This year has been a real struggle for me to get into the Christmas mood. I've baked cookies, prepared candies, and wrapped countless amount of gifts for my friends and family. I even hosted a blog contest that brought out some wonderful people with great ideas on how to make the season come alive for both myself and my family. There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't be feelin' a little bit of that Christmasy spirit and this makes me have a pity party - with only one invite unless you'd care to join. I can send you an e-vite since the big day is almost here.

It seems as though with the economy in the toilet and the negative effects hitting my pocketbook everyday, it's really done a number on my mood and put an emphasis on the material aspects of Christmas. I hate that. I know Christmas is not about what you get or what you give but I don't feel like I'm doing a good job in promoting that to my own kiddos. I wonder to myself when the kids see the gifts under the tree if they really understand the joy meant behind the season and not just the buttload of presents that Santa Claus normally brings them? Do they get it? Would they be happy with less? I hesitate to even think about that and possibly jinx myself for next year's festivities. Yes, I am a little paranoid but it works for me.

I know I am to blame and I fully accept that. But how do you change? How do you get off the materialist track that is so easy to follow? When I was a little kid, my parents always made sure that us kids had a wonderful Christmas. We'd get oranges, homemade deer jerky, cookies, and whatever else Mom - err - Santa could find laying around the house. On Christmas morning, we'd be thrilled with our treasures and my parents looked equally happy. We had so much less but so much more on Christmas morning. How did I get so off-track?

I saw an opportunity to try and change my evil ways today, and I selfishly took it. I wanted to some how, some way, demonstrate to my kids that by giving back you get so much more in return. I know they've participated in class gift exchanges and with their own little buddies, but it was a square deal; they gave and got. It was the unselfish present game I wanted to find and when I saw that a local family was in need, I told my kids that we were going to play Santa for the day.

After a trunkload of toys, towels, household goods, and best wishes for this family's future, the kids and I drove to a neighboring town and made our delivery to the Fire Department. While I unloaded the items, the kids watched quietly as their Momma dropped off things that might have otherwise landed on their side of the Christmas tree. And you know the cool part? They thought it was really neat. The idea that we might have brought some happy times to a family dealing with tragedy, made them feel good and in turn, made me so proud. I felt, for just a moment, I was actually making some headway both on my Christmas spirit and their understanding of the gift of unselfishness.

It was fun playing Secret Santa and the whole process truly made me appreciate the little things that I normally take so much for granted. We didn't change the ways of the world by our one act of kindess, but it certainly brought about some interesting conversation and life's lessons to my little ones. Most importantly, it just felt good and I like that.

My challenge to you is to now "pay it forward." I'm tagging each and everyone one of you to go out and do one thing today, tomorrow, or in the distant future, and make someone happy. I promise you, you're guaranteed to see the world as a better place when you're done.