Christmas giving and receiving: Open thread
So: What was the best gift you gave? Received?
Re-gifting prospects? Presents you wished you kept for yourself?
Weigh in and enjoy the rest of the holiday!
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Gave
To a dear friend who has a beach house in the Keys I gave a painting by William Deshazo of a seascape that fits well in their collection.
Received
For my beach house down there a 4 foot tall glass dolphin statue.
Best gift I got, bar none: a 25 minute CD slide show and video of my wife and daughters pre-celebrating all of our family Christmas traditions. They made this in early December so that I could share in them, though I am far away in a land where few celebrate Christmas.
The gifts I “gave” this year were pretty much selected by my wife in my behalf this year.
Now my Christmas ended four minutes ago. May each of you continue to enjoy the hours remaining to you on this special day.
No kidding. My husband gave me a pink T-shirt that says “Infidel”. I said MM would be proud.
I gave my MIL a Taser. And I’m not kidding about that either.
I also received a great gift from my brother. A pre-loaded digital frame with lots of good family pics. Nothings beats memories like this!
In a way I both give the gift and keep it for myself. At my mother’s age, she already has about all the things she’ll ever need. So for Christmas every year I give her a box of chocolate candy–which she can always use more of–while keeping an identical box for myself.
Coming on line to MM reading
I thought Christmas was really dying in America. It made me cry.
& Marin the Cat finally inside for his 1st Christmas after over a decade of being a wild feral…half of his ear is gone to frostbite!..winter 2003.
& Sergie’s arrangement of ‘Brasil’ for string quartet…Thank you Sergio.
& Mama Rosa still here to enjoy the Christmas table cloth w/ the big Red roses…& how deeply pleased my kid was to give his military pal needed cash on Christmas Eve, which he actually had!
& the Christmas Eve story on aol about Scott Southworth & his adopted son, Ala’a.
Christmas wasn’t crushed this year!!!
Holy Infant Jesus, BLESS AMERICA. amen
The best gift I received was to hear our five-year-old say “Daddy, wake up, it’s Christmas–and Santa came!”
It was fantastic to see that the cookies, milk, and carrots left out the night before (and consumed by Santa and his hoofed helpers in the wee hours), and sooty footprints leading from the fireplace, still can capture her imagination.
The second-best gift was waking up safe in our house in San Francisco, knowing that there are brave men and women who chose to put themselves in harm’s way in order to allow families like ours to celebrate Christmas, even in a monkeyhouse like SF. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and may God bless and protect you, and your families.
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Patrick
PS–The worst gift? The all-wood playhouse that needed “4-6 hours of assembly”, and was so big, it had to be assembled, on the deck right outside her bedroom, only after she had fallen asleep…yeesh!
My Best Gift:
Ten pair of dry socks my Mom sent to me in Vietnam She mailed them so early, I got them in the middle of December, 1969. Thanks to the Monsoon season, they were really needed.
Worst Gift:
None. They were all good in their own way. I love Christmas
God bless America and God bless all of our troops serving in harms way.
Army and Armored Cav. Thank you for what you are doing. Stay safe and God bless
Best gift received: Kids coming over and a Grandson. There is not much that can compare to holding our grandson.
Best gift given: Our time with our kids. We are home from Haiti for an indefinite amount of time. They know the value of spending time with us now!
Cheap dates we know. There is value in just being together that no amount of money can buy. We gave up trying to buy things that are supposed to make people happy. Those things do not last.
Best gift ever received? Salvation!
My husbands says the best gifts that were given and received was love…awww.
I got a diamond wedding ring which I thought I would get for our 20th anniversary in May…..sweet!
I gave him a very manly cross necklace which he just loves.
It has been a wonderful Christmas and I hope that all of you had the same
The best gift this year would be people like ArmoredCAV that serve our nation at all times. May God bless them and their families and keep them safe.
Thank you all.
rockdalian
They are the gift that keeps on giving!
The best gift I got was that at least one of our daughters made it home for Christmas and so did my sister.
The worst gift I got was some delicious sweets that we really don’t need in the house. LOL
It was a great Christmas. Best wishes to everyone here at MM from my family to yours.
