Christmas Present Problems

I know it's been awhile since Christmas Eve (and long while since I've posted), but I want to share this story with you.

Two weeks before Christmas, I was thinking about what present Rhett and I should give to our adorable little primary kids (ages 4-5). I was really worried about this, because I felt in my heart we needed to get them something, but toys for 4 and 5 year olds that they will like and want are kind of expensive and not all appropriate for church. Hmm..... After a lot of brainstorming that week, I made a decision. I was going to find out their favorite animal and color, and then sew them a little plush! How fun!

How stressful! Now go back one blog post, remember my little lamb I wrote about? Well, it was a huge hit in Utah, and everybody wanted one. Monday after I had already asked the kids their favorite colors and animals (and they were all really excited for whatever was coming), my mom called and told me she needed 5 more lambs by Christmas. I had two weeks. Uh-oh.

Those two weeks were spent sewing my little heart out on lambs, and suddenly, on Friday night, I remembered what I had promised my primary kids. With a sigh and a husband saying I always "bite off more than I can chew" (and he's right) I started cutting and sewing fabric.

Many machine jams, mistakes and unpicks later, I had 9 little animals sewn. This is where I recruited help. I taught Rhett to stuff, and as he stuffed the animals I would sew them shut and stitch on button eyes. Adorable. Two pink cats, two blue cats, two pink horses, one white horse, one black cat and one green fish later, I was DONE! YES! Now to add the candy and wrap them Crimin style (which is double bagging everything in Walmart bags). With names added so we knew what belonged to whom, we set off for church. The lesson was taught, toys were given (we told each of the kids they couldn't open their present until their parents said so, and some had to wait until Christmas! Hehe!), and no more thoughts were thought about those stress bringing little monstrosities I called plushies.

After all this madness, I had to finish sewing lambs (also crazy stressful), pack bags, and fly home for Christmas. At home I stuffed and sewed up little lambs and stitched on eyes and finished sewing a few more Christmas presents for friends that didn't quite get done in all the excitement and had a very successful Christmas. After the fun and festivities we flew back home. It had been two whole weeks that we were gone, so right after unpacking I checked the mail. We had the usual bills and credit card offers I was expecting, and them something I never get. An actual letter. From an actual person. It was from one of my primary girls and her father. Her father had written that his daughter loved her pink horse and named it "Pink Sparkle." She took it everywhere with her. And then, in adorable 4 year old handwriting on the other side of the card was written "Thank you for my horse! I love her!" My heart melted. I still have that card.

That next Sunday, as I went to church, I was trying to find my little primary student to thank her for her note and in the process I was approached by each child's parent thanking me for the thoughtful gift and telling me that their children loved their presents and slept with them. One child gave me a letter saying thank you and it had a photo of him standing next to his white horse (he had asked for the white horse) and my heart melted over and over and over. These little things I had thought nothing of had apparently meant so much to these children. I had no idea they would make such an impact or make these children so happy. I was sure they had plenty of stuffed animals to love and these would just get thrown in with the rest, but I was told and reassured over and over how loved those toys I made were, and how they were chosen above all the other toys. I was so touched.

I learned something that day. Never underestimate your worth or the value of what you do. If you work hard for something and put the thought into it, it will be appreciated. I never thought I was anything too special. Yes, I know I am a daughter of God, but I'm just me. I'm not spectacular. But that Sunday, the Lord whispered something to me. Something I didn't hear right away. He told me I AM special. I am something spectacular. I can do good and wonderful things if I work for it. I can bless the lives of others.

It makes me so happy to know I am more than I ever thought I was before. It makes me so happy to know I still have so much more to learn about myself and that my journey is far from over. I have so much to do and discover, and it is all so exciting. And you know what? You do too. We all have much to learn, and we can have fun along the way. I am so grateful for this experience.