Merry Christmas!

Above: Xmas 2009....complete contrast to Xmas 2005....below

 Journaling:

In the weeks before Christmas, Amani would often call me away from my household chores. He would do this to excitedly point out the latest toy or video game being featured in a television commercial. He would quickly add these items to his Christmas wish list.  This list would continue to change at least once a week until Christmas. One evening after changing his holiday list for the umpteenth time, I told him that I already knew what I was getting him.

“Wow! What am I getting?” he asked excitedly.

“Some cool stuff,” I replied smiling. “I’m getting you a lump of coal.”

“What? I was really good! Is that all I get?” he laughed.

“Okay, a lump of coal and a stick.” I said.

 “ Maaaaa!” he said between giggles.

 “Alright! How about a lump of coal, a stick and a button?” I asked.

“What would I do with any of that stuff?” he asked still laughing.

 “Well… you could use the charcoal to add a shaded background to your layouts. You can use a stick to embellish a page about Fall and the button could be used to decorate just about anything!” I said.

“Mom, I don’t even scrapbook anymore so what would I do with that stuff?” he asked.

I had the perfect solution. “Give them to meeeeeee!”

 We made many jokes about this conversation in the month of December. Imagine Amani’s surprise on Christmas morning when he found nothing but a small tin containing a stick, a lump of coal and a button in it! Ha ha! Let’s just say he was surprised! And of course he enjoyed the rest of his gifts too. ;-)

Have a great one ! May all of the joy and peace of the holiday season be with you and yours...