what has Christmas become?

truly, I am flabbergasted at the degradation of Christmas that has happened. i'm disappointed in people! Christmas is supposed to be a time of being with family, enjoying each others' company and growing closer, but it seems that we have gotten into this mindset that the way we show our love and appreciation for each other is by getting each other gifts...RIDICULOUS!! I would rather have NO gifts given to me, and have one good conversation with each person and a hug. That would satisfy me completely. i'm saddened by what i see in people in stores these days--a harried look, cutthroat attitude and a miserable lack of christmas spirit. The spirit still exists, but not when you are trying to buy a Wii or some other 'valuable' commodity. what would the world be like without malls and wal-marts and online shopping?
enough of that rant, i guess that if i was an employee in one of those areas i wouldn't mind at all...

I am going to New York City in 5 days! One of my friend's brothers lives there and he invited me to come along with another guy. We are going to be there for New Years and I'm looking forward to it tremendously! The drive up there will be long, but hopefully interesting and the company is good so at least i won't feel like bashing my head through the window ;)

We come back and a day later we leave for Colorado! so much excitement in so little time. skiing is so wonderful and i wish everyone loved it as much as i do, seriously. my whole family is coming on this trip too...it's gonna be crazy and all the rfcs are now going to understand why i am the way i am...lol. i just hope no one gets hurt and we all have a great time.

It is amazing how humbling some experiences can be. i thought that i was a pretty understanding person and not prone to judgments or prejudices, but i'm seeing that i have looked down on people, even if in a more pitying way (which is sometimes the worst way, i admit). i'm realizing that i have the potential to be just like any one of those people that i have judged, and i'm understanding how to change that but it is also shocking me into humility...a good thing, but sometime painful. i'm also realizing how miserable life can be without God, but also how difficult it can be to draw closer to him while pursuing selfish goals and forgetting what life was like with him. the trough is a dark place indeed.