Secrets? Me?

Every year it seems that without fail, I am the keeper of the secrets around the family holiday surprises and 2007 has turned out to be no different. I always know who’s getting what gifts or what everyone else should expect on Christmas morning.

Except this year, it was WAY BIGGER!

My brother who is in the Navy was not going to be home for the holidays at all for the second year in a row. To make matters worse, it looks this will be the last year we will all have the chance to be in Chicago together for a while.

Last week my parents were out of town and I got a phone call from my brother who sounded a bit worried. He told me that he unexpectedly had been given a week of leave while his ship was going out of port and was coming home, but he couldn’t get a hold of Mom and Dad to tell them. I said, “Well, they’re out of the country and as they’ll only be getting back two days before you’ll be coming home, I think we shouldn’t tell them you’re coming.” (I think I had a couple of little giggles in there as well.) This was going to be the most awesome surprise ever.

So we didn’t so much tell my parents that my brother wasn’t going to be home for Christmas as much as failed to mention that he would be.

Last night I picked my brother up at the airport and then drove him to my parents house under the guise of picking up something that I needed to ship to him. As we snuck upstairs, it was all I could do to contain my anticipation. I had to wake up my parents and told them that I wasn’t taking the package for my brother. Now keep in mind they were just being awoken out of a sound sleep and I don’t normally wake them up for anything unless it’s an emergency. Once they were assured that all was right in the world. I repeated that I wasn’t sending anything to my brother because instead he was right there.

That was one of those moments that will always get extra special time in my mind when I play back the happy moments in my life that I’ve been able to give a good thing to someone else. And it cost less than $20.

Spirit of Giving

So this year for Christmas I've set limits on myself. The type of limits that make me challange two of the the things that I like to do: shop and give gifts. I decided that I don't want to spend more than $20 on any Christmas gift this year. Instead, I'm spending my time putting the thought and energy into getting the gifts together. Not a homemade Christmas, but a thoughtful Christmas.

What thoughts are you putting into it this year?