Saturday, December 11, 2010

In the season of giving...

I love this time of year.  People are very busy buying and receiving presents during Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.  In our class we are creating a special present to give to our parents (shhh! It's a secret!). 


Thinking of this reminds me of my favorite gift.  When I was 14 years old my mom gave me her high school I.D. bracelet for Christmas.  I liked it, but really I wanted something new, like a swatch watch 


 or an album. 


I put the ID bracelet in my jewelry box and there it sat gathering dust for a few years.  When I was a senior in high school, I gave the bracelet to my best friend, as a way of saying that we would be friends forever.  After a while, my friend and I lost touch; we went to college, moved to different parts of the world, and got married.  She kept the bracelet with her.  It reminded her of me even though we never got to see each other.  Many years passed, and one day when I was feeling very sad my friend brought me my mom's ID bracelet.  I was shocked.   I had completely forgotten the bracelet existed. I was amazed at how beautiful my mom's name looked engraved in the shiny silver.  It was the perfect gift.





What is the best gift you have ever received? 

What was your favorite gift and why?

46 comments:

  1. One of my most favorite gifts is the friendship of Mrs. Levy and her family. We have become great friends in a fairly short time and both my husband and I treasure the relationship we have with all three of them. There is no greater gift in the world and at the holidays and every day, I am thankful for our friendship.

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  2. Thank you Mrs. McEvoy! I agree, there is no greater gift than friendship!

    xo
    Mrs. Levy

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  3. Dear Mrs. Levy's class,

    A few years ago, Santa Claus brought to everyone in my family a new bicycle. Mine was bright yellow with orange Hawaiian flowers and the tires have flowers on them so when I ride through a water puddle I make a pretty design. My daughter's bikes were green and orange, and pink and white, and my husbands bike is red like a fire engine. We loved getting our new bikes and we love riding them all kinds of places together.

    Mrs. Harding

    PS I love your blog!

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  4. My birthday is very close to the holidays. Actually it was yesterday. My favorite gift was a new computer. I got in for my 10th birthday. I loved it so much. It helped me in school, but also with communication. Although I got it 4 years ago, I still remember my first computer because it was the perfect surprise.

    Happy Holidays

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  5. The best gift I have ever received was USC football season tickets. Going to games have created memories that will stay with me the rest of my life. The best gift I have ever given was when my sisters and I saved up our money to buy my parents a gift card to their favorite restaurant for their 20th anniversary.

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  6. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    My favorite present is a lego set I received for my 6th birthday. The name of the set is " Clone Turbo Tank" and it has 1141 pieces to build. My older brother and I built it together in five hours!

    Here is a link to see the Clone Turbo Tank:

    http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=8098

    Rejoice,

    Ethan

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  7. My favorite present is a Lego car. It is red and orange. I like to race it with my other Lego cars. Making legos is a lot of fun.

    Nicholas Gates
    Mrs. Levy's 1st grade class

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  8. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    Your note about your favorite present was very touching and reminded me of a present I received from my mother as well.

    My parents sent me to the United States when I had just started high school to keep me away from harm during the Iranian revolution.

    My mother used to send me care packages and letters while we were apart specially since she knew that I was very homesick. In one of the packages she sent me a necklace in a gift box. As I opened the box, I saw the necklace and a strand of gray hair that was accidentally left in the box and I knew it belonged to my mother!

    Although it sounds crazy, but the necklace and that strand of hair was one of the most memorable gifts I have ever received!

    Sincerely,

    Rebecca (Ethan's mom)

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  9. Hi,
    My faveorite gift that i have gotten wasnt really a tangible gift, four years ago, on the third night of hannakuah, i got told that my grandpa was cancer free, which was by far the best thing anyone could have gotten me.
    Sammy

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  10. The best gift I have ever received is a charm bracelet that belonged to my grandma. Whenever my great aunt comes into town she always brings gifts. About two years ago she brought me this charm bracelet and each charm stands for something important that happened in my family's history. One charm has my mom's initials in it, representing her birth. The bracelet is a small representation of my family, but I felt so honored that my aunt chose to give it to me. I know I have a responsibility to pass it down to generations to come.

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  11. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    The best gift I have ever recieved would have to be the chance to redecorate my room. I transformed my 9 -year- old pink princess room to a more mature and tasteful room. I got a new bedspread, drapes, desk, and repainted my walls. It was the best present ever :)

    Happy Holidays!

