There are some words in the English language that mean so many things, depending on the context in which they are used. I love words like that!

Present is one of those words.

The teacher takes roll. She calls my name. I answer, "Present!" I am here! I am involved! You see me! I see you!

A dignitary arrives. The host announces, "May I present Valerie, the Duchess of her family!"  I am here!  I am alive! I am special! 

The other day, I received a "Save the Date" card in the mail for my husband's cousin's wedding. Does this mean they pre-sent the invitation?

My favorite, though, is a present. You know, a GIFT! Somebody was THINKING of me. There was a SURPRISE! Somebody cares enough about me to think of me.

Today, I received TWO presents like that. And it isn't even my birthday!

My sweet friend, Vicki, sent me a box. A BIG box! It smelled so yummy!  Very excitedly, I brought it inside and the scent was just yummy. As I opened the box, I was greeted with shredded paper and BUBBLE WRAP!  But digging further, I found a box of tea. English breakfast tea! Earl Grey! Apricot tea! Raspberry tea! Japanese Green tea! Cinnamon plum tea!  Yummy teas that smelled so good and made me feel so warm inside.  Also inside was the cutest candle. It was a yellow tea pot. It's now perched on the shelf directly above my desk.

Later in the afternoon, I received a Personal Message from my favorite online spot, Women at Home. Sayruh had created a present for me!  An avatar of a picture I had taken at Roma's wedding this weekend.  Now, Sayruh is one of those lovely people who just make you LAUGH!  She embraces life, and captures it in beautiful photography. She's an artist, both in pictures and in word. I LOVE HER!  Here is what she's done for me. Thank you, Sara!
     
       

My day has just been full of presents. From the tangible, to the spiritual. From the thanful to the thankless. Life is a present, and I praise God that I'm present to embrace it.