Small Treasures, Big Heart

Elle's school held a craft show and bake sale a week ago as a fundraiser. We were informed that each class would have an opportunity to shop for Christmas presents for family members and treat themselves to a little something if we wanted them to participate. So off Elle went that morning with $20 and enough excitement to last until Christmas morning.

When I picked Elle up that afternoon, she was absolutely thrilled about the presents she bought for all of us. She couldn't wait to get home to show us our gifts. I tried to explain that the presents were for us to open Christmas morning and that she could wrap them when she got home. "But Mommy..." she said with tears in her eyes...she did not want to wait that long to give us our gifts!

Elle told us how she carefully looked around to get some ideas about what to buy. She mentioned how much she wanted this stuffed snowman for herself, but shopped for everybody else first to make sure she would complete her list of people to buy for. Elle told us how she bought two gifts for Piper, Cannon and herself and she figured that Carroll and I would be satisfied with one.


My heart just about burst when she explained why she selected the gifts she did. Elle was most proud of the gift she chose for me. I can't count the number of times she told me that she chose the angel ornament because it had curly hair and it reminded her of me. Elle chose a SPURS pillow because "Daddy likes sports." Piper's gifts included a Disney Princess pillow and a small teddy bear because "Piper likes soft things." For Cannon, Elle chose a blue "race car bear" (The bear has nothing to do with racing, but I think she saw the numbers on it...too cute!) and something for his dresser, which happens to be a clay figurine of pigs in a car..."because Cannon likes cars." And finally for herself, she was able to purchase that stuffed snowman she so badly wanted and a ladybug rock.

Elle amazes me often with her selflessness and her HUGE heart. She is so giving and sweet that it makes me just want to hold her and fall to my knees to thank God for her.