Christmas Joy



One of the things that has brought me JOY the last eight years is........



Every year our family and three other families (friends of ours) take turns hosting dinner and SANTA.

The kids of course know him as SANTA...but me, I don't even know his real name.

I know where he lives...because I have dropped off packages for him to deliver to our house. 

Along with our packages (each child gets one small gift), we leave SANTA a note about a couple of things we would like him to know about our children. This year I wanted SANTA to know that Brady is in 2nd grade, he is an awesome student and that he made the rankings in our state in tennis (I knew Brady would be impressed if Santa knew this!).     SANTA calls each child up one at a time, and mentions the things we've secretly shared with him.  SANTA has a fantastic memory...he never forgets a thing about all 8 children.  I am always amazed. 

The kids are always so excited...and we often have to keep them away from the

 door so they do not see SANTA drive up in his car!

SANTA gets us all to sing a couple of Christmas songs with him and he always

has a message for the kids about believing , keeping the Christmas spirit going

thoughout the year, and the true meaning of Christmas.

(My camera was not cooperating with me on Sunday!)

I'm always amazed by the grandness of Santa's suit...it's beautiful.

He also has a huge white sack with a big red letter "S" embroidered on it.

And, a little tiny red one filled with candy canes.

And, he is JINGLY all over!

Brady asked if I would help him type a list for Santa this year.

He picked the clipart out all by himself!

At the bottom he wrote Happy Birthday Jesus.

I was a little proud of him (to say the least!) for including that in his letter. 

 



 SANTA is retired and does not charge for his services.  Our group takes turns getting him and his wife a gift certificate.  I always write SANTA a letter to thank him for being such a memorable part of our family's Christmas.   I don't know that he goes around to many houses anymore.  He continues to visit us because he has done it for so many years.  He has seen our children grow.   I know that SANTA is not what Christmas is all about.  And, our children all know the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  I love this letter that Dana at Bungalow'56 wrote to Baby Jesus.  She assures Baby Jesus that we are not replacing him with all this santa and reindeer stuff...but celebrating his birth and waiting for His return.



I know this could be our last year of the whole believing thing....maybe not.  Brady hasn't questioned it at all.  It makes me a little sad to think that the magic of believing in SANTA might not last forever.  There are already a couple of kids in the group who know...but keep it a secret for the younger ones.  We will carry out this tradition to the last believers.  Then again, when this very kind spirited man makes his entrance  through the door each year....I get a little teary and become a believer myself all over again.