Let’s just think that the hustle and bustle are over………….AHHHHHHH
All the relatives are gone and we need to get away. Come to Lancaster County and just relax at one of our great B&Bs. Many have fire places, and offer massages (see our Valentine Special for February). If you need some outdoor fun try a hike on one of our trails we have or go ice skating. Doesn’t that sound like the “most wonderful” time of all.
Looking back we all have our most memorable Christmas. Whether it was a favorite gift, happening, person present, or place you were it just keeps coming up as a special time. Mine was the year I was 7; for some reason my Mother went over-board with gifts for me, I got a doll, a baking set and a doll carriage. Now for some people that would not seem like much, but for our family that was a BIG Christmas. My parents weren’t wealthy and I know that something was sacrificed for me to have all that. I think it had to do with my age and the fact that Mother thought I needed that stuff then. As I watch the grands get bigger I realize they are out-growing certain toys (and it breaks my heart) so if you don’t grasp the moment the fun will be gone. That doesn’t necessarily have only to do with material stuff but with making memories in things you do with them. Recently I had the privilege to keep to Great-grands that live in Maine, we took them to Chocolate World and had a good time but I know that in 2 or 3 years that just won’t do it. So grasp the moment.
When I was a little girl I had a Christmas Savings Account that each week I would go to the bank and give them 10 cents and they would stamp my book and tear out the page. Then about December 15th I would get a check in the mail for $5, that was my shopping money. I lived in the country but we went to town every Friday and that is when I shopped. In those days I would go to stores all by myself, it was quite safe in Mount Joy, and off I would go to the few stores that were there. I got gifts for my parents, brothers and most of all my dolls (they were very real to me). The $5 covered that, looking back it seems unreal, but there was a five and dime in town and it really was a place to buy things for a nickle and dime, so the money stretched.
Now I shop online and only go to the mall if I must. The shoppes in Mount Joy have changed completely but we do have some that offer nice gifts that aren’t costly. A few years ago I bought most of my gifts in town at those neat shoppes. This year I made something for everyone so the shopping is minimal. I can’t tell what it is just in case my kids or grands actually read this 
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