But what do you get for someone who is hard to shop for? You know the kind...the person who can and does buy what they want. Or better yet (this one is me) the person who says they really don't need anything and they are fine so they don't bother with a list.
This year Sharman MADE me the best gift ever! For those of you who do not know, I have a brother who committed suicide three and a half years ago. It has been tough without him and we all miss him terribly. When we had to go through his personal items I took a coat, hat, belts and a shirt of his. My sisters were a little grossed out by it, but when we did the last pour of concrete on our home, my brother Ben was there to help us and he was wearing some of these items. I wanted to have them to keep a part of him that had once been in my home with my home still. For years Sharman has said that he will get me something to put it all in. Well, this Christmas that something finally materialized into .......
a custom made shadow box! The top lifts off and the glass slides in. He made the box and then carefully placed the items inside to be opened by me Christmas morning. I could not have asked for a better gift!!
The kids kind of got into the giving of self this year as well. Sharman and the kids had purchased this photo frame. Then, when my sister Amy came for Thanksgiving, Sharman had her take black and white photos to put in the frame. There are photos of many of my family members on both sides. I still need a photo of Tammie and her family and Kendon and Lisa and their family to have everyone but for the most part I have photos of both sides. It means so much because I really value each member of my family. They each represent a special part of my life and who I am. I even have a photo of my brother-in-law and his wife (Kelly and KaYa) who are in Korea. This was pretty cool to have in the frame as well.
For years, I have looked forward with eager anticipation to our family gift exchange. My sister-in-law April is extremely talented. She has made denim quilts, baby blankets, sweaters, recipe books, photo trays, food items, blankets, etc. You name it, she can make it. I am really grateful for each of my family and extended family members and the things they do to bless my life. Mostly, I am really grateful for the gifts of self that they extend to me, not just during the Christmas season, but throughout the entire year. This is what I love most about family.
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