When I ask my children what is the one most wonderful thing they want for Christmas, their response not so much suprises me, but warmed my heart. They simple want to be around the family....
They wanted to have all of us together Christmas Eve, to celebrate by making goodies with Grammy, having Grandpa toss the football...(yes even in the cold) and my son, wants to play Christmas music with his saxaphone on the corner of the street while his sisters hand out candy canes.
They want to wake up and have a wonderful lazy breakfast in Pj's ...watch Christmas shows all day....
I asked about gifts.
They do not want anything. Well.......ofcours they are kids and would like something.....(so dad and I will take care of that later...in jan...)
My son brought the suggestion to me to give any amount the three kids would have received on small gift items and buy for a Salvation Army angel, .. so I pulled a name from the tree at our Church. The girls are excited to give to a 9 year old they do not know..Joey is incharge of new sneakers because he knows all about good sneakers...
They said, they know how hard their Dad (they referr to their stepdad as Dad) and Grandpa work, and there is not a gift they want to receive more than just seeing them get to enjoy their families and "be lazy" for once......... I know it may seam like I am making this up...if you know my children then you know I am not.
So.......since we are crafty, the kids and I all decided to only give true handmade gifts. Even for the little one. Ava who is just 3, is currently making all of her handmade gifts for her family..and they are simple, hand painted figures and drawings....but I have never seen so much love pour into a gift as she tells me about the person she is making it for.
I mentioned January.
Seeing how genuine their hearts are in truly wanted this Christmas to be all about family and the Spirit of Christmas, My husband and I decided to give them a little back for their kindness and sincerity. We thought we would take them after New Year to get themselves each something they really wanted, bonus, it will be on sale :)
As for Santa,
If he should decide to pop in........ well...he is always welcome in our home ;)
