Unexpected

A couple days before Thanksgiving we received a package in the mail from Daniel's Dad. My first thought was wow he was really on the ball for Christmas this year he got the gifts out before Thanksgiving. But once we opened the box we found the most amazing surprise. It was a candle, an ornament and a book. Now these items may seem pretty insignificant to most but to me it was the best gift I have received in a very long time. Let me tell you why.

First the Candle. It is a Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar scent and Daniel's Dad and Step mom had the same exact candle at their home last Thanksgiving when we were there and I absolutely love the scent. It smells like Christmas to me. So last year we got to partake in a tradition of his Father's. Where on Thanksgiving Night you light a candle to begin the Christmas season. It was a tradition handed down from Daniel's Grandfather and they let Daniel light the candle and say a few words last year and thought we would enjoy continuing the tradition. Which of course we did and it was just even more special because now the candle not only reminds me of Christmas but our trip last year with them. When I saw the candle which was the first gift we opened it meant so much to me because now we have another tradition to pass on to our children and we really just miss them so much so it nice that we now have this candle burning nightly and I can think of them.

Second the ornament. Well it wasn't just any ornament of course it is a heart with a picture of Daniel's Grandmother that passed away earlier this year.

Third the book. It is a book that was his Grandmother's that she had in the nursing home with her and when we visited with her last Thanksgiving Daniel was looking through it and kept telling her that he loved the book and it reminded him of home. Well evidently she remember that and told them that the book needed to go to Daniel.

So all three gifts were so unexpected and meaningful. It was such a wonderful surprise to get and I love that even though we are literally on the opposite side of the country from them at that moment we all just felt so close to them. Christian was so excited for the ornament and kept talking about Grams and how he hope that she is happy in Heaven. So I just want to tell them thank you again for the amazing gifts. We will always cherish them.

Before we lit the candle we spoke about the things we were thankful for this year and different things we want to do this Christmas season.Christian made sure that once the tree was up the ornament was the first hung.The book has some beautiful pictures in it of New England.