Precious Gifts from the Heart

Saturday - December 26. 2009



I only had one comment for my last post - thanks Jeni, and I have to agree with you, that would be a perfect gift! :):) . . . . especially after the holidays and all the cooking, cleaning, and all the hustle and bustle that tends to go along with family gathering and the holidays!!

I have never really asked for anything for Christmas, birthday, anniversary, etc. - oh sure, Bill and I love to check magazines indicating things we like in them, but to specifically ask for something - can't think of anything I specifically requested. Even when we talked with Santa, it was always what ever you want to give me!! I was too afraid to ask him because I never felt as if I had been good enough that year to get anything from him! :):)

This year's Christmas purchases was all about Cora - her first Christmas!!! She has still to receive the gifts from Granddad and me, so I can't tell what we got her! :):)

Bill and I celebrated Christmas quietly yesterday morning before leaving to spend the day with Mom. The gifts I received from Bill were unexpected and beautiful. He does have good taste when picking out special things for me. . . . . and I believe I surprised him this year as well!!!!

There was a gift I received that was unexpected and will always be very precious to me!!! Most of you know that my oldest brother had a stroke back in February. We are so thankful for the progress he has made. He knows his limitations, but is able to let us know what he wants to do. He told Rhonda he wanted her to shop for Mom, Opal (his mother-in-law), Rhonda, and the boys. He had seen a commercial on TV showing a necklace with a heart that contains bells. Every time the heart jingles you are to think about the person who gave you the necklace. Apparently I was on the list to also receive one of those special necklaces. Dink, every time I wear the necklace; every time I hear it jingle; and every time I see the box it came in - I WILL THINK OF YOU!!! Mom holds anything her oldest son picks out for her near to her heart - this will be at the top of the list for her too! You have always given me a hard time - just like John and Mike - deep down I always knew you all really liked me! :):) You all three got more delight out of giving me a hard time and ganging up on me!!!! That's what brothers are suppose to do! :)

I received another precious gift this year as well - one that made the connection of the Layne siblings go back in time. The sad thing was that there should have been one more gift; one that had the year 1969! That gift would have been for John. Bill located a site that sold sweatshirts and t-shirts with the logos of our high schools before they were consolidated!! He bought the three of us one with Huntington High Pony Express and the year we graduated. We loved it.
As you can tell, Mike and Dink were having a good time at my expense - great time with the family!!!!!



Bill also got Mom one with Logan Wildcats and the year 1940 - the year she graduated!!! She absolutely thought it was wonderful - especially when Bill pulled out one for him with Williamson Wolf Pack on it - Logan's arch enemy!!! Some may think these were trivial gifts, but they were gifts from the heart that brought all of us together not just in the present, but the past as well! Job well done Bill!!!!!

Even with these special gifts, we all know that the most special gift we received was the love we have for one another and the time we can spend time with the family. None of us expected to receive gifts, but we know that those we received were given with love.The greatest gift of all came when God sent his only Son to die for our sins. That gift is one we all are thankful for every day of our life. We know that with this gift, one day we will be able to be with all the loved one who have gone Home before us!!!We hope you all had a great day with family and friends