Gift-giving Challenge

"Surprise me!" Our twenty something son challenged me one morning this December. He was referring to the annual gift-giving we do each Christmas morning. He does not like the commercialism that has seeped into the Christmas season, and probably does not like the fact that he will again receive socks, boxers, shirts, ties - just like he did the year before, and the year before that, and... You get the picture.

I had suggested posting our wish list on the refrigerator door this year. I had my list ready: rhoomba, the I-robot who can do the vacuuming for me is number one on my list, next is the sewing machine, and there are more. If they miss one on my list, I should give them other options. But, well, I concede, financially it is quite difficult for us this year, so maybe I should not put my list up.

So, that morning, I coolly (I hope) responded, "Challenge accepted!" Our daughter liked the idea, and my husband kind of agreed to it.

The past three weeks, I had been on the lookout for gifts that would happily surprise my family. I quickly found one for my hubby, and it is not difficult to decide for my daughter who is struggling to pay for her school and living expenses in Nebraska. But it is something else for my idealistic son.

I checked the internet, asked friends for suggestions, decided on one thing today but did not like it the following day. In the end, I have bought and returned a couple of items I got online, and will have to return one more item tomorrow.

Yesterday morning we opened our gifts. It was fun to see their faces light up at each gifts are handed and opened. It was also refreshing to see how creative we can become when we put lots of thought, love and affection in the gifts we give. Our daughter got us all warm woolen hats, same style, different colors; she made us treasure hunt for our gifts. Yes, I remember, she was always that creative. Our son did not have anything wrapped, but promised to give us what I had been asking for all along: a recording of his violin music accompanied by his sister on the piano, and also a few of his guitar and vocal selections.

I gave our son a vintage Led Zeppelin t-shirt. He liked it, and said he was surprised that I can get that for him, that I even know what he likes.

In the process, I learned to look deeper into my family's personalities, and I appreciate them more. And, that Led Zeppelin is not a person but a band!

O Beauty, Where Art Thou?

"You know, research say that eating raw food is good for your immune system." I said and my sister as I gather the plates after lunch one day.

"Hmmmn," she replied. Not much response there.

"But after eating lots of salads for three months, not only did I lose weight, I noticed that my facial skin did not sag as much, and was even smoother," I continued.

"Really? Tell me more. How did you do it? How much raw food did you eat each day?" Now I have her attention.

I do not really fully comprehend how women are wired. But I know that a woman will perk up her ears, raise all her antennas, and turn them toward....any tip on how to keep herself beautiful. Especially if it is free!

I guess it is because women are made to keep things beautiful: herself, her surroundings, her home, her life. It had been like this since time began. Eve was the more graceful, softer, gentler version of Adam. Sarah had a beautiful,colorful tent near the trees of Mamre. When asked about how women in India keep herself beautiful, an acquaintance told me, " They would put a flower in their hair no matter how hard a life they are living."

And we don't need to look far - just see all the advertisement in the television, in your computer, in the newspapers, radio - everywhere. There is big money in enticing women to look their most beautiful selves. Posture, hair, skin, muscles in the right places, clothes, manner of speaking, grace, color, and the list goes on. You've heard this before: an average man has six things in the bathroom, while a woman has 360!

Today, though, I found this precious tip towards refinement and beauty - for you and me - free. Read on!

"True refinement will never be revealed so long as self is considered the supreme object. Love must dwell in the heart. A thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of actions from his deep heart love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for Christ springs an unselfish interest in his brethren. Love imparts to its possessors grace, propriety, and comeliness of deportment. It illuminates the countenance and subdues the voice; it refines and elevates the whole being."White, EG, Ministry of Healing, p490.

Ah, so that's what it is. If we can only package LOVE and sell it as a lotion, cream, spray, or even a pill! Alas, that is the catch - it is free, available for everyone, but it is not cheap. It requires more than just money - it needs giving up of self for something more precious.

Disappointed Hopes 2

Yesterday I saw the Nurse Practitioner assigned to me. She liaise between me and my oncologist when the latter is busy or out of town.

K, the nurse, told me that my kappa-lambda ratio, my cancer count, is not budging. It has not gone up, but it has not gone down either. Therefore I cannot have the stem cell transplant as planned, and my weekly chemo dose will be increased, my guess will be for another couple of months.

I was hoping that the stem cell transplant will help me get off drugs for some time, but it looks like I have to have more of these drugs first. Talk about disappointed hopes!

It is good that I have found this quote a few weeks back:

"God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him." MH 479

And I just have to write this again:

"In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings." MH 475

Trusting that this is my greatest blessing yet!