Okay now what? October was spent planning for Thanksgiving and Halloween and although I could stand to look at Christmas decorations three months out of the year, I do like to think I have some sense of self control; I can’t very well put the tree up just yet. But because I live on the other side of the country from most of my family I am left mailing gifts each year which means I need to get a head start on things. This also means I am limited on the size and weight of the gifts I buy unless I want to pay a ridiculous cost of shipping. So, what to give? One gift that I have given to several family members for the last few years, is the gift of giving. There are several organizations that allow you to donate money to those who find themselves in less than desirable situations. Sites such as CanadaHelps, Plan, and Heifer International allow you to choose from several categories of who you would like to help. When I choose these for my gifts I insert a little note inside a card telling my recipient that a donation has been made in their …