I turned on my Christmas lights last week after reading how many people were doing that to bring some peace and hope into the world. It was easy for me for two reasons I am very thankful for. One: Scott, an electrician, had run power to an outlet under the large tree the second Winter we lived here. All I need to do after the lights are strung is go down to the basement and flip a switch. Two: My eldest son, Jeremy, has had a life long passion for Christmas tree lights. He makes sure the Blue Spruce is always a tree of beauty. It doesn’t hurt that he specialized in lighting design in college either!

The Christmas lights brought thoughts of Christmas past and future. We had a good Christmas this year, extended over a couple of weeks as we were spread far and wide on Christmas Day itself. One thing came of the many gatherings that occurred. We all enjoyed the time spent together and made a pact that next year we would try to either gift experiences or home-made gifts. I actually prefer to call them ‘gifts from the heart’. It’s one of those pacts that are great in theory and we mentally make plans to create awesome one-of-a-kind gifts but then January turns into May which turns into September and then it is November, and heck, we are all scrambling to figure out what can be whipped up in just a few short weeks.

But wait, there is opportunity in the current quarantine! I’ve been cleaning out my basement and from the depths of closets I’ve been unearthing box upon box of craft supplies. Some are remnants from previous projects, others are the virgin supplies for projects that were never started. It occurs to me that April might be the time to use that pretty fabric, fill those decorative jars, craft with that wood & paint and put a dent in my Christmas list at the same time. Even if I only get one gift done, that is one less gift I will have to fret about come the Fall.

What if we all dug through our UFOs(Unfinished Objects) and made an effort to move forward with unfinished projects? You know the ones I’m talking about; they are in boxes tucked away in your closet, in a drawer, or the basement. When you come across those boxes, you get a crestfallen look on your face as you put the box back where you found it, feeling guilty, thinking “someday…”. Guess what? Now is a GREAT day to dig those boxes out. If you can’t remember what to do with the pieces and parts, maybe another member of your family can come up with a new idea. Google ideas for inspiration but I challenge you to make do with what you have.

And when you are done – send me a picture of the finished product. I promise I won’t tell anyone what they are getting for Christmas!