wondering, if they get it?

i love christmas, it is my most favorite holiday. it is everything behind the season that makes me love it so much. over the years, as i began to have children, my christmas has become less and less about gifts for myself and more and more about the gifts for my children. i will admit that my kids have far more than they need. last night, brady and i were out once again finishing some last minute shopping. although we were enjoying picking out some things for the kids we started a conversation about the true meaning of christmas. why we give gifts to one another and whether or not our kids really get it or not. i mean, really, really get it. it seems like everytime the tv is on, there is yet another toy ad that catches their eye and they want this or they want that. and i find that even though my shopping is done, i want to go buy it for them. i know that "things" don't make us happy. i do. but when you are a kid, that's what it's all about. the toys! i thought that is what my kids thought.

baylor. his school is doing toys for tots. he has been begging me to go buy something for him to take to the school. today is the last day, so last night he reminded me that he really wanted to bring something to donate. knowing he has money of his own, i asked him if he would be willing to spend his own money. and without hesitation he said yes.

braden. this morning as he was kissing me goodbye. we had a few minutes.

me (worried if i have made good choices in the gift department):

brade, what is it that you want the very most for christmas?

braden (all smiles and deep in thought):

hmmmmmmm, i don't know mom that is a hard one! but, let me think.

me (hoping that his answer will be something that is already locked in my bedroom closet):

if you could only have one thing, what would it be?

braden (all innocent):

one thing? that's even harder.

me (anticipating yet another gift he saw on tv that i know nothing about, have never heard of or costs as much as a car payment):

i know huh?

braden (head cocked and softly):

well, would everyone in our family be healthy?

me (blinking back tears because i know where this is going):

why do you ask?

braden (sweetly):

because, if someone in our family wasn't healthy then it would be easy to choose.

me (trying to control the ugly cry):

yes baby, this year, everyone in our family is healthy.

braden (calmly)

i will think about it and let you know after school.

note to self: they get it.