Did I really just do this.

[feeder3565]

Yes I did. I am now the proud owner of 50 boxes of Russell Stover assorted box chocolates. Are you kidding me. What the hell was I thinking. This is out of wacko for me. Not the buying in volume, do that a lot, but buying chocolate I don't eat? Love dark chocolate of any kind, but this, this is just stupid.

Walmart $2.20 a box. I asked the man if there were anymore and he said no but there are 2 cases here. I'll take them both. Can you help me to check out. All the questions that came next. Do you like chocolate? No. Are these gifts? No. Does your family like chocolates? No. Are these for a organization? Nope. Are they for a school? No. Do you work at a hospital? No. Then the big one came. Do you really need all of these? I stopped dead in my tracks. Looked at him, not through him. Blocking everything out up to this point. Why would this man who was about 26yrs old and appeared to have some issues, ask me this question? Looked him right in the eyes and said, no I do not need any of these, and it seems I am having a little melt down and for some reason these boxes of chocolates at $2 a box is given me a good fix. Sad isn't it. After getting all these to the car by my driver, I took 5 boxes back into the store and found that young man and gave him the boxes. He tried to explain that while on duty you are not allowed to buy things, and he knew they would not be there when he got off. Wanted them for his GF and mother.

After Christmas spending and old habits, or just plain mental melt down?

Who the hell cares, life is short and if anyone wants some, come to my house as they are now the center piece on my kitchen table.

Me and my 5yr. old grandson stacked them up like blocks and put a bow on the top of each pile. Adam made a bridge out of them and runs his hot wheel cars on them. DH just smiles and says you got 3 days to find a place for them. Jerry my friend and driver called and said we can drop them off at the 8 firehouses we have here. Sounds good to me.

Deep down I think not being able to do the things I would have liked to do during this Christmas, combined with the passing of my grandchild, just triggered old habits. I went there for a loaf of bread and came out with a melt down. Funny how things like a really good sale can trigger old habits. Thank goodness for my DS. Karen

[beth28]

Karen, it sounds like you have a great support group, grandchildren, DH, and Jerry has a good idea of who would be happy to have them. I am so sorry about the death of your grandchild. Don't forget we are here if you need us!

[Deleted]

Some habits DO die hard. I have enough Christmas wrapping paper and cards to last until 2083.

As the daughter of a fire fighter, I love the idea of taking it to a fire house. When I was little, my Dad would bring home tons of stuff... liquor, cigarettes, candy, etc. By the time I got to high school, there was just one company who gave the fire fighters gifts. There was at least one fire in thier factory every week, sometimes two or three. The pay that most fire fighters get is pitiful.

[feeder3565]

Thanks Beth. Knowing I have good support at home is nice, but I know I need the support of DSer's, and if it means learning the in and out of this site, I Will do it. I think I need to take a computer class to teach me how all this works. Karen

[feeder3565]

We deliver Cinnamon buns and tea rings made by a Amish bakery close by our town, popcorn tins and Fudge form a small shop in our community to all 8 firehouses in our town on Christmas day. We added the police dept. and next year will add both emergency rooms. We call it our bread of life run.

My husband and I live in our mission house we named, St. Joseph Worker House. On the card it reads

On that first Christmas,
St. Joseph dedicated all his life to
protect and care for the Christ-Child and
His mother, Mary.
Accept this gift in gratitude
for your dedication to protect and care
for the people of our community.
May St. Joseph protect you in your work.
May the Holy Family keep your family
always in peace and love.
And may the celebration of the birth of
our Savior bring you all the Joy that your
hearts can bear.

Merry Christmas!
From the staff and volunteers of the
St. Joseph Worker House.

This bread ministry was started by the need of my daughter and her husband who could not have children and wanted something meaningful on Christmas day and it seemed the 8 years they searched to find the right ministry to vol. for did not work out. So when I asked them what was dear to there heart it seems my SIL grandfather was a firefighter and had fond memories. My driver and dear friend who helps me out at our mission home father was a firefighter. So we all agreed to start this. There will always be the poor, but someone has to protect us in time of need.

Did I add that after 8 years and no kids, my daughter had a son. Born Nov. 30, 2011. Isaac. They took him on the bread run.

My other daughter had her baby-girl Hope born Dec.3, 2011, and she is now resting in Heaven.

Yes I do know what firefighters make and it is pity-full. Karen

[Seeking Healthy]

Sorry to hear about your Granddaughter. What a wonderful thing you are doing with the "St. Worker House". I am sure you have touched many in your kind efforts.

SH

[ratkity]

Amazing tradition and you have great support around you.

It's been a hard year for you. To end it with such giving has to help lift your spirit as well as those firefighters!

Hugs to you,
Ratkity

[Deleted]

***hugs**** I get it totally. Go give the goodies to people who will have fun munching on them. Look them in the eye, tell them THANK YOU for serving, and bathe in the light you see on their faces.

THAT is the very best part of this kind of fix.

If you're a happy volume shopper (I am, too, and oh dear me, the JOY of the good sale!!!), a marvelous way to get that fix is to pick a local charity and make them the target of your "fixes." Find out what they need lots of and get your kicks out of meeting those needs.

My school has clothing drives every semester for a network of safe houses (plus full supportive program) for women escaping abuse and such. I use my thrift shop "fixes" for those clothing drives.

My church is part of a network of local churches that delivers food to homeless people housed in old motels. A portion of my grocery shopping is devoted to finding stuff they need.

Passing love on to others is great healing balm.

[feeder3565]

EN, homeless in old motels? This is a great concept. We have so many old motels, and they sit empty. Hotels in bankruptcy, always seemed to me homeless people should be able to sleep there. Instead our local homeless shelter was built at a 2 million dollar budget. Our Salvation Army built a shelter for 2 1/2 million.

Sometime ago you were collecting yarn. Are you still doing that? I never use yarn, after you made that post I started looking at the price of it in second hand shops. I thought it would be cheap, man was I wrong.

You do so much for others, and were so hurt by your church long ago, it amazes me you still believe, but then again faith is what it's about and you have so much. No religion will take you down. You are a survivor indeed. So many have been hurt by my catholic church, and our sins are many. Always asking for forgiveness for what our church has done and what it continues to do. My continue studies of Catholicism keep me at inner peace, but it is hard and I work at it. There have been times when I spoke out against the church, priest, and found letters from my local bishop in my mail box. Threatening letter to ban me if I did not stop talking. Took my story to the newspaper. Named sources. Priest was stripped of all powers and went to jail. He was released in a short amount of time as he was dying. Went to a nursing home and died. I was shunned for 2 years or more locally. I didn't care, kids were involved. Until we met, Karen