Awww... the Christmas Spirit

I don't know how things have been at your house, but things here in our home get CHAOTIC during this time of year. School concerts, school fundraisers, school parties, church events, shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Baking, cooking.......
It usually leaves us all exhausted and begs the question "Is this what Christmas is all about?"

This year we are doing something decidedly different in an effort to pull something more out of the mangled mess that Christmas has become. Focusing all things on Christ, they are giving all the money they would have received presents with, and have chosen instead to give to the poor of other countries.
Mom and Dad are still giving them one family present- but that's it.
This has done wonders for the spirit of Christmas around our home. Mom and dad aren't stressing with guilt of things we can't afford, nor worrying about where we will store all the gifts once they are opened. The kids felt great getting to choose where they wanted their money to go, realizing that they don't "need" anything else to be happy.
Our home have been filled with peace, and joy this year. (As peaceful as can be with 4 kids!)

All this said, I ran across the article below! It caught my attention since it is about cake. And then it left me to ponder how the Christmas spirit isn't always one of peace and joy. I hope it leaves you thinking (and chuckling)!

Stolen cake sparks bank data alert in Germany

Fri Dec 19, 2:56 pm ET

FRANKFURT, Germany – Two couriers at a package distribution center stole a Christmas cake destined for a German newspaper and mailed in its place a package of credit card data, prosecutors said Friday. The mix-up triggered an alarm over lost bank customer details. A batch of microfilmed data including names, addresses and card transactions ended up at the Frankfurter Rundschau daily last week — instead of the cake. Police advised credit card customers with Landesbank Berlin to check their accounts for inconsistencies.

But the incident turned out to be less sinister than feared.

Frankfurt prosecutors said that two couriers stole a Stollen, a German-style Christmas cake, at a distribution center in Mainz.

In an attempt to cover up the theft, the men instead sent one of several packages of credit card billing details destined for Landesbank Berlin to the newspaper, the cake's intended recipient.

Doris Moeller-Scheu, a spokesman for Frankfurt prosecutors, said the suspected thieves didn't open the package and "could not know what was in it," so no harm came to customers.

She said the two men had admitted to the theft. Prosecutors did not name the courier service involved or identify the two suspects.