Family Disclaimer

When I read back on my New Year's post, I realized that it could have sounded as if my family didn't pay attention to my birthday.  That isn't the case.  My mom baked a cake for me and they wanted to go out to dinner and a movie, but I was sick.  As far as gifts go, my family isn't really into gifts.  When I was growing up the importance was placed on the occasion, not the gifts.  We celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ and focus on that.  We mark the day by getting together with family and enjoying the blessings we have.  We do presents for the kids, but that's all really.  Birthdays are also a time that we celebrate with family and very close friends.  We rarely had birthday parties growing up and we usually got one gift.  Because of these traditions I feel like I'm more appreciative of my family and I'm not too materialistic.  When I wrote that I bought myself the only gift, it was a statement of independence.  I am able to buy what I need and want within reason.  It feels good sometimes to be able to do that for myself.