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WHAT'S NEW
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The best gift ever
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Readers share heartwarming stories about the best gifts they ever received.
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By Homemakers.com
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With the holiday season approaching many of us will be reminded of celebrations gone by. We recall special moments spent with friends and family, and we remember receiving thoughtful and special gifts that show us how much our loved ones care.
We asked Homemakers readers to share stories of their most memorable gift ever. To our delight, we received many responses that reveal more than just memories of presents, but also stories of gifts that money just can't buy. (Thank you for all submissions; unfortunately we cannot print them all.)
Journal jar
The first Christmas after my mother died was an especially difficult time for me. It was hard to get into the spirit of the season without my mom but I knew I had to for my son who was five at the time.
The day before Christmas arrived, a girlfriend dropped by with what she called a "journal jar." It was a lovely basket that contained a notebook, pens, tea and cookies and a large mason jar filled with little paper notes. Upon opening the jar, I discovered the little "notes" were questions for me to answer, such as "what was your favorite childhood memory" or "what were your family's Christmas traditions," etc. They were questions about how I was raised, my hopes and fears, my memory of my parents and so on.
The purpose of the gift was to answer each question, and write my response in the notebook provided. Then, the instructions read, save the notebook filled with my answers and give it to my children so that even when I'm gone someday, they'll always have a special book that will tell them all about me and help them to remember me and in doing so, connect with themselves. These were things I was struggling with that Christmas after my mother had died.
That "journal jar" helped me to write down and remember so many good times with my mom and just growing up in general. It is the best gift I ever received!
Sherri Haigh, Kingston, Ont.
Calls of compassion
It was the first Christmas since my dad passed away. Mom had just had major back surgery and was hospitalized for the month of December. So, having no other family around to help or to celebrate, it was a very difficult year and I really wasn't looking forward to the upcoming festive season.
I spent Christmas day at the hospital with Mom and we shared our turkey dinner, which was special for us. But it was a tough day, and by the time I left the hospital to head home I was so looking forward to kicking off my boots and just calling it a day. But once in my empty house, I felt lost. Then my gift arrived.
First it was a call from a neighbour to see how I was coping, and shortly thereafter came another call; this time from a work associate. Those two calls were the great gifts. The callers took time away from their families and friends on a very special day and remembered me. After 20 years tears still come to my eyes when I think of these caring gestures.
Roxanne Zdunek, Hamilton, Ont.
It's the thought that counts
A box of chocolates, from the dollar store, is the most memorable gift I have ever received.
Kenny was a student in my Kindergarten class some years ago. At the end of our performance in the Christmas concert he handed me a thin, gift-wrapped box, his eyes beaming with pride as he whispered, "I bought it with my own money, teacher."
Kenny's family was struggling and quite poor. I was deeply touched that he had used his own precious allowance to buy his teacher a gift. A family crisis in the spring took Kenny away from school and I never saw him again, but I will always remember this little boy's generosity.
Barb Zimmerman, Edmonton, Albt.
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