First, I have to share the results of last week’s blog. I used it to show my eighth grade class how to write an autobiographical narrative. The plan was to write a negative Christmas experience to reduce the pressure to outdo somebody else’s story. The next days, a positive Christmas story was supposed to follow.

I did not take into consideration that those visions of sugar plums impede a teenager’s ability to produce words. So, my second story was put on hold so I could help my class find the words hidden behind the pre-holiday break excitement. This situation called for one on one, tell me a story brainstorming, followed by coaching on craft. In the end it was worth it. I have a desk covered in stories that brought laughter at life’s silly moments, awws in remembrance of those who were no longer with us, and a deeper appreciation for the skills in my class. With that being said, here is the story of the Christmas worth repeating.

This story takes place before social media and smart phones. If my memory serves me correctly it was before digital cameras were affordable. My sons who are now professionals were in elementary school.

This is also where I remind you of the last post. I searched high and low for presents to find nothing. The Christmas worth repeating was an intentional replication of The Christmas Worth Remembering; except this time we had presents.

When the boys woke in the morning, the bottom of the tree was exactly as they left it before going to bed. It had presents for their step-siblings and cousins, who would arrive later in the day.

In the middle of the tree, ornaments had been replaced with scrolls of paper. The largest scroll had a message (this is going off memory)

Tiny scrolls of paper had a poem to guide the boys to the location of their presents. One present was hidden under their beds. Another was in the linen closet, pantry etc. My sons had never been so happy to find a package of underwear. Some of the presents I purchased from the dollar store.

The I got this bragging that kids like to do fell to the wayside and the high dollar presents went unmentioned when the boys shared the fun of finding their presents.

That was the Christmas my brother-in-law regarded the kids with a bedfuddled frown. They were playing with one of those paper airplanes with the rubber tipped nose, tops, and paddle balls.

Now my family lives in different states. So this year we are staying at an AirBnb in the middle. Guess what I have planned…

Their present is a Christmas day scavenger hunt. Twenty years later we are reliving the Christmas worth repeating, because Christmas is not about the presents. It is about finding the gift worth sharing.

I close this post wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.