On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me – 11 friendly families,

10 gifts from giving, 9 wooden beauties, 8 family trips, 7 Bruins beating Trojans (38-28!), 6 Asian Orbs, 5 manger scenes! 4 major awards, 3 dancing pigs, 2 handmade bells, and a portrait to put on the tree.

Whether friendly families, friends of the family, or simply family… today is about giving to the ones we love. It goes without saying that the people in our lives are of utmost importance. And because I believe that the soul is eternal, individuals should be treated with respect, allowing relationships to take precedence over circumstances or things.

Giving is one way of showing honor and love and when it’s personal (even personalized), it’s even more specifically for that individual.

On the first day I mentioned hanging photos on your own tree of those who are close to you. But taking that idea a step further, I actually like giving ornaments as gifts. Since there are as many kinds of ornaments as there are people, you’re bound to find one that fits someone pretty well.

So whether giving or receiving a hanging figure, bringing it out each year, reminds me of the giver: how well they knew me or how thoughtful they were to commemorate a shared moment.

Personalized ornaments can also make the exchange that much more fun. And though the specialized pieces can get pricy from those carts in the middle of malls, an after-Christmas discounted one where you write the year and the name yourself with a Sharpie can be just as nice (but if it’s for the following year, don’t forget where you stored it.)

A small token of friendship and appreciation for the ones God placed in our lives by chance or by choice (no matter the kind and whether or not there’s writing on it), these little treasures are an excellent addition to any tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – visit here tomorrow to see.