Over the next couple weeks, I thought it might be fun to share some stories of my favorite Christmas gifts that I have received over the years!
The American Girl dolls started becoming popular when I was a little girl- about 8 I guess.
I wanted one.
I mean, I reeaallllly wanted one! Samantha specifically.
Really, REALLY thought about it all the time, obsessed over (as little girls do), reallly wanted one!
Unfortunately, the dolls then were (kinda still are!) pricey. I think they started at $80.00, and as I have talked about before, we didn't have a lot of extra cash growing up- certainly not enough for an $80.00 doll!
But that didn't stop me asking for it. When I think now of how my poor parents must have felt as I relentlessly requested my doll, knowing that there was no way they could purchase it for me, even though I'm sure they would have loved to, it makes me very, very sad.
After many months of requesting, it became very clear that I was not getting my dear Samantha. But that didn't stop my dreaming! I can remember carrying around the American Girl doll catalogue, as if it were some map that I would get lost without. I took it to school, and even, in the absence of the doll, slept with the catalogue.
Fast forward years later....
My husband and I had been married for about 2 years when we were talking to our friends, who were about to give their little girl an American Girl doll for Christmas. Of course, I went on and on about what a perfect gift this would be for a girl her age, and how she would love it and so on.
Later on that evening I, unexpectedly tearfully, told my husband my sad Samantha story.
If you've already figured out the ending of my story, bear with me for a moment longer!
On that very Christmas morning, in a quiet little apartment, under our little 'just married' apartment Christmas tree, was my dear Samantha doll, waiting for me- as I expect she had been waiting for me all these years. I just didn't know I was really still waiting for her.
And so the the best gift ever was given by the best husband ever to a grown woman, who for that Christmas anyway, was the happiest 8 year old girl in the world!
