Regarding Christmas, at most churches there are Christmas Gift Trees or little old ladies who will get a gift for the children and teenagers. Let them know now before it’s too late! It may hurt your pride to ask for help, but believe me, half the people I know in town have had to go to the food pantry or go to the churches for gifts for the kids.

Instead of a tree, get a table tree. You can literally cut a small sapling by the side of the road. Then you set it up with lights.

Tell the boys the truth about finances and say this year we’ll be doing something different. Then, work at a soup kitchen, sing carols, and go to Christmas Eve services. Or, go to a community sponsored Christmas event or to someone else’s house for Christmas and bring a small something for a hostess gift. Bake with the ingredients already in your house.

Deal with the emotional stuff later, let’s just get through Christmas!