Tuesday, December 15, 2009

greater gifts

I want to give presents to you and mom.

You can make something if you would like...

Cardboard shushes across the carpet, as Cole pushes the box of wrapping paper and bows down the hall to our room. Lips curl into a grin, as he peeks through the crack in the door before closing it, lock snicking into place.

Thirty minutes slip silently off the hands of the clock...

Without fanfare, he walks, arms laden with bright colored packages to the tree. Arranging the odd shaped presents to fill in the gaps, each one adorned with names scrawled in Sharpie, barely legible. His vibrant smile makes the tree lights seem pale, in comparison.

Now you have something to open on Christmas...

All the books on my bedside table are gone. I guess I will finish them after Christmas.

But that's alright with me.

I already received the greatest gift...his heart.

67 comments:

Bella said...

awwww sweet! I remember wrapping up stuff of my fathers, like his socks, an old shirt from his closet he barely wore, wrapping them, and reintroducing it to him Christmas morning; we had nothing to give, no money to speak of especially for gift-giving, but he cried joyful tears and told us that was the best gift ever. I'll never forget that. It chokes me up to write about it still. Enjoy those precious moments, they're gone all too quickly Brian.

Alix said...

Sweet! And how astute of him to bring you books you would have bought yourself. {wink}

Bella said...

well I see I am a little redundant with my "wrapping" LOL go figure, after proofing reports all day its a wonder I can think and type at the same time! and this proves I can't!

TechnoBabe said...

That is really sweet. He has the need to give and you have the right spirit to receive.

smiles4u said...

That is so flippin sweet Brian. So precious that he wants to give to you like this. Oh the innocence of young children. Their loving and giving from their hearts. Priceless. Enjoy. I know you are! :) Hope your mom is doing well!

lakeviewer said...

My, my, this boy has heart! What a beautiful story.

only a movie said...

Oh that's so cool! What a nice boy you are raising there, Brian. Thanks for sharing!

Ronda Laveen said...

HA! I love an ingenious man. Do you think he'll mind if I borrow his idea? The greatest brains come wrapped in the most unusual packages.

Kulio said...

Amazing how many people in this world would burst his bubble...but you won't and that small thing is everything to him right now. Sweet, sweet moment.

sheila said...

ooooooooo, that is soooooo cute! Yes, the books can wait...for now they are becomming a new memory! That is sooo precious! Thanks for making my day with that story!

Green-Eyed Momster said...

How sweet! Hey, at least you can't lose them between now and Christmas! And, you know that you'll like them!
Smiles

willow said...

That is too precious. Kids make Christmas so much fun. I miss it.

I especially liked "Thirty minutes slip silently off the hands of the clock.", btw.

Wings said...

Great stuff. Now that is a Christmas story to share. :)

The Things We Carried said...

Oh, I just love it. Brian, I should have recorded every precious moment like this one!

BeautifulWreck said...

That is just so sweet!

Liza said...

He's a re-gifter! Just kidding!
What a brilliantly written, and sweet story.
Awwwwwwww.

tori said...

I think you need to print these blog post of your kids up (at Lulu or something) so you can give them to them someday.

sweetmango said...

perfect gifts! You should have seen my mothers day gifts, all 3 of them went through the recycling bin and 'created' LOL it was wonderful, magical and so very much from the heart. I love that your son does that for you too <3
xxsm

otin said...

I remember doing that same thing! Finding something in the house to give as a gift! haha! That is very sweet, probably will be one of your favorites, years from now.

Lisa (aka LadyWanderlust) said...

Christmas is all about the giving, giving from his heart. What a precious child. Warms the heart. Lisa

tattytiara said...

That made me laugh. He's given you the gift of suspense! What a darling.

Meeko Fabulous said...

That's awesome. That is beautiful. That made me tear up a little. I remember doing stuff like that. Stealing my mom's vases and wrapping them up . . . Except for that one year I broke the vase . . . MY BAD!!!

Nancy said...

What a darling post - how sweet is that?

I miss those sweet little gestures filled with all the love they have for their Mom & Dad. Those really weird breakfasts consisting of things not quite recognized, snuggled bodies on your lap between you and the newspaper you're trying to read. It goes so fast. Enjoy, my friend, enjoy.

the b in subtle said...

i thought that was traditionally a bad thing to receive, but instead, what a sweet lump of "Cole" to be getting in your stocking - his darling gesture. what a beautiful gift you have in your little boy. i look so forward to such treasured moments from my son. have so many already, but i do hope to record them as touchingly as you do, Brian. Slainte!

♥ Braja said...

