Just yesterday, I was moaning about how much it costs to mail gifts to the US and today there was a delivery here. My step-mom Cullene and my sister Jennie sent a box filled with Christmas presents to put under our tree. I have to say that as shocked as I was to see this one package cost $44.50 to mail, I was really touched to receive their gift box from home.
There were two gift tags that came off during the journey and two packages missing tags so unless I hear from Cullene or Jennie as to which one goes where, John and I will just open them at the same time. (Let’s see if they’re reading my blog and leave a comment to sort it out)
I got a little teary when I opened the gift marked ‘ Open Now ‘ knowing it would be an ornament for our tree. Cullene has given me Christmas ornaments for years and I love seeing them as I decorate the tree each Christmas. They always spark a memory of what was happening in my life when I received them and they’re family tradition I love.
Feel free to share a favorite Christmas tradition if you’d like or perhaps another family tradition if you don’t celebrate Christmas.
Gifts Of The Journey 
That makes me smile. Enjoy!
Beautiful — the post, the box, and the love behind it!
Re ornaments — we try to purchase one when we travel to new places. This year looked high and low on the Scilly Isles for a little puffin – found a keyring we’ll tie a ribbon on and have the ornament! Like your stepmom, I’ve given my son an ornament each year, too.
I love the ornament tradition — some ‘stuff’ is definitely meaningful! I wrote about our Aussie ornaments on a post here just FYI http://mysydneyparislife.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/australian-ornaments-and-stuff-redux/
Cheers and happy Christmas to you and John.
SEE………it IS worth it!! I’m so happy for you 🙂
Loving that Santa! I brouight red cardinals home with me – and left some behind too because they were glass and I didn’t dare try and transport them with airplane baggage handlers playing discus with my suitcases.
I would have gotten tears too – Happy tears!
So enjoy them and your Holiday.
So lovely, what beautifully wrapped gifts
What a loving, thoughtful thing to do. I love getting ornaments as gifts, but with my recent downsizing, 8-ft trees are a thing of the past and most of my beautiful treasures remain boxed up this year. I’ve got a tiny tree and will have to rotate them over the years so they’ll all get their turn to shine. Merry Christmas!