A mouse pad w/a built in wrist support so that my swollen “blogging” knuckle doesn’t get any worse (-:
The Blessing of living in this-the greatest country on earth-secure in the knowledge that the greatest and most honorable military on earth is protecting us.
Thank you -Army-Navy-Air Force-Marines -Coast Guard. We love you and pray for your safety.
Received the pleasure of spending Christmas with my family and relatives. Giving everyone the pleasure of my cooking: turkey, ham, tatters, beans, salad and cake.
Best gift? Being here to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
We started our day at 7am mass which my two sons volunteered for (the only ones). It was a great way to start the day!
*In Mario voice* SUPER MARIO GALAXY, WOOOHOOO!!!
I knew she wouldn’t be able to walk away from this blog for a full day – not even on Christmas. I should have taken bets on it.
She coulda just set her site to autopost, so she might not have.
Best gift was an electric Lionel train on a simple circular track my mom & dad gave me around 1951. We were poor, lived in the country and the tree was kind of bare underneath except for that big train. I’ll never forget it! Dad’s gone now, but mom just spent her 98th Christmas with us at our warm comfortable, paid for house in the mountains of East TN. My wife and I don’t think she will see another Christmas so we will not take this one for granted. Mom got calls from all over the US from great grand kids, kids and family in Australia. Thanks Michelle for putting Christ in this blog’s Christmas!
The best gift I rec’d was 3 days before Thanksgiving, a Grandson! I am so pumped about this kid. Sleigh rides, fishing, the zoo…. I can’t wait!!!
To top it all off, this has brought me closer to my daughter. I know 2008 is going to be fantastic!!!!
Down payment and closing costs for my #3 son’s first house.
The best gift received and given was reuniting with my 3 daughters after 15 years of separation, over Christmas. They had disappeared with my ex and attempts to find them proved futile. Long story. My oldest finally found and contacted me. The reunion was full of emotion and joyful with all 3, plus 2, now spoiled,grandchildren. No other gift could be greater.
Gave my mom a 40 gig mp3 player and loaded it with 6,000 songs. Bought her a nice set of headphones and a great set of external computer speakers for it. Got my wife a new wedding ring because the one I bought for her when we were in college wasn’t appropriate anymore.
Merry Christmas to all!
Having all 5 of my children, their spouses and my 4 grandchildren all here this year was a special gift I received.
Equally as special was seeing my children and grandchildren continue a tradition of giving we started after the GWOT began.
Each of my children that lives here in Arizona arranges to “adopt” a military family with children that has a deployed parent for Christmas. We help each of the parents with their Christmas shopping and then have the families over for Christmas dinner with our family. We had Air Force, Army and Marine families with us this year.
We always intentionally prepare a lot more than can be eaten and then send all of the left over food home with the families.
Received: Long distance telephone calls from my sisters, nieces and nephews wishing I could be with them back in Florida, going to Mass with them then cooking the Christmas meal for them (family and friends, number about 30 or so hungry folks)! Yes, I love cooking for the family!
Gave: A huge leather bound Bible to a dear friend who’s life is topsy turvy at the moment but her Faith in God is amazing.
We are all Thankful for the sacrifices our troops, their families and all who serve for the protection our country. Guys, you are always in our hearts and prayers. Thank you and May God Bless you, one and all.
How about you Michelle? Please tell us…
Gave
An embroidered picture, by me, of Santa, to a good friend and I thought she was going to cry when she opened it. Nothing like knowing that you have made and given someone something that they really appreciate. The other best thing is knowing that we have wonderful people in Iraq and Afghanistan keeping us safe, doing the work that others will not do.
Worst received was not having my husband here with the family for the Christmas holidays. He is stuck working on the oil rig in N Dakota while we are all all warm in Florida! Maybe next year he will be home.
And we all couldn’t stay away either.
Merry Christmas!
I gave my girlfriend a Nintendo WII (Believe me, she wanted it) and she gave me a Takamine guitar. Great Christmas.
kiwiwgranny if we’d known we’d have invited him over. We are here in N. Dakota with my 15 bros & sisters and their families at my Dad’s farm. (probably not far from those oil rigs…)
We decided to have a big one because we don’t know how much longer we’ll have Dad around. That in itself is a Christmas gift; that we still have him.
Fresh snow for some nice snowmobiling tomorrow.
