strange this post came up, was thinking about a family project we did many years ago. the 3 kids were quite young about 7, 10, and 12. things where going good for us and the hollidays were approching. we always were able to have nice christmases and wanted the children to learn how good it felt to give instead of receive. so we went to our church and asked the priest if h e could give us a list of needy familes, not their name but the age of the kids and their needs and we as a family would take care of all their needs for the holiday season. so we picked a family that had kids about the same age as mine and i let them shop for their counterparts, toys, clothes , food and let the chuch deliver it to them. the only thing we got was a note form the mother and dad and a few pictures of a family we never knew. my kids now 30,33,and 35 still remeber that. ALWAYS FEELS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE. the kids had a blast selecting just the right things then, purchasing them and then wrapping them.the most rewarding thing for me and my wife was on christmas moring our children were more interested in wondering how the childern they bought for were enjoying their gifts, than in what they received, .AIN'T LIFE GRAND /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif