Advent

This is fantastic! We're guilty of having ridiculously huge Christmases in the past (i.e. gifts galore), I must acknowledge. But, both Michael and I have realized over the last decade or so how much more we just want to be with our beloved family, celebrate the birth of Christ the King together, and skip the gifts. We don't need anything. We have everything.

Last night we were talking about how Americans have had to pare back their spending in the current economic crisis. Here that means possibly not going out to eat. But, America's financial woes affect Africa, too. Here we don't go out, but in Ethiopia they may not EAT! Wow, the thought of how gluttonous and consumeristic we are, I am, America is, considering the great need around the world and even around the block just hit me in the face.

A Wii costs over $300 (and yes, we do have one). That's about the same cost as a fistula surgery that could change the life of a woman living in poverty. It costs around $420 to provide for sponsored child's basic needs through World Vision for a year. That's two lattes a week at Starbucks.

WOW.