I was just perusing another post and was inspired to ask...What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received?
Mine: Traditionally my parents/family gave me gift cards to my fave stores for "after Christmas shopping". I still keep up the tradition but now shop for next year's gifts for family. Anyway, DH and I have been together since we were in our late teens. Needless to say we've been through some pretty rough times financially- having both paid our way through college, bought first house, car, etc... The first year we were married was particularly difficult & the gifts under the tree were pretty sparse and there wasn't going to be any after Christmas shopping. Normally, we open our cards first but DH acted like he had forgotten to get me one. As we finished opening our presents he handed me an envelope. It contained a card and $300. I was crying as I asked how he was able to give me that kind of gift. He said he saved up for six months to give me that money so I could go shopping the day after Christmas.
I know it sounds materialistic and all, but what I am getting at is the consideration and selflessness he put into that gift. It has been 9 years since he gave it to me, and up until the year before last I never spent that money. What happened the year before last? We had our first child and I used it to start her college fund. One day it will be her Christmas present.
What's your story?
At eight years old my big brother bought me a snoopy suitcase. It was the best thing ever and possibly the only gift I really remember. Hmmm now that I think about it, I wonder if he was trying to give his little sister a message. Thanks for the memory.
C.
I mostly just love being around & with my family for the holidays.
Last year I got a gorgeous Pandora bracelet (fully loaded) from my husband. He picked out each & every charm for me since he knew that aspect of it wouldn't interest me! How sweet!
And I also love getting gift cards so that I can shop after Christmas--when the bargains are BIG!
Cant remember favorites as a kid. My sister cried when Mom got her a violin she desperatly wanted to learn to play. My parents were divorced and Dad never paid child support like he was supposed to so to find such an extravagant gift under the tree brought us both to tears- and she was only 12!
As an adult, my father paid for my teeth to be fixed. I hadn't had dental insurance for many years and just couldn't take care of them like I needed. When I moved to TN, I went to a dentist becasue of pain and found out I needed about $8000 worth of work including 6-7 root canals.(I inherited his teeth!) It was actually two Christmases and several birthdays, but I could have never done it at that time. Guess I need to write another thank you letter to him just to let him know I still appreciate it so much. (by the way, he often "forgot" that he had more than covered gift giving to me and would send something anyway)
Maybe he was making up for the early divorce years?
a positive pregnancy test! I found out I was pregnant with my son 10 days before christmas
My parents were always incredibly thoughtful and sometimes indulgent at the holidays, but the gift I remember the most was my college degree professionally matted and framed. I had no idea that they had done it. It's beautiful and is now hanging (with the others) in our den at home.
My husband commented once that all of my "papers" were framed on the wall, but his wasn't. So, for his birthday that year I had his framed and it is now proudly displayed too!
For both of us, it reminds us that hard work does pay-off and having someone else take the time, thought and money to display it is still pretty wonderful!
We each wrote a poem about how much we love one another. (As a family now). But as a child, it was my cabbage patch doll & carebear. When they first came out and I still have them passed them along to my children...our teenager had them for a while during her younger years and has now passed them onto her younger sister, now our toddler loves them. Christmas gifts that keeps on bringing hugs, love, and comfort.
Best present as a kid: New bike! I wanted one so bad because I never had a new one that was just mine. We had finished opening presents and I didn't get one. I didn't say anything, but I'm sure I was visibly upset. About an hour after opening presents, my dad asked me to go downstairs and grab something out of the freezer. And there in front of the freezer with a huge bow...was my brand spankin' new bike!!!!!!
Best present as an adult: A Coach purse. The most I ever paid for a purse was $40 at most. I've always wanted a Coach but would never ever spend that kind of money. I literally cried when I opened it and told my husband that it was the best gift I ever received. He was a little ticked off by that comment as he thought my engagement and wedding ring should top the list! I got it 4 years ago and still use it to this very day...that is when I'm not toting around the diaper bag!
