Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Best Christmas Present Ever

Stealth isn’t usually one of Honey Bear’s strong suits, especially when it comes to presents. I always manage to figure out what he’s giving me, even though I don’t make any particular effort to do so. I guess I just know how his brain works. After all, we’ve known each other for nearly half of my life.

So imagine my surprise when he put the last present under the tree this year and I had no idea what it was.

He even warned me this was coming. Last December, he told me that there was something he wanted to give me but that he wouldn’t be able to give it to me that year because it was going to take some time. I thought that sounded interesting, then promptly forgot about it. But Honey Bear didn’t forget. In fact, he started working on this gift on January first.

Fast-forward to this Christmas morning. As soon as I picked up the mystery present, a small, book-like package, I knew exactly what it was. I’d seen him writing in it pretty much every day for the last couple of months. (He’d kept it hidden from me before that.) I’d assumed it was a journal, and it was. I just hadn’t realized it was all about me.

This journal has an entry for almost every day, and in every entry, Honey Bear expresses his love and appreciation for something specific I did that day. On one day, he wrote about how much he enjoyed seeing a movie with me in the theater. On another, he told me thank you for taking care of the kids all day while he did homework and went to school. And on another, he expressed how beautiful I’d looked that day.

It is, without a doubt, the best, most thoughtful present I’ve ever received. The small journal itself--and the acid-free pen he bought to write in it--aren’t worth more than a few dollars, but this will be a gift I treasure for the rest of my life.

34 comments:

Kelley Lynn said...

Oh.My. Gosh. That is the sweetest thing ever!

And a great idea for a book or movie...

Leigh Ann said...

*jaw drops*

Can he run a husband-training seminar? I would pay for that.

Jenilyn Collings said...

What a sweet gift! How thoughtful of him!

Liesl Shurtliff said...

Oh that is so sweet!

Jenny S. Morris said...

Holy cow! That's is so awesome. I'm with Leigh Ann he needs to run a training class.

Lindsey R. Loucks said...

So sweet!

Tasha Seegmiller said...

That takes some dedication and gives me a great idea for Christmas for my husband next year!

A.J. Locke said...

That is seriously sweet and awesome! I gotta let my hubby read this and get some pointers =)

Jemi Fraser said...

Wow. That is an amazing gift! Truly amazing. :)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Aw, that is such a beautiful gift!

Ben Spendlove said...

Oh, sweet. I know what I'm going to be doing this year! Thank him for me--and my wife.

Jack's Back Books said...

Goosebumps and tears!! What a sweetie!!

Unknown said...

Oh my GOSH, what an awesome gift and gift-giver!! Love this story!!!

Elizabeth Briggs said...

Wow that is such a great present. How is he going to top that next year? Ha!

Cassie Mae said...

I'm still 'awwww-ing'

This is just the cutest thing I've ever read! Lucky you :)

Ninja Girl said...

Oh wow...that's the stuff romance is made out of *sigh* Glad to know guys like that are actually out there. I'm "awwwww-ing" right along with Cassie Mae ;)
Ninja Girl

Mina Lobo said...

Now THAT is romance - your Honey should *totally* teach an online course! :-)

Andrea Mack said...

Oh, wow. What an amazing gift! I don't think I'd ever want another present. You are lucky to have such a sweet husband.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Wow. Thank you so much for your comments. You know, neither Honey Bear nor I are perfect, in life or in our marriage, but we are trying to be the best people - and the best spouses - that we can be. In the long run, I think that's what counts. It's nice to walk hand in hand with him along this road called life. We bring out the best in one another.

Dana said...

How very sweet! And you must be pretty special too!

Acknowledging imperfection, while striving to be the best is what we can all work toward!

Cortney Pearson said...

That is so ADORABLE! Love it!!

Melodie Wright said...

Wow - what a sweetie! No wonder you are having his children. ;)

Myrna Foster said...

Hmm. And making his appreciation concrete like that would only increase it. What a great idea!

Write Life said...

I want to kidnap him! OMG! So amazing!
All I can say is lucky,lucky girl!
Happy new year Krista!

Jennifer Prescott said...

Amazing! I may have to steal this wonderful idea.

Theresa said...

Such an amazing gift. Priceless. Like others I am still awwww-ing. You are one lucky lady.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks again for all your comments. I am a lucky girl, Linda:) And Jenny, feel free to steal away!

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

That is so thoughtful and adorable! Good job, Honey Bear! :)

P J O'Leary said...

Gotta say, he's setting the bar pretty high for the rest of us. :) But I agree that the best gifts are always the ones that have real meaning to them, not just expensive or flashy. Reminds me of stuff I've done for my wife before.

But I like this idea. I may have to look into something like it myself. Sounds like it would be fun.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

I'll let him know, Amy:) (I think all these blog comments have been just as fun for him to read.)

P.J. O'Leary, if you decide to do a similar thing for your wife, you'll have to let us know how it turns out.

Tanya Reimer said...

Okay I actually cried when I read this. Tell him to call my honey bear. That gift rocks.

Happy New Year! In honor of my blog's first anniversary, I have an award for you on my site. Stop by to share the magic. Hugs.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

This present did rock, Tanya. And thank you so much for the award. Heading over to check it out!

Carmela Martino said...

Just came across your blog and saw this post. Wow! What a wonderful present. How thoughtful and original. Bless your husband!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Nice to meet you, Carmela! Thanks for stopping by. It was a wonderful present. I'm still enjoying it.