Work is insane, but it's all relative.  Not as bad as my prior job was this time of year, so I am appreciating the quiet long weekend.  I suppose it's extra nice when Christmas is more than just a single day off in the middle of the week.  

Christmas Day was nice and quiet, at home.  The COVID surge is crazy here, so probably more on lockdown than ever.  COVID aside, it's not worth risking a longer drive (risking an accident) when the hospitals are full.  I expect it to be hell here during the next few weeks.  We've spent some time with our families this year, but now is just not the time. 

This was our fourth year of receiving $1,000 to donate to charity, our gift from the in-laws.  We have a long tradition of also donating my work Christmas bonus, was usually $250 (prior job).   In the end, I had decided not to donate any of our own money this December.  We will be scrambling to get our IRAs funded, with the newer car purchase, and with mega money funneled into our 401K to avoid taxes.  & probably factoring MH's unemployment, etc.

But...  Some random unemployment check showed up in the mail (I really thought we had exhausted benefits) & MH's Grandfather sent him a bigger Christmas check than usual.  So I decided to add $400 to the donations, for a total of $1,400.

In addition to that, I received a $100 cash gift from work, and a small bottle of champagne, in lieu of the annual Christmas party.  I couldn't fathom what I would spend that $100 on, I just wanted to pay it forward.  My plan was to just donate to the first thing I saw.  Thinking super local, like a neighbor in need.  

In the end, I rounded up and we donated a total of $1,550.  Our focus this year was on the food banks and homeless shelters, due to the pandemic.  

I also decided to send my mom flowers for her 70th birthday.  I just made her a birthday card, which was more than enough.  But...  I think because not being able to see her and realizing it was such a milestone birthday.  I decided to send her flowers.  

I was then extremely impulsive on Christmas Eve (when I was looking up the florist I used last time), and I decided very last minute to send Christmas flowers to GMIL.  She lives alone and is very isolated right now.  I am glad I did send the flowers, she was very surprised and happy. 

This pretty much sums up the Holiday for us.  I mentioned in a recent post that our Holiday focus is charity, not gifts. 

I know that we are extremely blessed.