Hey, GAP… Just wondering… Did you actually buy all those songs? 6,000 songs at iTunes rates would cost a fortune…
The best gift I gave? My daughter, wife, and everyone in the church, for Midnight Mass, said it was the tears of joy as a bawled like a baby when I entered the church.
Best gift I received? My daughter just returned from Iraq on Sunday. Stayed at some friends house until Midnight Mass. As I entered, she and my grandson were standing there to greet me. I hadn’t seen either of them for 6 yrs.
Re-gifting prospects? No way. The Army had her, and kept her away for six long and miserable years. Her service is up in 2 months and she will be leaving the Army for a good civilian job.
Presents I wish I kept for myself? My tears of joy. From the time my daughter was a baby I always told her that I was stronger than steel and that nothing she or any other person could do or say that would hurt me or cause me not to love her. No matter what happened she never saw her father cry or panic over any situation.
Until at Midnight Mass. Now she knows I’m only human.
There is no rest of the Holiday. From now on every day will be a Holiday in my eyes.
Best gift:
My two kids, my son’s fiance and my grandson were here on Christmas Eve to share a prime rib dinner with my wife and me, and to open gifts. Great time and great fun had by all. Thank God for all our blessings.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
P.S. I cooked the prime rib and, if I may say so, it was stupendously delicious.
The absolute best gift I received this year was having my younger son home for Christmas. He is 18 and joined the Marines almost a year ago. He and his battalion will deploy in February. I booked his tickets two months ago, as soon as we knew his unit’s block leave schedule. Due to aircraft failure, weather, delayed flights, etc., he has spent 20% of his leave around or in airports, and there were times we thought he wouldn’t be able to make it. But we picked him up last night at three minutes until midnight. It’s been wonderful, and I am so thankful that my “baby” is home with us this Christmas. I know we are very lucky for that.
Sandy, may your son return to you at the end of his deployment as my daughter did to me last night.
Merry Christmas and may God bless you with a very Happy New Year.
Sir, I pray that God will keep your family and your safe until you can return home and again suffer the anguish of buying just the right present for each of your loved ones. But, let me assure of this, from first hand knowledge, that no present from you in the future will be as meaningful as the day you walk through that front door and your loved ones know that you and they are safe in each other arms.
May God Bless and keep you and your family safe so all of you can have the Happiest New Year you will ever experience.
By the way, I’m a vet of the 3/3 ACR, Ft. Bliss, TX, and the 4/7 ACR in Korea during the 70’s.
I have recently moved to Saudi Arabia, leaving my wife and children behind until I can get them out here.
My wife’s emails have kept me sane thus far.
I can’t say I’ve given much in return, but my friends and neighbors back in AZ have worked overtime to help my family.
Case in point: A family friend (and cubmaster) dressed up in a santa outfit and rode his horse to our house. Now, my family wasn’t there at the time, but they did drive up as he was leaving.
He called my four-year old by name, and told him that he had just called at our house, but that we weren’t there. My four year old apologetically told him that they were out Christmas shopping at the time.
Yesterday, he proudly pointed out the hoof prints of santa’s horse in our front lawn to another family friend.
That is a memory he is going to have for a life time and I can’t thank my friend enough.
I’ve spent the past few days travelling across the country from California to my home state of Michigan to see my family. Some people think I’m crazy but there are fewer greater joys for me than to see the greatest country in the world from the ground level.
Best gift given & received:
Watching my 3 sons open up presents that started with the words, “Awesome…COOOL!!!! You are sooo lucky!!!!, etc”.
Watching their faces, knowing what they were going to open up next and seeing their smiles.
How can any man be as lucky as I in seeing the joy in their eyes!!!
God Bless and Thank You for that special reading Michelle, it brought tears to my eyes when I got home from ushering in church I watched the video.
Thank You so very much!!
I actually did not receive much at all, materialistically this year. My wife was pretty tapped out, and so I was on the low end of the spending list. With four kids and assorted family members and friends you come to expect it after awhile.
However, i went all out to make sure that my children had everything that they wanted, and that they asked for from Santa. Especially the things that their “grumpy ol dad” said he would never buy and would never have in his house in a million years. My 9 and 8 year olds are still on the cusp of believing in Santa, and so I go through great lengths to make sure that this continues. There is no reason for them to stop believing…if ever…as far as I am concerned, for when that day comes, they are officially grown and it is a moment that you never can get back.