Ok, so just wanted to say that your post absolutely warmed my heart! That was an incredibly sensitive and thoughtful gift from your husband. Sounds like he's a real keeper. :)
My best Christmas gift is an easy one for me. I am not an openly emotional person. I rarely cry at movies (damn Toy Story 3). I rarely cry in front of people. I know it may sound cold, but I am just uncomfortable crying or displaying my emotions in front of people in general.
So that said, 2 years ago, my cousin really got me. All of my dad's side of the family gathers on Christmas Eve at my aunt's house, and we exchange gifts there. So my cousin gave me her gift... It was an artistic rendering of a gorgeous photo of my son that she knew I loved. She had learned this awesome technique in an art class in college, and the rendering was amazing. I completely lost it. I couldn't help it, cried like a baby. I am crying just remembering it. It was and still is so special to me. Historically, I am the one that gives special, meaningful, personal gifts to people. It's just what I do. :) But really, no one else in my life does that, so I am basically never on the receiving end of that kind of thoughtfulness. So to receive a gift like that, unexpectedly, it was overwhelming. It hangs in the entryway to my home, and I will never take it down.
1 year membership to message envy.
As a child it was a Barbie Dream House I loved it and never stopped thinking about how much I loved it Christmas to me takes me back to being a kid as an adult it always has been watching my kids faces getting their gifts nothing in this world will ever compare to that feeling. The gift of giving for me.... It might sound cheesey but its who I am lol
A pair of rollerskates.. I LOVED those skates soooooooooooo much!!! I wore them all over the city and down to nothing!! To this day, I have fond memories of rollerskating.. what a great sport/hobbie for kids.
from my honey - an unexpected engagement ring! it was a great surprise given to me in front of the people that mattered the most to me. it was wonderful to share that proposal with my family.
I don't remember when I was younger but since DH and I have been together, the best present from him (or anyone else during the last nine years) was the necklace he bought for me that looked like a family of four in a circle - it represents our family and I love it!! 2nd fav gift? Eucalyptus mint hand soap - I know it sounds weird but it puts me in such a great mood after I wash my hands with it!!!
Just like Tracy K. said. It was an engagement ring that I didn't expect. It was very special to have my family there to see it. The look on my Mothers face was priceless! I bet I opened about ten boxes that started out as huge and ended up with the tiny ring box before I was able to get to it. :-)
My son is quite a good artist, and every Christmas since he was little he hand makes me a card - he puts so much time and effort into it, it just melts my heart - he is 15 now and still doing it! Can't wait to see what he comes up with this year....:)
a scrap book of my kids 1st trip to the zoo.
Awww.....what a sweet story! My favorite was the digital camera that my husband gave me......I use it to take hundreds of pictures of our daughter every week! It was quite out of character for him - as usually he doesn't plan ahead, there is some big purchase for one of his track cars, and then no $ for Christmas, or he decides at the last minute that we should just exchange cards or stockings - of course my shopping has been done for weeks by then.
When my son was born in December : )
I love this post!! It's the fist that one that has ever made me tear up ... I love all of the responses!!
I would say that I cannot actually think of specific gift that has been my favorite. But i remember the time when my husband and I had our second child and he was laid off, money was really tight and right before christmas a knock came at our door. It was a special friend from our church who had decided to "adopt" our family for christmas. It was quite a suprise. That was 6 years ago and she is still very connected to us and sort of surrogate grandma to my kids.
My husband many years ago gave me an exquisite Italian, handmade inlaid wooden jewelry box that plays the Theme to "Camelot".
It is a true treasure. Especially the way he had one of my coworkers, ring it up and have it gift wrapped for me in secret. I was shocked.
Well,
I'd say my digital camera that I received last year.
I was going to say that year that I became engaged, but depending on the day... also, that same year, as we went over to his parents to tell them, my future brother-in-law announced that he had proposed to his girlfriend also on Christmas eve. Then a few years and a divorce later, he then proposed to his then new girlfriend on Christmas Eve. I began to see a family theme.
