My best friend Harv has never owned a computer in his life. He comes over about once a week to work on ours, using it to keep in touch with his scattered family and his friends. He works so hard just to make ends meet, I would love to be able to give him a laptop of his very own. I would give one of the computers to my in-laws, who own their own small family farm and do not have a computer. Not only would they be able to stay in touch with their grandchildren across two states, but they would be able to use it to help run the family business.. and maybe even have a little fun.
I would give the mini to my daughter who is a freshman in high school this year and is frustrated and struggling with splitting her time in between my house and her dad’s house. Perhaps having a small laptop of her own where she can do school projects and be creative and yet take it with her everywhere she goes would help. I would use the other system to upgrade our old family computer, making it much easier for my new husband to video chat and keep in touch with his two boys who are 3 hours away…
Make some holiday dreams come true….

Jessica
oak Park, IL USA

Thanks for the contest.

Thanks!
Tolono, IL

First off, I would keep the desktop. I am a work a home mom just trying to get my business off the ground. Like so many other people, and moms, I am trying to keep my head above water in this economy, as well as, make something great for my daughters future. I work very hard, sometimes up to 15 hours a day, and its not easy, but I see that I can do something great. I am also an avid blogger, so having a great computer is worth gold to me. Not only in function, but in the fact that it limits my online time so I can still spend time with my family by not wasting time fighting with slow programs.

I would share the 2nd notebook with my father. 2 years ago he ended up in the hospital unexpectedly with diverticulitis. He nearly died from a staph infection he got while there and had a portion of his intestines removed. He still has massive scaring from it. He is a Realtor and has inspired me my entire life to be something great, to help others lives, and to be independent. While he was in the hospital, he ended up being there for over 2 months and because of that, his company pulled all of his listings from him and he came out of the hospital barely able to move, trying to get his life back, 100K worth of hospital bills, and all of his business gone. He has worked two years to just get his head up again, but the economy is so bad that its like fighting an upstream river.

Recently he has started taking his customer service online. Learning twitter, myspace, facebook, and a slew of other online programs and social networks. I would love to give this computer to him so he can continue to work on the trend and to reward him for NEVER giving up.

The 3rd notebook I would reward back to my blog. I started my blog in July and it has quickly became a wonderful community with amazing woman. I am so blessed to have been accepted so readily in the blogging world and recently we ran a few Christmas contests. I was able to hear stories all around of women and families who just needed SO much…but even more, they were willing to share and come together and I saw so much support on the forums and all the blogs. I just cant do it alone and I want to be able to make ONE MORE mommies Christmas. Which one, I do not know. So i pledge to take that 3rd computer and re give it back out to someone for THEIR Christmas dream. There are so many moms, like myself, that are just trying to get their businesses off the ground, or teach their kids from home, or just trying to make it. Nothing would give me more pleasure then to be able to pass that back on to someone. We gave out a high chair yesterday and when I picked the winner I got teared up. Its truly what the holidays are about. I cant imagine how I would feel to be able to bless someone else again.

The last computer I would pass on to my brother. Our mom was murdered in 2002 and he was only 13 at the time. Now he is 19 and he has struggled for years coming to grips without her. He graduated high school at 16, had a full scholarship to college and was an athlete. But he took a wrong turn and got into some bad things and dropped out of college and lost his scholarship. He has the ability to go far and has been doing his best, working in telemarketing and trying to turn his life around. I believe a computer would help and show him that the family is behind him and we believe in him. I never thought i would actually do that until I considered where all the products would go…but I truly believe it could be a step for him.

Because of my blog and meeting all the women and hearing all the stories, I am launching a nonprofit program that starts in January. The site is up but not ready (so i will only give URL privately if asked for proof) and I will pledge to donate the
# HP 564 Photo Value Pak
# Microsoft Office 2007 Student Edition
# Microsoft Windows Live
# Corel VideoStudio X2
# Kung Fu Panda (DVD & Blu-ray)

as the very FIRST products to the nonprofit organization that launches.

Thankyou for the opportunity to change my life and so many others on behalf of me.

Trisha
http://www.momdot.com

i am also subscribed under momdot@live.com