Love this idea! I have some old flannel nightgowns that don't fit or are worn in places but have hung on to them thinking "I can do something with these." Now I know what! I'm a long time lurker but seldom post. Love this warm & welcoming forum. Susan

Noah passed away yesterday. My condolences to the family. this is the latest update. Our Angel Posted 18 hours ago After a long battle with Stage IV Neruorblastoma cancer, Monday morning at 8:02 AM, Noah Biorkman passed away at his home in South Lyon, Michigan. Scott and I, along with our families, would like to thank everyone for the continued support over the past few years during NoahÂs illness. As most of you know, Noah has received more than one million Christmas cards over the past few weeks. The outpouring of love and compassion has been remarkable and we are extremely grateful. We are now asking for everyone please respect our privacy during this very difficult time. The funeral services will be for family only. We are asking that instead of sending cards and flowers to Scott and me; please make a donation in NoahÂs name to either of the organizations below. With your donation, NoahÂs legacy will live on for many years to come, if not forever. Thank you so much for your support and love. Sincerely, The Biorkman Family Please send donations to the following: Department of Pediatrics and Oncology University of Michigan 1500 East Medical Center Drive D4202MPB Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5718 Checks payable to: The University of Michigan  NoahÂs Pediatric Oncology Fund OR Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan 230 Huron View Blvd. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Checks payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan  Memo: Noah Biorkman

When our kids were at home, we celebrated the 12 days of Christmas. We did do gifts, although only the one given on 12th Night/Epiphany/Feast of the Three Kings was a big one. The others were small, sometimes shared (such as a family movie), and for years they involved a treasure hunt each day to find them. They loved the treasure hunts so much that it didn't matter if the treasure was nothing more than a colorful pen or a candy bar. We kept up our tree and lights through Jan. 6th (even got a nastygram from the HOA in one neighborhood for not taking down the outside decorations fast enough.) At least once, but more often on the 26th and again on the 2nd, we had "backwards day" for which we ate pizza for breakfast and french toast for supper and stayed in our pajamas all day. Since we homeschooled, we scheduled a break from Christmas Eve until Jan. 7th. Our kids were into Legos, K'Nex, Puzz3D, and all sorts of building toys, so we spent a lot of our time working together to assemble new sets. We also watched the movies (VHS back then) they received, as well as old favorites. We took turns choosing the menu for each day so that everyone had favorite foods (even when that meant PBJs for supper.) On Epiphany, we enjoyed our first King Cake of the season (which runs until Mardi Gras.) Whoever got the "baby" (we used a plastic baby hidden from the bottom, but some people use a large nut) was the King (or Queen) of the Feast. These days, we're not together for most of the 12 days of Christmas (if at all.) I order King Cakes for each of us from a bakery in New Orleans that delivers them on (or the day before) Epiphany, but that's all we do now.

(Sort of) sorry to add a bit more stress, on you who "work", as in being employed for essential compensation. One more reason to be thankfully retired, not having to juggle the timing of when to celebrate holidays. Could you use a Christmas gift from ole ... (let's call it "old" this time - as it involves suggestions/((advice)) from one who claims to be a senior) ... old joyful/joyfuelled. Sometimes I approach a smoker, usually one standing the required 75 feet or so outside the door of a store or mall and with a smile and a bit of a lilt in my voice, I say that how s/he chooses to live his/her life is their business ... but ... how would s/he like to retire early? As you can imagine, I receive a variety of responses, but try to keep the conversation in a humorous, light-hearted fashion. Perhaps it's substantially curiosity, coupled with their impression that it looks as though this (old) guy isn't about give them a hard time, but quite a few are willing to pursue the conversation. I suggest that they write down the cost of their smoking for at least a month, but I suggest that a quarter or a half or a year may be better ... and give thought to whether they might like to retire early ... and whether transferring a good (and increasing?) portion of that money to investing for an earlier retirement might be a good idea? Plus ... it's been pretty well established that non-smoking may add years, and more than likely healthier years, at that, to one's life. If the conversation is going well I may ask whether they might be interested in using some of their spare time to start a new hobby. As a financial planner for some time, I've suggested to quite a few people that learning how money works can be an interesting hobby - and it pays well! As does learning about taxes! Back to old joyful's gift to you. If you're a smoker - you might like to consider the message so far as part of it. Is it time to have a hard look at the results of Christmas at your home/in your extended family connection, as to whether, in the light of remembering that much of the media advertising related to the season pretty well paints a picture of Christmas as equalling shopping ... ... the gifts that are exchanged really provide sufficient value to the recipients among your family and loved ones to make them worth their cost?? Many families choose to choose names and give to only one adult, and others choose to concentrate on gatherings of loved ones. Some choose also to agree among their connected ones to devote a percentage of their Christmas giving to helping needy fellow humans. For a number, they might be tempted to reconsider the above ... when the credit card statements arrive in the new year. (Anyone up for an addition to the new year's resolution list?). If you don't/aren't able to pay the credit card bill in full each month, if you don't know the rate of interest you're assessed ... in your wise and effective management of your money, it's important that you find out! On many store-issued cards it's often up near 30% annual rate, compounded monthly, and on bank-issued and similar agencies, up just under 20% - but several percentage points higher on cash advances. For those of you with ongoinng balances owing on your credit card(s) ... how faithful are you at fulfilling promises that you make to yourself?? If your record is bad - ignore what I'm about to say - please - please!!! Quite likely your bank/credit union may be willing to lend you money at 5% or less: less if you have collateral or co-singer (who'll have to pay if you default!). Your promise is to buy no more using the card till the loan is paid off ... ... and after that, your iron-clad promise to yourself is that those amounts owing must be paid in full every billing period!! Anyone who fails should have arranged with four friends to give him/(her?) a kick in the rump every month so long as that new credit card balance runs over that month. The lower rate if interest will enable the loan to be paid off much earlier! And don't e.g me started on these horrible pay day loans - $20. fee to borrow $200. for up to two weeeks?!?! Horrible! I hope that you all have a joyful, companionable and blessed Christmas/holiday and a new year that brings the fulfilment of one/some of your dreams ... and the envisioning of some new and worthwhile ones! Remember, please ... learning how money works is an interesting hobby - that pays well. Taxes, too. old joyful (ole joyfuelled)