Okay, let’s be materialistic little pigeons for a moment, shall we?
What was your fave Christmas present?
I got two Heifer International gifts, which are always awesome, and a bag of the best caramel popcorn I’ve ever had (that I devoured in an exhausted but deliriously happy sugar stupor on Christmas Eve).
And these.
*happy dance*
My friend also got me a bubble umbrella and these amazing vinyl press-on butterflies which we used to decorate the umbrella. So I am going to be one kicking little vision of happiness come the spring showers. A little insane, perhaps, but definitely colorful!
Favorite-wine!
not favorite-bacon lip balm!
Cordless electric screwdriver! Every itinerant pastor should have good tools.
Best prezzies – long, striped woven cashmere-esque scarf in the colors I wear most, limited run Gospel of Thomas in calligraphy originally done with gold leaf. (Bonus points: Gospel was purchased during the summer and saved for Christmas!)
I got a Gurgling Cod- one of those fish shaped ceramic pitchers that makes rude sounds when you pour! Not a new knock off, either; an antique from England… I got a hydrostatic headache from pouring myself drinks all day.
Now you know just how mature I really am.
My sweet husband found a bar of Roger & Gallet Vetiver soap on ebay for me. It’s my favorite, and impossible to find. And my daughter gave me the brand new Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook. I loved all my presents!
A box of homemade chocolate truffles just for me, from my dad. Which, when you can’t ever eat the nice chocolate because of a nut allergy, is an absolutely smashing present.
I got books! As a seminarian building her library it was wonderful, the best I think is the Pastoral Care book in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship series which will be really useful for CPE this summer.
My favorites included a collector’s edition of the complete Harry Potter series in hardcover!! My “reading” copies are falling apart and I asked my husband if I had to start using the collector’s edition. He replied, “Um, no, those are the pretty copies.” Not to be read while drifting off to sleep and cracking the spine and losing pages (or sections)….
Also, my brother-in-law got me a maternity shirt that reads, “We’re hoping it’s a pony.” Which is the perfect complement to the toy pony that one of the kids from church got me (because I always guess “pony” when asked what I hope or think I’m getting as a gift). If we had land, she would have probably gotten me a real pony. For reals.
Finally, one last mellow Christmas with just my husband before the baby arrives in April.
I received several nice gifts, but the best may very well be ‘At Home in Mitford’ on cds from my brother and sister-in-law. Actully…it was my s-i-l’s idea. My church is in a small rural town, and I must drive an hour or more to get to the ‘big’ towns. My s-i-l also thought that I would enjoy listening about Mitford when I drive the two hours to see my family. I am driving there tomorrow so I’ll see how it goes!
I got my son home after a semester in Norway. And he brought me a hazelnut chocolate bar. Holy creamy goodness, Norwegian chocolate is amazing! 🙂
[I’ve always wanted to go to Norway — and now there’s even more incentive! – PB]
Waking up alone in the house Christmas morning with my beloved for the first time in 24 years — and as a complete surprise he bought me a stadium jacket (which I have always wanted) from Sterling of Boston, the people who make the REAL pea jackets for the US Navy. It’s that same dense, but light wool, only in a scrumptious French Blue, made in the USA, and what I REALLY love is that we were looking at them nearly 2 months ago and HE REMEMBERED!!!! [Major score for him!! – PB]
The presents from my kids were my favorites this year – Bones season 3 set from my son and a bag of Riesen candies from my daughter. My son actually picked the DVD’s out himself. My daughter used her OWN money to buy the candy!
I’ve gotten great gifts from them in the past, which my husband has picked out and paid for, but these, really from them, were the best ever.
We don’t do Christmas presents (just for the kiddos), but my birthday was a few weeks back, and I got a Rosette set. I was able to make these delicious, delicate Norwegian cookies that my grandmother made every year growing up. What a treat–for this year and many years to come!
My parents gave me their baby grand piano. I am so stinkin’ excited to start playing the piano again! It should be delivered next week. Woo hoo!!
My best friend knit me an elephant scarf. It’s not the most dignified attire, but it makes me happy. [I can just imagine how awesome it is. – PB]
Norway is beautiful. His pictures are simply amazing. The chocolate is to die for, but pass on the liver in a can :/
Love your new wellies. My fav gift received was from my 16 yr. old son – a delicate sterling bracelet of diamond-cut ovals. Special because he used his own $ from an after-school job and because he got his girlfriend the same bracelet, but with diamond-cut hearts! My fav gift to give was a tiny pink & black purse for my puppy – the purse is really a dog toy. She loves it! What was Max’s fav gift?
My favorite gift is the necklace and earrings my 23 year old son brought me from Costa Rica where he had a short term mission trip this fall with Christian Camping Association. The jewelry is very delicate wire and beads that was made in the market place to my son’s choosing.
My other favorite gift was my bone china tea mug and English Breakfast tea bags that my 10 year picked out because she remembered me telling her that a good cup of tea requires bone china.
I only exchange gifts with my mother and my two nieces. While they gave me some lovely things, is it awful that my favorite gift is the one I bought for myself? I ordered a strand of multi-colored freshwater pearls, and can’t wait until they arrive!
I saved some photos from the eBay listing just so I can peek at them on my computer until they arrive in my hot little hands:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_o38elnpSIho/TRlELWj5t-I/AAAAAAAAE68/GDqNcG1wQUE/s640/102_8284.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_o38elnpSIho/TRlENXUYWQI/AAAAAAAAE7E/e7Wd_4D9CJY/s640/pearls.jpg
you can get micro fiber linings on amazon.com like this http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Fleece-Rain-Boot-Liners/dp/B003G5Q208/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1293669585&sr=8-2 that will let you wear the boots as snow boots. They work very well I have some.
The best present I got was Sunday off–my darling husband led worship for me, so that I could take my two daughters four hours away and see my son on Christmas, his only day off! As an extra bonus, we got snowed in at a resort in Vermont.
Oh, Rev. JMK reminded me that I also got some AWESOME hoodie-footie pajamas. I wear them every night. They are soooo warm and comfy!!
My best gift was the first one I opened, and it made me cry. Husband and both daughters conspired to put together “The Maine Book,” a collection of photos from the summers we have spent at a cottage on the Maine coast. Though we won’t be going there again (moving to west coast next summer), my overwhelming feeling was not sadness or nostalgia, but tremendous gratitude that my family has had that place and time together for so long — through boyfriends and babies, loss and gain. Such significant memories!