For the most part, I think store bought cards are a waste of money . . . and too expensive! When they were young, I always encouraged my kids to make me one instead. Loved them! DH & I don't exchange cards, although we do buy each other gifts and make holidays special for one another. But, because the rest of our entire very large clan lives in other parts of the country, I do like to keep in touch. I send Facebook birthday and anniversary messages with a photo to most of them. In addition, I also call my sibs and parents . . . and, I joined Treat about two years ago. Now I create very special one-of-a-kind cards for very special occasions, such as a card to my mom for Mother's Day, to my dad, to my parents for their anniversaries. There are dozens of design options that I can then personalize myself by changing the wording and adding my own photos that I upload. They LOVE them, as I use childhood pics, pics from our times together over the years, etc. DD goes to college out of state now and DS is working in Arizona. I love being able to send them special cards. Through their affiliated site, Shutterfly, I've created beautifully bound books of photos from our family reunions for my parents, as well as other gift books for friends. From another of their sites, TinyPrints, DD and I designed a very special graduation announcements when she graduated from high school. We got rave reviews on those and they were much less expensive and much more personal that the generic ones the schools try to sell you. Anyhoo, I've been very happy with each company, the prices, card quality, delivery time, etc. Lynn

I think it is a good idea.... How about others? Like maybe the Brat???? Even a brat needs a card now and then...BUT will she give out her address??? Maryanne is still going through a lot too....How about her... And Ruthie...I don't think we've ever had a card shower for her... Who else? patti

You said your daughter has had 'all the tests and nothing unusual has come up.' Do you know if blood work was done as well? My 24 year old niece has had several seizures, and after ruling out Epilepsy or a brain tumor, they discovered she sometimes has extremely low blood sugar. She now eats little bits throughout the day, rather than 3 main meals and has not had a seizure in about 5 years. Hopefully they will solve your DD's episodes and I wish her well.

Personally, I prefer cash. But some feel that's "impersonal". Gift cards are the modern version of the gift certificate or the trendy "check" (or "cheque" to my Canuck-lehead friends) being given as a gift. My gift shopping used to always include a stop at the liquor store for at least one person on the list. I knew that wasn't going to go to waste. A friend used to always give his grandmother a small ham for Christmas because she'd never buy it for herself. Some would be appalled, nay, even insulted if someone gave them grocery stoe food! It needs to be in little jars, in a box, flavors nobody likes, won't eat, and will be given away or thrown away! LOL I'm really bothered when someone says cash is a bad gift, impersonal or whatever. Doesn't anyone get tired of getting trinkets that someone else thinks is cute and you find abhorrent? But somehow that's a better gift than giving someone cash so they can put it toward their electric bill on a month they're a little short, or go to a movie, or put gas in the car to get to work, or put toward the heat bill or into a (heaven forbid) savings account or get the car repaired house reroofed or whatever else. What troubles me is there used to be a saying that it's the thought that counts. I buy someone a gift, it's thoughtful, right? They hate it so they return it or leave it on a shelf or whatever. But that's more thoughtful or personal than cash? I don't think so. If someone is considerate enough to give me cash and trust that I'll make a good decision on what to do with it, that, to me, is thoughtful. Our western society is so hung up on materialism. It's the gift not the thought. We have to spend more on that wedding gift than the Jones' spent or we'll look bad. Doesn't matter what the gift is. I could go on and on but won't. Consider that your Christmas present! :D This time of year often brings out the best, but also the worst in people. Lots of generosity at times, but also greed, selfishness, self-centered thoughts and after all, Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts right? There was a religious event that some people used to get into! :D I'll give you an example of why I don't like gift cards in place of cash. I had my oil changed last summer for about $17. I used a coupon and had it done. Hard for me to do that stuff anymore. :( I got an award from work - a $25 gift card of my choice. I don't shop at Macy's. I don't go on cruises. (I would have appreciated a gift card for the cruise though...) I don't have Staples in the state, much less nearby. There were 2 things I could see myself using. An oil change place or Amazon. I was going to go with Amazon but decided I'd need an oil change before leaving town for a trip so that could be OK. It'd pay for most of the oil change right? Not after it being a $65 oil change! LOL I got another card choice, same thing. I took a restaurant card but now wish I'd gone Amazon. Not sure when I'll get to the restaurant, but not totally sure what I want from Amazon either. Had a voicemail that I have another gift card coming from work. (I must really have them fooled, eh?) If they had options for Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, gasoline stations, or a prepaid credit card would be preferred. Keep in mind that the designation is important. They bank on people losing them or not using them. Extra profit, not unlike the post office selling stamps that don't get used. That's pure profit. And companies often get a discount so it appears to be more. But it could be worse. I remember when giving a turkey was often a Christmas bonus. Not everyone can use a 15# turkey. Some, a 15# isn't enough anyway. LOL How many people can't use cash?