My wife is a very clever shopper. I shouldn't have been so surprised by several gifts that I got for Christmas this year, but I was. I am also very thankful.

Since the weather turned cold this year, I've been missing my father's dark gray overcoat. I've been wearing that coat for 25 years, since he died in 1989. Last year, I forgot my coat and new scarf at Church one Sunday, and when I came back to get them a few days later, they were gone. We searched high and low. I spoke to the Relief Society president and the bishopric. They were never to be seen again.

How could that happen? Well, we live downtown and we have a lot of theft at our church building. One of my past priesthood duties was to patrol the Church parking lot at a certain interval on Sundays to discourage prowlers. I suppose a fast-fingered thief took coat and scarf when an opportunity arose.

We had a special "Christmas morning" for our missionary daughter the Saturday before she entered the MTC. Imagine my surprise when I opened a gift box to find an identical coat—I mean identical—to the one I lost. It is in perfect condition. The only difference is that it is several sizes smaller and so it actually fits me better.

Then on Christmas morning, I opened another gift: a blue Ogio shoulder bag identical to one that was stolen from our rental car in San Francisco in July 2013. Except this one is in better shape than the one I've had since 2006, and much cleaner. I also found a new scarf in my Christmas stocking, very similar to the one that was taken.

I am grateful for the restoration of these lost items, but I am even more thankful for the thoughtfulness and sensitivity of my wife. She never ceases to surprise and delight me. I am truly blessed.
 
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