White Dinosaur Exchange?

We've all done the White Elephant exchange: bring a cheap, gag, or old gift for a group gift game with some "stealing" involved. Everyone hopes to get something good, but no one expects it. You figure you'll probably leave with someone's old spatula, a duplicate rusty screwdriver, or maybe--just maybe--a five-dollar gift card to Chick-Fil-A.

Recycle. Reuse. Regift. It's all good, right?

So, Joel picked up on the idea this year, and has really been getting into wrapping with whatever he can find. He found some new wrapping paper and duct tape. Therein ends anything new about the gift he decided to give his older brother, Stephen.

Christmas morning Joel is passing out gifts, one at a time.

"Here, Stephen, this is for you. It's from me."

"Thanks," Stephen says, gratefully. "Feels like a book. I love books."

"It IS a book," Joel announces before the unwrapping begins. (He can only keep a secret so long.)

Sure enough. It is a book.

"What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?" Stephen reads from the front cover. "I remember reading this when I was younger in homeschool. Did you pick it out?"

"Yup!" Joel beams.

Stephen flips though the pages. They don't look quite crisp and new. He looks at Joel, smiling. "Wait. Is this the SAME book I read? The very same one, I mean? Did you pick it off our basement shelf?"

"Uh-huh!" Joel said, giggling. "Do you like it?"

"Like it again?" I said.

That was one of our many Christmas morning chuckles, courtesy of our little regifter. Next year I wouldn't be surprised if Joel continues our White Dinosaur exchange. No one else really participates, but that's okay. Tis more blessed to give (and regive) than to receive (and re-receive), eh?