Addison's Grateful Heart - A Special Memory To Remember

Something that really stood out this Christmas holiday was Addison and her unexpected outpouring of gratefulness. I don't know if it's all the years of consistently explaining to the kids how good they have it and how they have to work and take care of things they love. Or maybe it's the it result of them NOT getting little toys throughout the year on a regular basis for no reason. It could be that we have proven to them that if they loose or break something, then that is the natural consequence and we don't replace items. I don't know what it was but this year Addison surprised me. 

Around 11AM on Christmas morning, as we were changing clothes preparing to go to Ya-Ya and Grandpa's, I was in the laundry room moving last minute outfits from the washer to the dryer. Out of the blue, Addison came in and just latched on to my hip giving me the biggest hug. I lifted her up on the dryer and asked her what that was for and she just said, "I wanted to tell you thank you, mom. Thank you for everything. This has been the best Christmas ever and I love you so much." I had tears welling up inside me. All the months of preparation for Christmas (that you can't even tell them about, really) all were worth it, in that very moment. 

Later, I asked Blake if he happened to send her in and when he looked at me blankly, I relished even more in the moment and took a minute to praise God that we were being at least somewhat successful in raising grateful children in this world of excessive consumerism and materialism. Although I know she was thanking me, in large part, for the toys she had received that day, I am confident that she was happily overwhelmed with her several modestly priced gifts because we have worked diligently to show her that she doesn't need to constantly be buying or getting new things to be happy. I know we have a LONG and much harder fifteen years ahead of us but hopefully we are on the right path.

Later that afternoon, she did it again at my mom's house. I heard the end from a distance, but Julie clearly overheard the conversation between Addie and my mom. 

Addie: "Ya-Ya - I have said thank  you for a lot of things I have received for Christmas recently but I really really mean it when I tell you thank you for the SNO-CONE maker you gave me. I really really love it."

Although the beginning part might have been less than ideal to say when other's are listening, I am happy to know that her true feelings of gratitude came out and she shared them with Ya-Ya, in a six-year-old heartfelt manner.

This was the hug I caught after the conversation.