Tears...

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.  I love the joy of the season.  It's the lights, the music, the way our house comes to life with the decorations and all the memories I have of opening presents on Christmas morning.  As the boys have grown older they now understand the true meaning of Christmas but don't get me wrong...they love all the presents too.

Last week when we were doing our weekly grocery shopping we happened to pass a display of fancy soap. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Z pick one up.  He smelled it, studied the label and began searching for something on the soap.  He looked around at the other ones and finally his eyes fell on what he was looking for - the price.  He put the soap back and in a matter of milliseconds was at my side.  "Mom, can we come back to HEB later?"  I said, "Probably not today but we'll be back again soon."  Completely unsatisfied with that answer he asked, "Can we come after school tomorrow?" I thought, here we go, "We'll have to see."  "Please.  I don't have my money and I need to buy something."  He was so desperate that it was hard to resist so I said, "I'll bring you back but it may be a few days."  And with that, he was content.

Two days passed and as we were getting ready for bed he says, "Mom!  We need to go to HEB!!  I have to buy something!!"  It was 7:45 and there was no way I was heading out to HEB at that moment.  I told him, "Z, it's bedtime, it will have to wait."

The following day was hectic as usual.  I'd been out finishing up some Christmas shopping while M had had a long day of meetings and wasn't feeling well.  Z was not going to be put off a second longer and convinced M to take him out for the item he needed to buy.  I went about my business in the house and within 15 minutes they were back from the errand.

Z raced inside and went straight to the gift wrapping station I'd set up on the dining room table.  A few minutes later he walked into the living room and thrusts a small, shiny blue gift bag in my face.  "Merry Christmas, Mom!"  I was shocked.  I studied this tiny blue gift bag that he so proudly held out to me.  It was beautifully wrapped by his two hands.  The crumpled tissue paper held the label..."To: Mom  From: Zach".  I thought he was going to burst with pride.  After days of begging he'd accomplished his mission.  I pulled myself together and said, "It's beautiful Zachy!  You didn't have to buy me a Christmas present."  He said, "I wanted to."  Then we decided I could put it under the tree to open Christmas morning.

That lasted about two days.  While making cookies with family Z decided he could wait no longer...I HAD to open it that day.  Inside was the most beautiful bar of soap.  It smells so wonderful but even more so because Z bought it for me...with his own money.  It is the sweetest, most cherished gift.  He is turning into quite the little man...