A Great Christmas Gift...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
December 26, 2009 10:59am CST
I wanted to share one of my Christmas gifts here b/c I think it's a really neat gift. Back in 1996 (13 years ago) I made a cross stitch picture for my stepdad's mom. It was a picture of an angel sitting on clouds and had a poem with it that went something like this:
Above my bed,
Where no one can see,
My guardian angel,
Watches over me.
The picture hung over her bed from the day I gave it to her. Well, she passed away several months ago and one of her sons took everything she owned and sold it off. It turns out that my stepdad snagged the picture before his brother took everything and he gave it to me as a Christmas gift. He said he thought it should come back to who it came from. I think it's so great that something I made so long ago and that touched someones life has come back to me. By the way, I intend to clean it and hang it in my home :)
Have you ever gotten something back years after you gave it? Did you ever make something that really touched someone else's life? Do you think this was a great gift?
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
11 people like this
29 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
26 Dec 09
i THINK IT'S A GREAT GIFT TWOEY & I'M SO GLAD U GOT IT BACK. i USE TO DO ALOT OF HANDWORK LIKE THAT & GIVE IT AS GIFTS. u CAN PUT ALOT OF TIME INTO THINGS LIKE THAT. tHE ONLY GIFTS I EVER GOT BACK WAS SOMETHING I'D GIVEN MY MOTHER & SHE DIDN'T LIKE WHATEVER IT WAS. I could never please her.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I just found a photograph of a needlepoint I made as a gift for someone about 4 decades ago. It reads like this:
Women's faults are many
Men have only two--
Everything they say
And everything they do.
That was a popular saying in the 60's. Most of the gifts I give are consumables, though so I have not gotten any of those back. 
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157671)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I agree this was a really great gift. At this time my dad and his wife are trying to pare down and get rid of things they no longer need. I have been given back things that I have given them, but nothing so special as that. The love in your picture still continues to grow.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Dec 09
Good thinking on your stepdad's part.
I got back (some years ago) a painting I gave to my godmother. I painted it as a young teen.
I was expecting you to show us the picture.
2 people like this
@1corner (744)
• Canada
26 Dec 09
That's so touching! No, I've never made a gift for anyone, though I've really wanted to do the same as your hobby (like knitting). Reasons vary, partly from lack of time, and from not having anyone in my life who'd appreciate made-up gifts over store-bought ones. (For that matter, I need more folks around me who'd truly appreciate the gifts I give them, since they're really well thought-out, in my opinion).
Have a blessed Christmas season, twoey.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159538)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Dec 09
I used to give my grandmother silly little presents when I was young. One year she alot of them into ornaments and gave them back to me. At first I didn't realize what they were. It took me alittle bit. And again I realized how cool my grandmother was. She always had the greatest ideas.
2 people like this
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
27 Dec 09
Yes some grand mothers are like that. They are quite cool. They always have great ideas. Unfortunately we do not appreciate them, when they are alive, and we treasure them, only when they are gone.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Nice that you were able to get this back. Often times I have wished that something I gave a loved one would come back to me. Unfortunately most of the people who have passed on have many children that wish to keep the cherished items close to them. I get comfort in knowing that the item is still around for others to enjoy.
@kimbers867 (2539)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I think this was such an awesome gift that your stepdad gave you! What an heirloom this can turn into! I'm glad it wasn't sold because I don't think a new owner would have appreciated as much as you do!!!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I cross stitch too! I'm working on one that I've been working on for years and probably will finish it in the coming year. It's very tedious and is why it's taking me so long to finish besides taking breaks in between. I made one for a couple that were friends of ours and they ended up splitting up and the husband was so angry that he threw away all his wife's things without even opening the boxes to see what was in them. The cross stitch that I made for them was in one of those boxes. I had hoped he'd send it back to me but it's gone now.
I did give my grandmother a set of porcelain babies that one could hang on the wall or Christmas tree if they wanted to. One was a little girl and the other was a boy. When my grandmother passed away, I got them back and now they're in my curio cabinet.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Dec 09
What picture are you working on? I find that if I put on a movie that I can just listen to and spend just 2 hours in the morning (while Hubby is sleeping) stitching, I get quite a bit done. It's a very relaxing hobby.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Dec 09
That is a pretty one...I've seen it before and probably have the chart too. Have you looked into some kind of headphones or something for the tv. Some models have them. Hubby doesn't mind me stitching but I find when he's awake, I'm constantly either getting up to do something or he's wanting to talk to me and I can't concentrate on the stitching.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I've attached a picture so you can see it. It's just a copy of the cover picture. It's a 16 count which is so darned hard on my eyes. I vowed to never get another one and no smaller than a 14 count. I stitch when I can. It doesn't bother hubby when I do it, in fact, he enjoys watching me stitch away. lol Being hearing impaired, even with hearing aids, I still have to "read" the tv screen to see what's being said because it doesn't come clear enough for me. Maybe if I took the speaker down off the wall that's behind the couch and put it closer to me, I could do that. Hmmmm, it seems that you've given me an idea! lol
BTW, the picture isn't the greatest and I can rescan it if you'd like, just let me know! 
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Dec 09
That is a really great Christmas gift. I can't think of anything I've gotten back that I've given, but all those that have passed away have been before I gave gifts (when I was too young to have a job) or that I didn't give gifts gifts too but rather paid for food on a couple of occasions...
Hope you had a really great Christmas.
1 person likes this
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
4 Jan 10
Touching story. I only wish I had something to respond with in kind. My life's been pretty void of material things for as long as I can remember. The only things I have linking me to my past are some sweaters that are about 15 years old, and a bookshelf that's at least 30 years old.
dr...
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
4 Jan 10
Well i really cannot remember but i think it was so sweet of your step Dad to give it back to you..It must have meant a lot to your step dads Mom to have it hung above her bed for so many years..that tells me that she was very happy with your gift, and i am happy that you have gotten it back..Thats such a sweet gesture..
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Dec 09
Several things that I gave to my mother have come back to me since she passed away. And yes, that's a great gift. I bet it brought her a lot of joy.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
29 Dec 09
About 16 years ago my Aunt had a garage sale and she was selling many things from her early years of marrage. One of those things was a dress she bought on her honey moon. I snagged it and while I never wore it I held on to it because it was so pretty. It was pink and designed like the Mexican dresses with tons of lace and embrodery. A few years ago I dug it out and carefully pulled it apart stitch by stich. I then sewed the pieces in the best shape onto pillow cases. It turned out lovely and my aunt recognized the material from her dress as soon as she opened the present.
They loved it and it felt good to have rescued her dress to give it back to her later and remind her of her honeymoon.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
29 Dec 09
What a great way to surprise her! It's great to sometimes take something that you think is unuseable and turn it into something you can use again. I bet she loved having a little piece of her past come back to her.
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
@adriennem10 (165)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I think if you make something by hand and personally it is a great gift! We got my grandma some religious stuff for christmas and she just cried her little heart out. Yes, I think yor present was a great gift!
