For My Christmas Angels (#2/365)
Posted by: Devyl GyrlDecember was a crazy month for me. More on that later. The relevant parts of the story are:
1) My ex-husband and his family promised my Tween a trip to Cali, and promised me to cover her Santa gift (the Nintendo Wii) this year since it has been a tough year for me. They then backed out of both of these plans, and said they weren’t sending anything. Later (much later), it turned out they sent her a camera (the camera they had previously promised her for her birthday in 2007, Christmas 2007, and for her birthday in 2008) as a Christmas gift for 2008. The camera is awesome, so please do not think I am complaining they sent it. I am just disappointed it took them more than a year of broken promises to do so.
2) I was laid off from my job, and had to return all of the gifts I had already purchased for Tween, family, and friends. Anything non-refundable was set aside to send out later in Jan or Feb, when I know I have the money to spare for postage.
Tween has been asking for a Wii since they came out, but as a Mom I thought she needed to wait a while before getting one. I would not typically get game systems for her, but my Dad & Stepmom Connie purchased her a Gameboy Advance SP in 2005 when they purchased the same thing for my new step-sister (Connie’s younger child, who is 2 yrs older than Tween). In 2006, I got her a few games for it, and in 2007 (because she had taken such great care of the SP, but mostly because I found it on sale at 75% off), Santa brought her a Nintendo DS Lite. The SP and all of the games she had outgrown were donated, as per our custom, and she now takes great care of the DS. She began talking about getting a Wii more and more frequently when one of my friends started inviting us to come over and play his Wii. Unfortunately, I do not agree with the way he leads his life, so I will not take Tween to his house. I have also been looking for something else for she and I to do together, and since we are only home together in the late evenings, I wanted something indoors, that could be picked up at any time. The Wii fits all of these requirements.
Due to both of the afore-mentioned circumstances, a group of six people banned together to provide Christmas for my Tween. They sent an amazing set of gift cards, so I decided she would get her Santa gift after all: a Wii. The gift cards were sent with that intention, but with the option of using it any way I felt necessary. Besides the large gift cards to be used on the Wii, there were also smaller gift cards for stores that Tweens like to shop in: a bookstore, a jewelry store, and a clothing store. These three I saved for a later date & time. 
Several other friends (who I also consider Christmas Angels) provided much-loved gifts to Tween: a gift card to JCPenny, which was one of the things she had requested; the latter three Twilight books, because she loved the first one so much; a small set of candles; and a photo frame.
I am grateful to everyone who helped make my baby’s Christmas special. It is one of the few times I allow her to feel so utterly spoiled, and I was VERY bummed out about having to return all the things I had purchased for her over the last six months.
I can not ever repay my Christmas Angels for their generosity. Financially, I hope to be able to do so someday in the near future. The value of their gifts go far beyond their monetary value, though, and I only hope I can be half as good a friend to them as they have been to me.
As promised, I am sharing the pictures from when Tween realized she is getting a Wii. Santa’s Elves sent her a letter via Santa & Mrs. Claus telling her that since she was such a fabulous child, she was receiving a special gift this year. It also mentioned the actual system would arrive in Jan (they have to build it, yanno!).
Thank you again to all of you who have shown your love and support through various methods. You are appreciated, and I treasure each of you.
xoxo
Devyl
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 am
I’m so glad the Tween got to have a very Merry Christmas. I know the pain of a layoff, but in my case it was just me. I can’t imagine how much the worry increases when you have a child. You are such an amazing woman. I hope 2009 is a much better year for you!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 am
Disappointment’s always difficult, especially around the holidays. Glad you still managed a Merry Christmas!
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 am
Those photos are beautiful. YOU deserved everything you received from those angels. You are an amazing woman. Happy New Year!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:47 am
Happy New Year!! I love this story!!!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 am
That just makes me smile, I’m sure you’ll be back at work soon.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 am
I love this. I was just thinking of your situation yesterday after we shared similar circumstances. God bless both of you. I pray for a quick return to the job market. Your daughter is gorgeous! wow.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
I’m so glad you had a great Christmas. You deserve it! Seeing pictures of your beautiful baby getting so excited made me cry….now I have to go reapply mascara!
I love you!!! XOXOXOXO
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I’m so glad she liked it! There are angels EVERYWHERE! Love you!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Im glad Christmas went well for you. I hope you find work soon. Love you.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
That is what Christmas is all about, helping your friends and making it a special day for children. I’m glad she was able to have a special day after all. Good luck to you too.
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