Prior to the holiday, they had attended a kids-only shopping event at their elementary school where they could purchase gifts for $1 and less.

On Chanukah, I gave them my gifts, which they opened with much appreciation and joy.  And they exchanged gifts amongst themselves and with me.

The youngest, my three-year-old nephew, was thrilled to open a new soccer ball and baseball glove.  But what made him shriek with glee?  My 11-year-old niece had given him a little suction cup critter.  The kind that’s on a spring so that when you push it together, the suction cup adheres to the base and gradually loosens, making the little plastic critter pop up and jump into the air. Josh abandoned all other gifts, and played with that plastic critter for quite some time – clapping and shrieking every time it popped and jumped.

And my favorite gift? My niece gave me a button with the word “joy” in white letters on a mauve background. She said she “thought it was my color,” but I suspect she also knew I’d love the sentiment.  I immediately pinned it to my backpack.

The other cool gifts I got from the kids included a lipstick case, a poem, a school photo, and a gumball-machine ring.  My five-year-old niece fell in love with the ring that her 8-year-old sister had given me, so we all agreed that she could have it.

Other gifts they exchanged amongst themselves included stick-on earrings, bookmarks, a lip gloss case, rings, and hand-made cards and drawings.  When the 5-year-old gave the 11-year old a ring inscribed “I love you,” she proudly proclaimed, “Because it’s true!”

In all, it was a fabulous Chanukah.  The kids each spent less than $5 on their holiday gifts this year, yet every purchase was well considered, and each gift was well received.

In this time of belt-tightening, it was nice to be reminded that sometimes a $1 gift can bring as much joy as a $50 gift.  I left there feeling like the richest aunt in the world.

I wish you all a holiday filled with love, laughter, peace, and many simple joys. 

Ben took in the hike from a carrier on his dad’s back. He didn’t miss a trick, pointing out the birds in the sky, dogs, airplanes, and even a squirrel as we walked along.

Every time we approached a tree (which was often, as we were hiking in the woods!), Ben would gleefully blurt out “teee,” and reach out to try to touch it.

I was struck by the complete wide-eyed wonder with which he viewed every tree – as if each one was different and special and possessed by some magical quality. The eyes of a child are open to so many things that we’ve learned to overlook, pass by, or simply ignore.

Wouldn’t it be cool if everything we encountered brought us joy? If we were able to see the world through a lens of child-like wonder?

Interestingly, all it takes is a little practice to re-learn how to “see.”

Some time in the next few days, make an effort to look at something you haven’t given much thought to lately. Really look closely at its shape, color, texture, etc. If you had to describe it to someone wearing a blindfold, what would you say? Use your other senses too. Does it make a sound? Does it smell? What does it feel like? You may want to jot down some of your observations.

After trying this exercise a few times (try it outdoors with trees, rocks, bushes, ponds, streams, etc.), you’ll likely start to notice things you weren’t aware of previously. As with anything else, the more you practice, the more proficient you’ll become. And you’ll become more attuned to the joy and magic in what was once invisible.