As sweet as bonbons

G loved helping me bake. He helped me bake and decorate so many Christmas treats when he was here. Every year Jerry and I make cookie tins for friends and family and give them as host/hostess gifts or just as a little something special for people. G loved that we were giving them to people and he could tell them he made them. He loved the praise and positive attention, it was adorable! One of G’s favorite cookies to make and especially eat were Oreo bonbons.  You could whisper those words and no matter what part of the house he was in, he somehow heard those words and was right at our side, hoping we were about to indulge in some. 

G also loved Christmas music. In the beginning he’d sing along and any words he didn't know became Christmas tree. So I’m dreaming of a White Christmas became, “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, With every Christmas tree Christmas Tree…” It was super cute! After we made bonbons and he realized how much he loved them, bonbons became his Christmas trees.J So Jingle bells became, “Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle bon bon bon, bon bon bon, bon bon bon, bon bon bon bon bon!” He absolutely loved bonbons. J

When it came time to get his water bottle for his plane ride home, we found one that had a little secret compartment for snacks under the water bottle. G and I thought this was pretty cool and I knew Jerry and I had to fill it with something special for him. So the night before he had to fly back to his country, Jerry grabbed a couple of bonbons and put them in the secret compartment. The next morning I asked G to take a look in his room and make sure we didn't forget anything. He came out, said we were all good and started looking in his backpack to make sure his water bottle was in there and some other things I told him I’d put in there for him. He lifted his water bottle and felt something shift in it. A huge smile crossed his face and he said, “Special snack?” I said yes and told him he should open it and see what was inside. He opened it, saw the bonbons, jumped up and down, hugged me, and then ran off to hug Jerry. 

Like any child his age, he is an eating machine. So I had a backpack full of snacks for him for our day of traveling. I frequently offered him snacks and reminded him he had the bonbons. Every time he wanted a snack he opted for something else. When we arrived at the airport and had waited around for the rest of the hosting families to arrive, two young boys approached him and the three of them quickly shared all of their adventures from the past four weeks. When all the sharing had calmed, G ran to his bag, grabbed the photo album we made him and the two bonbons. He handed each of the young boys a bonbon--he shared his favorite snack and his only bonbons with his two little friends. My heart soared and I could not have been any prouder of him at that moment. G is such an incredible and sweet boy! We miss him very much!

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