Day 10: Christmas From the Heart

One Christmas my parents decided we needed to have a Christmas from the Heart.  I don’t know if they were short on money and didn’t have any options or if they were just trying to teach us a lesson but this ended up being my most memorable Christmas ever. The rules to this Christmas were simple.  We couldn’t buy gifts for each other.  Instead we had to make one.  I made each person in my family a cross-stitched ornament with their names on it and a little graphic of something that I thought represented them. We also spent Christmas up at our cabin in Warm Lake Idaho with our cousins. The only downfall was my older sister couldn’t come because she had to work.  It was one of the simplest Christmases but has been burned into my memory for life. I remember my dad cutting a hole in the ice on the lake so we could carry buckets of water to flush the toilet with.  I also remember my older brother washing his head in that hole and coming up red in the face.  That was hilarious.  We cut down a tree and decorated it with my ornaments and popcorn and other ornaments we made.

The best part of that Christmas was the gifts.  Remember when I told you on day 3 I learned an important lesson about presents?  This was the year.  I can’t remember all the gifts most were coupons for cleaning your room or doing your chores for you.  The one gift I remember was a note my big brother gave me.  It said it was good for a hug anytime.  It also said I love you sis. My brother and I had a turbulent relationship.  We didn’t always get along.  This note was so significant to me because it was the first time he had ever told me he loved me.  I learned that the best gift you can give to anyone is love.  That Christmas shouldn’t be about the prettiest packages or that top of the line TV.  It started with love and should always end with love. I still have that note my brother gave me 20 years ago.  I try and redeem that hug any chance I get.