Contest: My Favorite Christmas Gift (post #2)

The very best Christmas gift I ever received was an impossible one -  a gift that did not exist from a person who could no longer give. But it was the most precious present anyone has ever given me.

Early in our marriage my husband and I were getting ready for a garage sale. I had a sewing room in the screened-in breezeway between the house and garage, but we knew I had way too much fabric and remnants. It wasn't as bad as the TV show "Hoarders" but Mike decided to help me cut down my inventory. 

When I opened one box filled with cream colored yarn, Mike asked if I had plans to knit or crochet it. I had always hoped to, but the yarn had never made it out of the box. When he suggested we get rid of it I suddenly burst into tears. My mom had promised to make me an afghan years earlier but her Alzheimers interfered - all I had left was the box of yarn. I told Mike to just take care of getting rid of it for me - it was too painful.

After the sale I figured the yarn must have sold, but actually my sly-but-sweet husband had hidden it in the back of our car. He asked around and found a lady from our church who loved to crochet. Ginny spent months secretly making it into an afghan and then on Christmas Mike presented it to me at our family Christmas, along with a note he had written as what Mom would say to me if she was no longer lost to Alzheimers. 

I often use that blanket these days when I take a Sunday afternoon nap, and it wraps me up in the love of so many people: my mom, my husband and Ginny.  Ginny also made up a pillow cover as well as a miniature afghan just big enough for my daughter Kate's doll cradle. 

Remember - tomorrow is the last day for my "Favorite Christmas Gift Contest" - just post a comment here on my blog (not just on FB) about your favorite Christmas gift and you could win a set of three hand tatted Christmas ornaments. The contest closes tomorrow night - so get that post up!

Looking forward to your comments-

Sandy Kay Salsbury

P.S. Special thanks go out to Ginny Lee... I love you!

" My Favorite Christmas Gift" CONTEST - details below

I have not composed a Christmas wish list in years. A long time ago I asked my husband if he wanted me to write a Christmas list to give him ideas. "You can if you want to," he said with a sly smile, "but you're so easy to buy for that I have no trouble." When I asked him how he knew what I wanted, he said that he had come up with "gift groups" (like food groups) and he just tries to give me a balance of things from some or all categories. 

So here is  Mike's list of  “Seven Gift Groups For Sandy” (good ideas for any woman on your Christmas list)-

1. Something scented – think Bath and Bodyworks bodywash or lotion
2. Something shiny – a piece of jewelry like some unique looking earrings
3. Something pretty – an outfit that makes me feel drop dead gorgeous
4. Something entertaining – a chickflick DVD or CD we’ll watch together
5. Something to read – fiction from Davis Bunn or John Grisham
6. Something sweet – it used to always be chocolates, but because of medical issues it will have to be white chocolate this year
          And my all-time favorite gift every year:
7. Something affirming – he always writes me a card telling me how much he appreciates me going through life together and reflects on how God has seen us through the events of the past 12 months.

There are years when we’ve agreed to not to give each other gifts due to financial restraints and other years I've received something from every category. No matter what, though, I can always count on that card, which is the best gift of all.

No matter what other Christmas gifts you plan to give this year, consider writing a card with a few heartfelt words on it for those who are closest to you. There's something about written words of appreciation and love that warm the deepest part of our hearts.

Contest - Contest - Contest - Contest
Write me a post: What is your favorite Christmas gift? Do you receive the same thing every year or does it change?


You can post on this blog through Wednesday 12/21/2012 at 6 p.m. EST. I will choose a winner and send them a set of three hand tatted Christmas ornaments. Looking forward to your posts!

Merry Christmas -
Sandy Kay Salsbury

Seasons Grieving

Even in the most festive and joyous month of the year, there are people who don't feel much like celebrating. I just got word that one of our former pastors went to be with Jesus last night after a long illness. Earlier today I read a post on FB from a daughter who was wishing happy birthday to her dad who is in heaven. Years ago I knew a widow who spent every Christmas Day alone, in homage to her beloved husband who lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease on Christmas Day.

In the midst of all the hubbub leading up to Christmas, it is easy to forget that each day there are families whose lives are disrupted by a death, whether it was expected or not. Each holiday someone is experiencing a "first" - the "first Christmas" or "first Easter" or "first Fourth of July" without a loved one.

As I thought about my friend (the pastor's wife who is now a widow) I realized I need to pray even more for her now as she heads into the holiday season with such fresh grief. It is never easy to say goodbye to someone you love, but it is especially difficult at this time when there is so much focus on families being together for Christmas.

I just felt tonight that I would like to encourage us all to look around our circles of friends and acquaintances, being sensitive to those who are especially missing a loved one this year. Just a touch or a word or a note could go a long way toward easing their burden right now.

Have a blessed night.