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  12. The best gift I had ever received was my baseball bat I got when I was 5. I was so excited to play in my next game, I dreamed of homeruns, big hits, and everyone yelling "back up!" when I came to bat. I never wanted to give that bat up, even when it got way to small for me. It really made me feel like a professional player.
    Ryan

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  13. Dear Mrs. Levy,
    The best gift I have ever received is a stuffed animal cow when I haden't even turned 1 yet. I received the gift from some very close family friends. I have kept the cow and slept with it until I turned 12 years old. Although I have outgrown it, I still remember how much I loved it. I hope to save it and give it to either my sister's future kids or my future children.

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  14. Wow, what amazing responses! Thank you for sharing.

    Mrs. Levy

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  15. The best gift I have ever received was my little sister. When I was four years old, all I wanted was a little sibling. I kept asking my parents every day for a sibling. Finally, when I was seven years old, my little sister was born. But this wasn't an ordinary day; she was born on my seventh birthday party, so not only did I receive what I always wanted, but I also received the greatest birthday present I could have ever asked for. Every day I am thankful that I am blessed with such a kind and caring little sister, and I am so glad that I have such an amazing gift.

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  16. Hannah Alexandra SternDecember 13, 2010 at 7:52 PM

    Dear Mrs. Levy,
    The best christmas present i have ever received was just last year my mom told me i could take two ballet classes a week. Now i am up to three to five classes a week.
    I am hopping this year tops that, becuase im asking for a vintage leather jacket :)

    Merry christmahanakwanzukah!

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  17. The best gift I have ever received was my first cell phone. It was given to me when I was in sixth grade. The phone was an older flip-phone, but I loved it, and I would always text and call my friends. I used it every day, until I got a new phone for my fourteenth birthday, and I use that phone every day, too. Hopefully my phone will never break; it's one of my favorite things in the world.

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  18. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    The best gift I have ever received would probably be a stuffed animal I got when I was 4. The black and brown cat, Snickers, has been a huge part of my childhood, and I still cherish her today.

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  19. My favorite thing is money because you can buy things with it!

    From Rain!

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  20. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    My favorite gift I ever got was a toy cat named Marie. I really really like Marie. My Mom bought Marie for no reason, so it was extra special, and I really like it.

    Love,

    Amy Everett

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  21. The best gift I ever received was my stuffed pony because I cuddle with it at night.

    Elsie Dickinson-Hill

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  22. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    My favorite present that I have ever received is a Zhu Zhu pet. I love them because they are hamsters and hamsters are my favorite pet, besides Trixie (my French Bulldog) and Oreo (my cat). Actually, my mom and dad won't let me get a real hamster, because my dog or cat might eat it! This makes me love my Zhu Zhu even more than ever!

    Love, Aliya Armstrong

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  23. The best gift I ever got was a 3D TV from my Mom and Dad.
    (Miya wrote this herself)

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  24. My favorite gifts I have ever gotten are my two Llasa Apsos which are now three. Every year I go on a ski trip on my birthday since it falls on Martin Luther King weekend. I never expected to receive anything else since the trip is usually my present, but on the last day of our trip after when my sister and I returned from the slopes, there stood two little puppies who are brother and sister. I could fit them both in the palm of my hand.

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  25. Dear Mrs. levy,

    The best gift that I ever received are my grandchildren! Amitai, Ethan, Asher and Noah! They are everything to me!

    Happy Holidays!

    Pary (Ethan's Grandmother)

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  26. The best gift I ever received is a bunch of Pokemon toys. I love playing with them.

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  27. Hi!
    My most memorable gift I have gotten for Hanukkah was from my friend Paige. Last December I was going to New York with my grandparents and Paige wanted to get me something very special. She also knew that I have always wanted to celebrate Christmas because i think the thought of a tree and presents under it and such is so cool. So, the day before i left, Paige gave me a stocking filled with a bunch of things that love. Some things were, lipstick, candy, candles, and other neat things. Most of the time, the little gifts are the best kind! Her thoughtfulness will always be remembered in my mind :D

    Happy Holidays!

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  28. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    My favorite gift I ever got was a pinball machine because it keeps me busy.

    Collin

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  29. My favorite gift given to me was my necklace that was passed down from my grandma to my mom, to me. It has so much meaning and I was so honored to be part of the tradition. The best gift I have ever given was a signed baseball of my brothers favorite player. He still has the baseball in his room, and I will never forget his face when he opened it!

    Happy Holidays!

