A Christmas Never to Be Forgotten

With the economy this year I'm sure you know some people that have been struggling to make ends meet. Or perhaps your family themselves are having this hard time. My family is no exception. So when Ian & I showed up Christmas Morning to watch everyone open gifts I was quite surprised to find a large stack of gifts under the tree. I was thinking to myself, "Wow, my parents really outdid themselves this year. I know they have always spoiled us at Christmas, but this isn't the year to impress anyone." Although, this thought came to mind I simply sat down and waited for everyone to arrive and get situated, eager to see what my brothers would have recieved under the tree. After everyone had filtered in, my father began talking about previous Christmas's gone by. The one in particular he mentioned was a year I remember fondly. Our family had chosen another family to buy Christmas for. It was a family of two boys, one was about 8 and the other 16. We did not know them, but were eager to pick out gifts we thought they might enjoy. I remember us sparing no expense (or so it seemed). We purchased toys, and items that were listed they needed. I even remember helping my dad pick out a Walkman for the older boy. I was so excited to give them such a surprise! I was about twelve at the time, and looking back I thought I knew quite well the impression we were going to make when we dropped off the gifts just before Christmas. As my father continued, he told us this year that WE were in fact the chosen family of a secret Santa. All the gifts you see under the tree showed up anonymously at the doorstep a few days before Christmas. Everyone's eyes filled up with tears. My mother began to cry. When my father finished, my brothers and Tobi began to open the gifts one by one so that we all might see what they had recieved. Cody received a new pair of DC shoes which are nicer than any pair he has owned before, and which he was in desperate need of. Tobi received memoirs of Utah and some other needed items that he did not have. Nathan received a pair of church shoes, that he had needed. Him and Cody both recieved multiple games for their handhelds and all were given a watch and lots of socks! When each boy was done unwrapping they all had a pile of gifts that they had recieved. At that moment I realized, the joy I had felt when my family was able to buy gifts for another family, which I thought had been great, was nothing compared to the joy I feel now. I wish I knew the family that had purchased those gifts. I wish I could thank them so deeply for the joy they brought to my family Christmas morning. I don't think they will ever understand what that meant to us. I feel that they must have known exactly what everyone needed and wanted. What a humbling experience it has been for my family, but a most wonderful one. Although, there were no gifts for Ian and I to open from under the tree, I felt more happiness and a greater satisfaction than I have any other Christmas. My family will eternally be grateful for the one's who gave us a Christmas to remember forever. Not only did we receive these gifts but Tobi's parents had also sent my family two large boxes full of gifts from Germany. They included mugs, salt and pepper shakers, cookies, and many more novelties from their home town. All had their state's crescent on them and for each one opened Tobi would tell us about it. My family even received a board game in German! (Guess Tobi will have to translate before he leaves :) It was a splendid Christmas indeed. We ended with the traditional Chrismtas breakfast and went on our way to Ian's family....I was excited to go to Ian's because we had made up baskets for each family with items from our home here in Cache Valley. We included things like Cox honey, Pepperidge Farms, and Bluebird chocolates. I also had spent hours working on an apron for each sister and Ian's mother. I was very happy to find that they liked them all :) They even wore them the rest of the day! Ian and I also received wonderful gifts from the families. Those gifts include, a heated blanket, table lamp for our living room, a hand crocheted blanket, and one of my favorite's was a paper doll set of peppermint rose, which was a doll from my childhood that I had loved very much! All in all I don't think any of us will ever forget this Christmas. I have never been more excited to give the gift of my labors, and more in touch to the true spirit of Christmas.