So, after my wife and I finally went to sleep last night around 0400, her finishing up with the Santa duties and I with m guarding of the kidlets with only one close call this year, the 16 year old who knew EXACTLY how late we were up decided to awaken the little ones, and in so doing, us…at 0600 to see the bounty that Santa had brought them. Yes, we have sworn vengeance against her, and told her it would come in such a way that when it happened she would know it was from waking us up on Christmas morning after only having 2 hours sleep.
The little ones were so excited and happy and my wife looked absolutely so beautiful, my Golden Retriever, although trying her best in bed with us to keep us there to keep us warm, finally lead the way down stairs where we opened up half the gifts, stopped, had some waffles and bacon, finished the preseants where the two little ones declared that they definately do believe in Santa based on the amount of gifts that they know their parents not only can’t afford, but that Dad obviously would never buy in a million years (sneaky sneaky) amongst other things I have worked on over the last year towards this moment.
Following the mayhem, the thing that truly made this the greatest Christmas oof all, was as my wife and I, arm around each other as we walked upstairs to rest before getting in the shower and heading off towards the familial obligatory dinner and get together, my littlest angel, the 8 year old said loudly, “This is the best Christmas I have ever had!” It really meant alot to me as I was the one who did al the buying and shopping and setting up of everything this year, and of all the preparations and such, it reallly meant alot tha she and all of my kids were so truly happy. That was the greatest preseant I received all day and really and truly made up for the fact that I didn’t receive my game I wanted, the DVD collection I wanted, or that large screen HDTV I wanted.
My children were happy, they still believe in Santa Claus more than ever, for at least one more year, they went out of their way to make sure they gave something to their sibs ON THEIR OWN and WANTED to spend all their time with their family and wished Jesus a Happy Birthday. It was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!
I only pray all of yours was even half as good as mine and you are left with even a scouch of the warmth I have in my heart tonight as the last hours of this wonderful day fade into history.
Good night all, and again, Merry and Happy Christmas.
Best gift I received: Being able to cook and spend time with my parents, especially Dad who suffered a massive stroke in 1/2005.
Best gift I gave: Stamper’s Cookies & Coffee packs to our troops.
Worst gift I received: Oprah’s 20th Anniversary dvd…Hello! What am I gonna do with that?!
My best gift this Christmas was my FIRST granddaughter born on December 12. My FIRST grandson was born 20 years ago and was followed by eight more grandsons, the last one born on November 19 of this year. I had been waiting 20 years for a granddaughter and she finally arrived. The best gift I EVER received was the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ as my Savior and He continues to bless me after more than 50 years. I’m also blessed that both my parents are still alive and celebrated 65 years of marriage on Christmas day.
The best present I gave right now would probably be the bottle of Chanel perfume for my mother-in-law. That scent has some very special memories for her and she hadn’t been able to afford a bottle of it for a long time.
The best present I ever received? Now this might sound silly to some of you, but when I was eight, I got a labyrinth (Tilting table with a maze in it and you guide a ball through). I still have it after all of these years.
I can’t say that I can think of anything to regift or that I wish I had kept though.
And Merry (Belated) Christmas everyone!
The best gift was being able to have my hubby here with us for Christmas. Our daugher received a dancing and singing “Larry the Cucumber” from her Scary Uncle (which is what he wants her to call him) which she absolutely adores. My MIL sent me some Korean pancake mix and some bulgogi marinade, so I made Korean food for the first time ever, for our Christmas dinner. My hubby says it is our new tradition!
God bless all our military and vets (specially the ones who post here!)
Belated Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Best gifts received – Jesus Christ and a box of ammo.
Best gift given (the hit at our house)- gave each family unit a radio-controlled helicopter. Christmas is for TOYS!
Worst received – ever – Christmas campaingn ads. Thank God I don’t have a TV.
But I catch some of them on Hot Air or YouTube.
Santa left a new gas guzzling Dodge pickup truck in the driveway this year.
The best gift I gave was “Super Mario Galaxy.” I know it’s not much of a gift, dollar wise… but it was the perfect gift for the person that I gave it to.