Sweet...wish there was more of this spirit...

Brian Miller said...

he gets it from his mom...

Captain Dumbass said...

Nice! And now you have more time to blog.

tony said...

His Heart Is An Open Book.

Iddy Albatross said...

Hehe... I think that has to be the cutest christmas present you've ever recieved :)

Cheers...

Protege said...

Beautiful as always. I am endlessly amazed how you can express what you feel with so much courage and with such an ease...
Zuzana

Goofball said...

oh that's so sweet

Shadow said...

aaaaa, that's so sweet!

Alan Burnett said...

Far be it from me to pour cold water on things but has it not crossed your mind that he might have sold the books on e-Bay and the parcels are full of candy.

blueviolet said...

That is quite possibly the sweetest thing I've read all week. I don't know if I could hold back tears if I were you. Adorable, completely adorable.

Daniel said...

I have received gifts such as these. I have a quarter on my bedside table that my little one gave to me because it had a bit of green paint on it. She knows I like the color green. She spent 20 minutes trying to wrap that sucker up in an envelope that she made herself. She was doing it all right in front of me and the quarter kept falling out and rattling around on the floor. However, she kept at it until she was satisfied. She loved to give what she had and loved it even better when I was all surprised and excited to open it.

Candie Bracci said...

And it's the greatest gift of all!So sweet!Have a nice day!

Holly Jahangiri said...

What a wonderful child! And he KNOWS you'll savor the anticipation as you treasure his thoughtfulness. ;)

You do have a way with words. I love your blog.

Gaston Studio said...

Priceless! What a wonderful child you're raising there Brian!!!

Bonnie, Original Art Studio said...

Ahhhhh - what a smart, creative little guy! Daddy loves books, I'll find some and give them to him! And he knew where to find the perfect ones for you! Darling child.

Jessie said...

so tender and sweet!!! i believe you are in Cole's heart as well.

thank you for sharing,
smiles,

Crystal Jigsaw said...

Something Amy has done this year and I was so touched by it.

CJ xx

Lorraine said...

Sweet and oh so wise a child...lol I love this, bless you!

enchantedoak said...

What a lovely litle scene. Don't you want to just hug him like crazy for his love for you?

Jill said...

THE BEST GIFTS are NOT in packages!!!! I can absolutely see his happy, joyful face as he closes the door to begin his wrapping!

To me...that is part of the MAGIC of Christmas!

Hater Von G said...

That is so sweet. Really, just melted my heart.

Otter Thomas said...

Great post! At least he didn't wrap up a cat like Aunt Bethany.

buffalodick said...

I can wrap a present in one minute! It looks like it too!

dopey1 said...

That's great! Give Cole a squeeze for me!

Microwave said...

You're a good man. I suggest Amazon for the placement books. Maybe you'll got a Amazon gift card. Who knows. Kids are very computer savvy these days. It could an small twist on o. Henry's "gift of the Magi."

G-Man said...

As a Parent, there is NOTHING better!

Jasmine said...

Your kid sounds like an angel. You must be doing something right!

Leah said...

A lovely Christmas tale, and like others, I remember doing it too.

rxBambi said...

He's a kid after my own heart. I remember doing that for my moms birthday. Barb was throwing her a surprise party and I didn't have anything for her so I rummaged thru her make-up and wrapped some up. Unfortunately one was the lip-stick she wanted to wear so she was a little miffed that she couldn't find it, but then when she opened it at the party she put some on and all was good again.

Baino said...

Haha . . wonderful! If he'd wrapped the books on my bedside table, I probably would have thought them new! I've barely turned a page. Bring on the holidays. I have lots of reading to do.

Travel &amp; Dive Girl said...

Ahhh - that just put a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. Thanks for sharing.

AmyLK said...

How sweet!

clean and crazy said...

the very best of Christmas, what it means to give, and feel it in their precious hearts. awesome, thanks for sharing.

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

THAT IS THE BEST!!!! :) LOL

Pat said...

How sweet! It's the thought that counts, right?

Mighty M said...

Awwww, so sweet!

Hilary said...

Oh that's so sweet. :)

Crystal said...

Very sweet. :)

Pastor Sharon said...

I can't help but imagine the arms of our heavenly father feel much like those of yours when Cole is in them.

It seems you illuminate the love of God when you write about your children and it touches my heart and soul.

lettuce said...

ah. delightful

Kathleen said...

Prescious boy, prescious, prescious boy. Love these little snippits at CasaBrian et al.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm catching up on your posts after being away-- This was a real treat to come back to and read first.
jj

Margie said...

My heart is so touched!
Loved this!

Smiles