I can look at a string of Christmas pasts and see a definite pattern in gifts as our sons grew older:
toddler: matchbox cars, Thomas trains, Duplo
primary school: Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Lego
elementary school: Lego, board games, scooters
middle school: Lego, strategy board games, Wii games, sports equipment
high school: phone, high end sneakers, gift cards, video games
college: money, college game gear, electronics
But now that our two eldest are adults--one living on his own in Little Rock and one who has a job already lined up in Atlanta after he finishes grad school this spring--the gift ideas have changed. Of course, they still like Lego and electronics, strategy board games are always a hit, and they will take a gift card any day, but they also have needs--for their apartment (kitchen appliances, furniture) their car (air compressor for tires, a car emergency kit, jumper cables), or their new job (business suits, dress shoes).
But while all those things are practical, I still like to think of one special gift to add.
This year, it was a Fontanini nativity set (a stable and the Holy Family) for Nicholas. I also gave him, carefully packaged in a beautifully decorated box, all his childhood tree ornaments from Nonna and Nonnno--brass ornaments engraved with his name and the year. One ornament for every year until he turned 18 years of age. (Next Christmas, when Jonathan has his own apartment, he will get the same.)
When Nicholas drove home Christmas day due to work, the first thing he did when he arrived back to his apartment in Little Rock was to set up his nativity and hang the ornaments on his tree.
And hopefully these things will always be a little reminder of family and faith.
A little reminder of home.
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