being with the family is nice. too bad the bonehead future brother in-law has to ruin it for the past 6 years. :/

other, for me = being able to give something that will be appreciated. also, the sometimes surprises in various forms, from someone that helps reduce my "Scrooge" feeling about it. Thanks to Kol Klink, TigerHawk and Cpl Medicus, they know what I refer to. Also thanks to my 3 sons and their Mom who told me they understand I can't afford anything, but they just want to see me in good moods. :peace:

 

Also thanks to members here that try to say something nice or atleast say nothing. Like what I've tried to teach my sons ; "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all". ;-) It's what makes this a "community" of PEOPLE, not just a "firing range". ;-)

What I like most about Christmas: homemade Bachlava!

I like the smell of the pine-tree or fir-tree and handing over presents. Most of all I like giving the gifts to my wife.

I love the giving, not the receiving. That's why I selected other. It's giving those people in your life the things that they would not or could not get themselves. As I grow older I find how it's not the gifts that cost much, if anything at all, that mean the most to others.

 

My wife grew up in New York state and moved to Virginia when she was older and that's where we met and fell in love. Her mom divorced when she was young and her step-father was not a nice man. When her mom and step-father split up all of her childhood belongings were left behind. She often talked about how much she wished she had some of those things. So, that year for Christmas I planned something very special.

 

Around October I was able to get in touch with the man who was once her step-father and made arrangements for him to mail me all of the things that he still had that were once my wife's. I was really surprised that 1) he still had anything since this was around 20 years later and 2) that he was willing to help me. I guess over the years he grew to understand the err of his ways and wanted to give back what he once took from her.

 

So, I went out and bought a hope chest and carefully wrapped all of these things (a school yearbook, a baby quilt and Christmas stocking hand made by her grandmother, photos, sentimental belongings, dolls, etc.) and placed them in the hope chest. (On the verge of tears just reliving the moment).

 

I preped a short video with a song called 'The Hopechest Song' by Stephanie Bentley. Read the lyrics some time if you have a chance. I also made a homemade magic wand that was a star wrapped in foil on the end of stick. I placed the wand in her Christmas stocking the night before Christmas. When she woke the next morning she saw the wand and asked what it was for. I told her that it was a magic wand and she would get to use it later.

 

Every year we go to my parents for Christmas and I had left the hope chest and video there. So, when it was time to exchange gifts I played the video for her and then showed her the hope chest. I told her that it was time for her to use her magic wand and to wish for something special. Then she opened the chest and began to open the gifts inside. The room was full of tears of joy, it was overwhelming.

 

That is my favorite Christmas memory ever. I don't know that I will ever be able to do something like that for someone again but I wish that I could experience that feeling again. To give something to someone that they could never get themselves. Their most cherish and prized desires.

 

Christmas is about selflessness. About sharing. Childhood memories, photos of loved ones that have passed away this year, a calendar with hand written notes of encouragement and love on every day of the year. Heck, I got garbage pickup service for a year for my birthday last year and that was a great gift. Something that I would not pay for myself.

 

Merry Christmas, clan-mates!

wow, thats a really awesome story... i wish i could do something like that. that would be a Christmas special i WOULD watch! (if it were made into one)

I love the giving, not the receiving. That's why I selected other. It's giving those people in your life the things that they would not or could not get themselves. As I grow older I find how it's not the gifts that cost much, if anything at all, that mean the most to others.

 

My wife grew up in New York state and moved to Virginia when she was older and that's where we met and fell in love. Her mom divorced when she was young and her step-father was not a nice man. When her mom and step-father split up all of her childhood belongings were left behind. She often talked about how much she wished she had some of those things. So, that year for Christmas I planned something very special.

 

Around October I was able to get in touch with the man who was once her step-father and made arrangements for him to mail me all of the things that he still had that were once my wife's. I was really surprised that 1) he still had anything since this was around 20 years later and 2) that he was willing to help me. I guess over the years he grew to understand the err of his ways and wanted to give back what he once took from her.

 

So, I went out and bought a hope chest and carefully wrapped all of these things (a school yearbook, a baby quilt and Christmas stocking hand made by her grandmother, photos, sentimental belongings, dolls, etc.) and placed them in the hope chest. (On the verge of tears just reliving the moment).

 

I preped a short video with a song called 'The Hopechest Song' by Stephanie Bentley. Read the lyrics some time if you have a chance. I also made a homemade magic wand that was a star wrapped in foil on the end of stick. I placed the wand in her Christmas stocking the night before Christmas. When she woke the next morning she saw the wand and asked what it was for. I told her that it was a magic wand and she would get to use it later.

 

Every year we go to my parents for Christmas and I had left the hope chest and video there. So, when it was time to exchange gifts I played the video for her and then showed her the hope chest. I told her that it was time for her to use her magic wand and to wish for something special. Then she opened the chest and began to open the gifts inside. The room was full of tears of joy, it was overwhelming.

 

That is my favorite Christmas memory ever. I don't know that I will ever be able to do something like that for someone again but I wish that I could experience that feeling again. To give something to someone that they could never get themselves. Their most cherish and prized desires.

 

Christmas is about selflessness. About sharing. Childhood memories, photos of loved ones that have passed away this year, a calendar with hand written notes of encouragement and love on every day of the year. Heck, I got garbage pickup service for a year for my birthday last year and that was a great gift. Something that I would not pay for myself.

 

Merry Christmas, clan-mates!

 

Truely an Awesome story, thanks for sharing it.

christmas is a time for everything!

What do you like most about Christmas?

Buying new PC equipment and giving my old stuff as gifts like it was new - everyone is happy!.....

EVERYTHING about Christmas is good.

No school, gifts, getting money that I gotta make last, seeing family, etc