for the next birthday, or give some of those gifts to others.

Let's all keep Jesus as the Reason for the Season and keep our eyes on Him!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling within the next two years. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One three years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2007 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.