Gifts

     Ahhhh, the Christmas season is just about done.  Christmas day came with all the bows and paper and excitement, and then it was over.  My family had a wonderful day.  We took a break and ate a delicious breakfast and went back to the business of enjoying time opening gifts.  We all got something that touched our hearts.  I received a little bracelet from my daughter.  She shopped and picked out just the right one, she purchased it with her own money and wrapped it up with love.  I was speechless.  My mother received a new monitor for her computer.  She was so grateful.  She has been without a computer for a while now and even though she'd never admit it, I know she missed her emails and looking up her knitting and craft patterns.  My daughter received an upgrade to her cell phone.  Something totally unexpected and fancier than I think she thought she should have.  A total surprise.  She also got her first "film camera".  It was an old Nikon that I found at Goodwill.  It had all the bells and whistles anyone could want - a "panorama" feature (wide angle), a good zoom, and built in auto flash, plus it was a size and weight she could manage. Initially I bought it as a joke, but she was so happy with it I almost held her nice digital model for a later occasion like her birthday.  Everyone was grateful and loved each gift.
      I read an interesting story this morning during my quiet time.  It told the story of a woman who arrived in heaven and was touring with St. Peter.  She found a room that was filled with gifts, beautifully wrapped and stacked up high.  She found a pile with her name on them and asked if she could open them, sadly St. Peter said no.  When she asked why he told her that these were gifts that God had sent her while she was alive and that they were returned because they were not really recognized as gifts.  I guess the question I would ask would be, would you send back a gift that was given in love?
     When I look back at our Christmas I see that we were given many other gifts than what is sitting in my living room right now.  We were given the gift of time.  My mother arrived on December 7th and we have had a wonderful visit.  So many of my friends don't have their mothers with them here on earth anymore and every visit we have together is precious to me.  Kaysie has had a really nice visit with my mom.  I've had to work a lot and so they have spent many happy hours together, baking, crafting and just relaxing and reading.  We were given the gift of memories - we took a day trip to Seattle and just had the best time.  We went up in the Space Needle and looked around Pike Place Market, we saw the first Starbucks and found a great little yarn store.  We took lots of pictures and just laughed and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day.  I think that every time I spend an appreciable time with my mom we find more and more common ground.  Even though I am her "little girl" I feel like she respects me as a mother and an adult more and more and that to me is not only an incredible gift but a treasure as well.   I'm sure there are other gifts that I haven't even figured out yet.  I will though because I think it's important to take the time to find them.
     What unseen gifts did you receive this Christmas?  Did you receive them or did you send them back unopened?  That would be a real shame.  Write to me and tell me what you found this Christmas other than what was under your tree.  Cheers!