    Love,
    Ellie

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  30. Dear Mrs. Levy,

    The best gift I ever received was "pink blanky" a blanket I was given when i was a baby. Even though it sounds corny i always loved this blanket and brought it everywhere. When I use to get growing pains I would wrap the blanket around what hurt-because I thought it had powers- and the pain would go away. Even though the blanket is now torn and raggy, I cherish it and always will.

    Happy Holidays!

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  31. My favorite present ever was my Wii. I have got lots of games and my Wii is really cool!

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  32. Mrs. Levy,
    The best gift I ever got was a pair of Ugh boots.

    P.S.
    This blog is the best thing on the internet!

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  33. Dear Mrs.Levy,
    The best gift I ever received was my pink digital camera I was given when I was about ten years old. Once I was given my camera, I enjoyed taking many pictures of my family and friends. I even took a few pictures the Christmas I had received the camera. I have learned to love taking pictures because it serves as a memory and a very memorable possession that can never be replaced. Although the pink camera does not function properly anymore, I received a new digital camera that will now capture more memorable moments in my life. I still have my pink camera because it reminds me of how much I love taking pictures and the memories of when I was younger. A Christmas memory I will never forget was when my brother and I planned my parent's anniversary trip to Hawaii. My parent's anniversary is on December 19 so my brother and I thought it would be really special if they spent their anniversary in Hawaii together. The look on my parent's face was priceless, and enough of a thank you! I really enjoy Christmas and the Holiday Season!

    Happy Holidays!! :)

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  34. Dear Mrs. Levy,
    The best gift I have ever gotten was my puppy Winston. He meant a lot to me since him and I always spent time together. He'd also make me very happy after a bad day or receiving bad news. I loved him since the day i got him in kindergarden till the day he passed in fourth grade. I will never forget the day my parents gave him to me and how many memories I had with him.

    Have a Great Holiday Season!
    -Nellie Ghassemi

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  35. Dear Mrs. Levy,
    The best gift I ever received was my hamster Flour. She runs on her wheel at night and keeps watch over me when I sleep. I like how she crawls.

    Happy Holidays,
    Kiernan Hagan

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  36. The best gift I ever received was from my uncle. When I was just a baby, he crafted a full sized rocking horse for me. I had SO much fun riding on it as a little kid. I still have it placed in the living room, even though some pieces have fallen off.

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  37. Dear Mrs.Levy,
    Today is my birthday.My favorite present would be an Itouch.



    Warmest Regards,
    Logan

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  38. Dear Mrs. Levy,
    The best gift I ever had, was a wii, and I loved it. My mom and dad bought it for me.


    Happy Holidays

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  39. The best present I ever received on Christmas was a signed Iniesta Jersey. He is one of my favorite soccer players and scored the winning goal in the world cup final. The jersey is currently hanging in a frame above my bed.

    Happy Holidays,
    Nathan Heider

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  40. My best gift that I ever received was my Star Wars lego ATT six legged walker because it is the only lego set that has Captain Rex and I love Captain Rex. He is very special to me.
    Luke
    Happy Holidays!

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  41. When my sons were young children, they always had their picture taken with Santa Claus. Each December one more picture was added to the little red Santa album. When Ryan and Kevin were in middle school, they didn't want to be seen in the mall with Santa. Every year they asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I replied, "A picture with you and Santa for the album." Last year Ryan (29 years old) and Kevin (27 years old) gave me a picture of them with Santa. My best gift ever!

    Mrs. Foss
    Calabasas Principal

    P.S. I love your blog and your weekly visits with Mrs. McEvoy!

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  42. Dear Mrs. Levy

    My favorite gift I got is my Leapster because
    I like it.

    Happy Holiday

    Matthew Peralta

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  43. Dear Mrs. Levy

    I got 2 favorite gifts for the holidays this year. My first favorite gift is a handball. I like my handball because it gives something for me and my dad to play together. My second favorite gift is my Justice sweats with perfume. They are so comfortable and the perfume makes me smell so good.

    Happy Holidays!

    Love Gia Perel

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  44. I got a camera from my Grandma and Grandpa.
    I like it because it is real and it takes over 1000 pictures.
    Happy Holidays!

    From Natalie Kim

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  45. My favorite present was my I PAD because it is a mini computer. From, Ava

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  46. My favorite gift ever received was my toy kitchen. I like to cook and want to be a chef. In my kitchen, I like to make speacial meals for my grandma, family, and brother. The best gift I got over the holiday break was my new Wii system. I like to play my new games, especially Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong, with my dad and brother. We also have a new Math game that I like to play with my mom.
    Master Kiernan Hagan

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