This week, the government announced that the recession in Canada has ended. The official definition of recovery has been satisfied, and the government is certain that growth will continue. Of course, this is very welcome news.

However, for the average Joe (or Jane), we have yet to see the trickle down effects of this announcement. Just this week, a dear friend of mine lost his job. Other friends are wondering what they will do to bring in extra money in the New Year. People are still hesitant to spend money and are scaling back on their Christmas shopping list. All in all, it is not a year to go out and buy that Jaguar that you have always wanted.

As I began thinking of a gift I could give my husband which is both meaningful and easy on the pocketbook, I began mulling over the presents that he has given me over the years. What a stroll down memory lane! I find it intriguing that the gifts which come to mind aren’t the most expensive ones he has given me, but they were the gifts which reflected the fact that he just knows me.

Here is an idea for a Christmas gift: write your lover a letter thanking him/her for the top 5 (or 10) gifts that s/he has ever given you over the years. List out the gifts AND the reasons why they are so precious to you. Then tuck the letter under the tree.

I considered blogging about my own list, but I think I will save that for my husband. Perhaps he will allow me to share it with you in the New Year!