Well the countdown has begun at my house for the much anticipated arrival of the big man in red himself, Santa Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, whatever you choose to call him!!
I must admit, I’m pretty excited and ready for him too. Of all the holidays in the calendar year, Christmas gets me the most pumped and keeps me in a consistently good mood throughout the month of December.
What I love about Christmas:
- the general hustle and bustle in the air
- the free pass to be extravagant and decorate anything and everything in my home-including myself when it comes to holiday parties!
- to put little lights all over the interior and exterior of my house and the thrill my kids get when lighting them up!
- finding where our Elf on the Shelf has moved to each morning so that he can spy on my children and report back to Santa (see photo on the right- our elf “Jingle”made himself a spot in our nativity scene
- the smell of a real Christmas tree in the house
- eating yummy goodies that friends and family bake and share (bc let’s face it- I have zero time to bake) more than I should and not feel guilty for doing so
- wrapping up gifts and tormenting my kids by reminding them daily they can’t open them until the 25th
- reading the “real” Christmas story to my kids (baby Jesus is the reason for the season remember?!) My 4 yr old was Joseph in the Christmas story this year in his school play- he’s the one with his arms up high- I was so proud of his acting ability to portray such an important story!!
So we recently did the age old tradition of packing up the family and taking the kids to meet and talk with Santa once before the big day. Now that I have children of my own, the thrill of them getting to meet Santa and talk to him, is really a huge deal. My boys take speaking with Santa veerrrry seriously and I love that they actually have the thoughtfulness to tell the big man to NOT forget their little sister Vivian by telling him what they think she would like (she IS only 4 months old and can’t speak for herself!).
My wish for my children is that they NEVER stop believing in the magic Christmas has to offer.
Although we haven’t seen Santa when he comes down our chimney to deliver joy, and although we didn’t see Jesus born in the manger, we should always keep the faith and belief that both really do exist. Thanks to the New York Sun writer Francis Church, he has answered (perfectly) the age old question that little 8 yr old Virginia asked back in 1897- “Please tell me the truth, is there really a Santa Claus?”
Here is his response. And if you’ve never read this influential piece of history, here’s your chance. I’m not sure anyone could explain Santa’s existence or reason for being, better:
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
So yes my sweet Vivian, Jack and Walker, there really is a Santa Clause, and he lives in all our hearts.