Congratulations on the new truck. And remember, if you can’t dodge it, ram it!
Best gift received; Granddaughter soon to be born, having my grown kids home for the holidays, and good health.
Best that I gave; Daughter = baby clothes Son= Taylormade golf clubs
lots of food, music, and love to share!
Best gift received?
The love of my Lord and Savior, followed by 2 more, the love of my wife and the Pearl Harbor baby boy (not quite so little anymore)
Worst gift?
Got canned, interesting thread on that starting over at daybydaycartoon dot com
Who else is in?
Lets see if this gets some life to it???
Ironically, my best and worst Christmas presents occurred on the same day, December 25, 1990. I was deploying the Gulf War the next day, so being home for Christmas was an extra-special gift all by itself (many of my fellow soldiers had already deployed). Sitting in our living room in Stuttgart dressed in BDU’s watching my 9 year old daughter enjoy her presents was the best present. Worst present – I gave my wife my will and funeral instructions and left my dress uniform all pressed and set hanging on the living room doorknob to be used in case I didn’t come back (I gave her some nice gifts too, I just can’t remember them).
These “gifts” ended up merging into one memory when nine years later my daughter described this scene in her college application essay. She titled it “Dress Blues” and told how she thought it was odd when she saw my dress uniform hanging on the doorknob that I was taking my dress uniform to war. When she returned home after seeing me off, she thought I had forgotten it. The next time I wore this uniform was to a formal after I returned and she told about her confusion on Christmas Day. She ended her piece with the thought that whenever she sees any soldier in a dress blue uniform, it reminds her of that day and of the sacrifices that service members make every day.
Best gift received: A pair of Contour memory foam pillows. Slept on them last night – best sleep in ages.
Best gift given: I gave my husband the Richard Thompson box set…he loved it, and since he’s so hard to shop for it’s great to get a gift that fits just right.
Hope you all had a blessed and merry Christmas. I sure did.
This year my wife and I opened our home to friends who had nowhere to go for Christmas. My wife cooked an enormous, immaculate feast of bourbon glazed ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and all the rolls we could eat. We spent the rest of the day gorging on tasty desserts, enjoying many cups of hot, delicious wassail (made by yours truly), playing games, and chatting with our friends.
Although giving and receiving gifts really isn’t the reason for Christmas, we did exchange a few things. I have never received a “bad” gift, as I am thankful for anything I get from someone who took the time to think of me.
I hope all of you had a relaxing, enjoyable Christmas, spent with friends and family. Even you liberals
Best gift received – hasn’t arrived yet. My hubby and I are trying to get pregnant. I pray for the gift of bringing a new life into the world everyday. Oh and a new diamond Movado watch.
Best gift given – Dewalt finish nailer for the hubby.
Worse gift received – Not applicable.
God Bless!
I did’nt get any material gift’s as per my request every year, except my parent’s will no longer accept my request to spend the money on my wife and kid’s so they got me a roll of frisket for airbrushing. I’m just happy to get together with my family on Christmas Eve and my immediate family on Christmas Day, having dinner and good conversation and ribing each other. Everyone is doing good and is relativly healthy thank’s to the grace of God. My Mom and Dad got my 14 year old daughter a MP3 player that she desperatly wanted and knew we could’nt afford this year. That was a great gift to me also, to see her happy and not dissappointed. She told my sister in law that she did’nt expect much for Christmas “cause Mom and Dad have alot of bill’s to pay this year” She was pleasanlty suprised though because we did get her art supplies, this girl has been drawing since she was 4 years old and has’nt stopped yet. She is so talented I could’nt bear not getting her art supplies. My boy’s 27 and 23 also understanding our situation and not expecting anything went through there stocking’s and did’nt even notice the cash we gave them they got there candy and told us thank’s, my wife had to get it out of the stocking’s and give it to them which they refused but they had a suprise in their jacket’s cause I hid their money in them, the 27 year old called and said “That was underhanded I told you to keep it, but thank you.” the other lives with me and does’nt go back to work till thurs. but I’m sure he’ll be suprised as well.
The best Christmas gift I have ever received was a ten-speed bicycle by a man I barely knew, but he knew I was without transportation. I later married him. That was 19 years ago, and we are still married.