Hey y’all! I just heard that today was International Regifting Day– which, of course, brought to mind a helpful guideline I wrote on the subject in my last book, Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy. In the event that you haven’t read that book, (and I will forgive you if this is so), I offer you those thoughts here as a little Merry Christmas post! Belle Rules of Regifting This may surprise you, but honestly, I don’t think regifting is necessarily synonymous with bad manners. The gift that keeps on giving can be quite thoughtful, if not downright entertaining, especially if all involved have a funny bone. Consider the porcher whose father-in-law once received a jogging suit from her brother and sister-in-law. The next year they found it in his closet, still in the box with the tissue paper and promptly gave it to him again! Poor man was clueless until the family filled him in. The suit has since continued to make a yearly appearance. Leslie says it’s in its second decade and it’s almost back in style, in a retro kind of way. Still, because not all regifting stories turn out so well, and some of you are bound to get desperate as the big day closes in, I, Belle of All Things Southern, feel compelled to offer four easy guidelines to help make shopping at home as socially acceptable as it is financially rewarding. Number 4: Consider expiration dates. Items predating the current season will mark you as a tacky regifter. Say no to pet rocks and lava lamps. Number 3: Monitor the monograms. Initials really should match unless you’re confident you can keep a straight face while trying to sell the recipient on it being an acronym, as in, “I swanee, it stands for Peachy Good Friend! Really!” Number 2: Don’t regift in the same circles. Regifting his family gifts to yours may work, and vice versa, but remember, your mama, her mama, her sister, and her sister’s sister know what who got whom ten years ago. It’s their job and they’re good at it. And the #1 and most obvious Rule of Regifting: Don’t regift the gifter— which reminds me of another similar Christmas faux paux— reusing crumpled gift bags! My own son, who’s apparently allergic to wrapping, has been known to open your gift to him and disappear, only to return with his gift to you in the same bag. (I’m looking at you, Phillip.) You must be very charming to pull this off, and you may very well be. I’ll leave you to make that call Hugs, Shellie As we say around here, “Tell the truth and stay in church.” Are you a regifter?
Hey y’all, we’re driving in from Houston where we celebrated Connor’s first birthday in full out Sock Monkey style. Okay, so actually Beloved Hubby is driving in and I’m playing on my tech toys but someone has to keep y’all updated and tell you about this evening’s radio show, right? Right! I knew y’all would see it my way! We should hit Monroe just in time for another rollicking Christmas edition of ATS LIVE, the radio show. Showtime is 5-6 PM,Central. You can get listening details at the website, allthingssouthern.com (I’m doing this from my IPad and it’s being contrary about linking.) Marty Machowski will be my guest today. Marty has written a great family devotional called “Old Story, New Testamemt”. You can enter the drawing to win your own copy here or on the All Things Southern Facebook wall by simply leaving a request! Merry Christmas! Hugs, Shellie
Mary’s miracle didn’t stay all nice and tidy. Neither will ours. This link will take you to this week’s three minute Southern Comfort radio segment: Mary’s Messy Miracle is Ours Merry Christmas, friends.
And now there are two. Really? 30 Days of Thankfulness seemed like a long time when we launched our annual All Things Southern gratitude drive. Perhaps you meant to join us and you just haven’t gotten around to it. I understand. Here’s another opportunity. Perhaps you thought of joining us but the size and scope of all the needy people in the world paralyzed you. I get that, too. I know what it’s like to flip the channel because you just can’t look at one more starving child, or your heart simply can’t bear to be reminded that there are children in our world being bought and sold to satisfy the depraved desires of adults. It’s even worse around the holidays. It’s too much. It’s sensory overload. And it’s someone’s reality. I used to be paralyzed at the pain, knowing full well that what little bit I could do would only be a drop in the overall bucket. It felt like sticking a finger in the dam, a futile effort to stem the desperation coming from every corner of the globe, not to mention the corners of my own home town. What in the world could one person do, anyway? But then I discovered that when I respond somewhere, anywhere, a strange thing happens. I still see the enormity of it all but I can look into the suffering without being overwhelmed by the despair. I want that for me, and for you, and for those who need us to see them. Two more days and this squeaky wheel will stop vying for your attention. If you haven’t expressed your gratitude this season by responding to the suffering everywhere by giving anywhere, would you join us right now? Here’s the donate button? This year the funds go to Make Way Partners, an organization that rescues women and children from the evils of human trafficking — and then provides shelter, medical help, and education to help them move into a new future. If you aren’t familiar with the drive, you can get up to speed here. Hugs, Shellie If you respond, please come back and leave a comment here. I’d love to hear from you. Merry Christmas!
