The day after Christmas is now known as "Black Friday 2."

The news from the shopping front this year is probably about what you'd expect. Some early numbers show the sales are down anywhere from 5 and a half percent to 8 percent. No surprises there. If you've been watching any news coverage for the last month or so this is about what the experts had predicted.

This year my family cut back on the gift-giving. I'm trying to do my part to get the economy back up and chugging along but when it came to gifts my wife and I figured there was really no need to get carried away (not that we've ever really gotten carried away in the past).

Our 15-year-old son has what he needs. A good home, a roof over his head, a loving family, a few computer games and clothes to keep him warm and enough to eat. Our two-year-old daughter isn't quite sure what Christmas is anyway so a few brightly colored boxes to open suit her just fine.

We had some family in from out-of-town over the weekend for an early Christmas. Before we ate dinner we joined hands and said a prayer thanking God for the food provided. I told my family at that time that just having them all standing there in the room with me was truly the greatest Christmas present I could ever have. I know it may sound like a Hallmark greeting card or a Rockwell moment but I truly meant it.

I know in the upcoming year I'll be spending plenty of money to help the economy (the car will break down and need repair...the kids need new shoes...the dogs need their rabies shots...there are new schoolbooks and school clothes and computer programs to buy) but for just a few days I had the greatest gift I could ask for. And it didn't cost a thing.

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