Life Care residents remember their favorite Christmas gifts
Christmas gifts are wonderful things, but sometimes there’s a gift that really stands out in our memories. We recently asked our residents to share what special Christmas gifts they treasured, and we received all sorts of fun and touching answers.
“At the age of 9 years old, my grandfather passing down to me a Farmer's Almanac was the best gift ever!”
K.D., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“A horse. Mom brought it home in her car. The head stuck out one side, the tail out of the other side.”
K.R., Life Care Center of Morgan County in Wartburg, Tennessee
“For Christmas one year, I received the gift of a lifetime. My husband, Norman, frosted me with a beautiful 3-carat princess cut diamond ring.”
C.S., Garden Terrace of Houston
“My first Christmas in Kansas 2020, I saw snow for the first time! That is my best gift!”
D.K., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas
“I was 10 years old and received a multiple game box. That year I enjoyed playing Chinese checkers, parcheesi, regular checkers, cards, old maid, concentration. These games really made me think! I played these games with my mom and brother. It gives me great pleasure to learn something more challenging.”
R.A., Life Care Center of Pueblo, Colorado
“One year on Christmas, my grandmother gifted me a hand-sewn dress and a matching dress for my favorite doll. It had a big poofy skirt. It was beautiful and fun to twirl in. It must have been a blue dress. Blue has always been my favorite color.”
M.L., Life Care Center of Leominster, Massachusetts
“Having all my grandkids together for Christmas.”
I.R., The Westchester House in Chesterfield, Missouri
“A new washer and dryer. I needed it, and that’s what I got.”
B.L., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth
“A large stereo and a diamond ring from the man I married.”
H.M., Life Care Center of Sparta, Tennessee
“When my kids would make crafts for me on Christmas. It was the best ever to open up on Christmas morning.”
D.K., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina
“When I obtained my job at the Department of Environment in Topeka, Kansas, I had no car of my own. My father co-signed for me to get my first car. Best dad ever!”
B.B., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas
“In the ’80s, I got a Walkman.”
H.H., Life Care Center of Sparta, Tennessee
“A little rubber dolly. Santa Claus brought it. I never got anything really for Christmas, so that made my dolly special.”
L.H., Life Care Center of Centerville, Tennessee
“MX 135 tractor.”
K.J., Life Care Center of Brookfield, Missouri
“A trip to England with my mother, and I met family I hadn’t met yet.”
P.S., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee
“When we got a puppy. I was about 6 years old. His name was Shorty. He was white and furry. We all had to share him (me and my siblings). Shorty lived a long time with us.”
L.J., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth
“Money. Once in a while my family would gift me some extra money on Christmas. I always appreciated the extra funds.”
T.T., Life Care Center of Leominster, Massachusetts
“The best Christmas gift I received was the memories I have of being with my family, the laughing at the table. My mom would cook for days – ham, turkey and all the fixings – and she made a special strawberry and German chocolate cake. My mom, myself and all my siblings would decorate the house so beautiful.”
A.S., Life Care Center of Grandview, Missouri
“My daughter. She was born on Christmas Eve.”
A.R., La Habra Convalescent Hospital in La Mirada, California
“A pair of ice skates.”
L.B., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“The night I got saved.”
D.J., Life Care Center of Morgan County in Wartburg, Tennessee
“My husband and I exchanging vows.”
P.H., Life Care Center of Brookfield, Missouri
“My dad was not working when I was around 6 years old. We went to the Salvation Army, and they gave us a children’s refrigerator and stove. We kept those a long time. The next year, we got a beautiful bride doll. We loved our things.”
A.C., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth
“When I opened my gift and it was a newborn outfit. I found out I was going to be a dad for the first time.”
H.K., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina
“My first dollhouse when I was 6 years old. I am 78 years old now and still love dollhouses and towns to play with or look at. It’s still in my memory after 72 years! I thank God for the wonderful parents that I was blessed to have.”
L.T., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas
“My house. My husband bought it for me.”
E.W., Life Care Center of Kennewick, Washington
“A picture from JCPenney of my two adult daughters when we had no money.”
P.W., Life Care Center of Elkhorn, Nebraska
“When I was 3 years old, my father got me a bicycle and helped me ride it for the first time.”
D.N., Life Care Center of Bruceton-Hollow Rock, Tennessee
“I was 15, and I got my own telephone line so I could talk to my friends.”
L.S., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee
“My husband bought me a doll because I never had one as a kid. That was the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever gotten.”
S.N., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“A little green cloth purse when I was a little girl. My daddy gave it to me.”
Y.A., Life Care Center of Morgan County in Wartburg, Tennessee
“A full-size blanket last year from the activities department.”
T.T., La Habra Convalescent Hospital in La Mirada, California
“My happiest Christmas was when I was about 12 years old. I had wanted a bike for quite a few years. My mother told me she couldn’t afford one. My brothers and sisters were all married and told me they just couldn’t help Mom to buy me one. But on Christmas morning in the living room was a girl’s beautiful blue bike. My dad, who no longer lived with us, heard I wanted a bike, and that was how I got it.”
M.S., Life Care Center of Pueblo, Colorado
“Being adopted into a loving family.”
D.H., Life Care Center of Brookfield, Missouri
“My dog, Rascal. He is a registered support animal. He is 19 years old.”
R.M., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee
“When my parents bought me my very first horse and saddle. I will not ever forget it. When I woke up, there was a saddle under the tree. I looked up at my mom, and she smiled and said, ‘Come with us to the barn,’ and there was a beautiful black stallion with a white left hoof.”
L.A., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina
“My husband. I got a TV once, but I like my husband best.”
