The Best Gift Ever

December 31, 2008

Sitting on the keyboard of my computer was a note “  From Nick   I love you!!!!!!!    and Olivia     To Nanny.    The children had slept over last night and yesterday and today were special times as we just relaxed after the rush of Christmas and the hopping from house to house. 

 In fact, yesterday was a pajama day and just doing ‘whatever’ was the order of the day.  Thanks to web site links sent by my sister, Nicholas (7) enjoyed the online turkey shoot game and the challenge of increasing his points earned with every game. 

To take a break from aiming at the poor turkeys, he took several turns at the Daffy Duck parachute game.  Poor Daffy jumped out of an airplane and he had to land on the target in the sand to chalk up points.  But, it appeared to be more fun to let him jump to the ground with parachute still intact!!!   The boxer shorts used, as a wind tunnel, was really helpful in knowing when to press the ‘jump’ button and when to press the ‘open parachute’ button.  And the laughter that constantly emanated from my computer room was beautiful music to my ears.

 Olivia (4) was content to watch.  When she tired of that, she spent some time with Pappa making sure he didn’t have his rest!!  Today she made name bracelets with Nannie’s help – one for her brother, one for her Dad and one for each of her cousins.   

 As the day progressed and the time to leave drew closer, the kids asked if I’d be using my computer while they were still here.  I told them no, I’d rather spend that time with them and would use my computer after supper when they’d be gone.   Heads together, whispered words and I was advised not to go in the computer room until after they were gone.   Once or twice they’d check to see if I was going to keep my promise and the knowing look they gave each other just melted my heart.  I knew whatever they were up to, I would be happy when I discovered what it was.

 I couldn’t wait for them to pull out of the driveway.  But, as always, I stayed in the window to wave goodbye – then rushed to my computer room to discover this note that brought tears to my eyes.  This simple gesture, done with love means more to me than all the gifts under the tree.  While we waited for their father to pick them up, Olivia and I cuddled and chatted about our day and doing crafts and suddenly she said, Nannie could you please go get a glue stick?  I asked her what she wanted it for as the crafts had all been put away.  She said I’m going to put some here (pointing to my left chest, and there – pointing to my right chest, and then she gave me a hug.  She said I’d like to stay glued to you all the time and go wherever you go.

 Blessings, those are the blessings and those are the rewards that come when you love – you are loved in return.  To have these precious children show their love for me, was absolutely the best Christmas gift I could have ever received and I’ll remember their gestures long after the Christmas ornaments have been put away.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

 Having been in a writing slump for almost two years now, these beautiful children have shown me that I can still write, that my love of writing has finally reawakened after some ‘down’ time.  They have given me back the urge to put my thoughts on paper and they will probably never know what gifts they have given by just expressing their love.   I’m truly blessed.