The stockings are hung

The stockings have been hung for weeks now but I can't believe that this time tomorrow night they will be filled with various things and the traditional orange in each toe. Is it really Christmas Eve in a matter of hours? Yesterday Ethan had his Christmas program at school. It was very cute and he did a great job. Driving around town after the program, with the snow swirling and Christmas tunes streaming in made it truly feel like Christmas, finally. Christmas really is coming! The kids are excited and so am I.

It's so fun to have kids this age that "get it", and yes both Santa and at a very basic level for now, the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Maybe the birthday cake isn't such a bad idea after all? I hadn't put any gifts under the tree for various reasons but then decided having a few out might help give incentive for good behavior. Within a few hours Kate had already unwrapped one of them so away they went.

I've been thinking about believing in Santa a lot lately. There is something magical about believing. I am sad to think that the day will come sooner than later when Ethan will ask me if "He" is real. I can still remember the day I found out that Santa wasn't real. I asked my Mom and thought she would deny it but she confirmed my fear. I think that moment is a sudden coming of age and you start to look at things very differently. So, I have decided that my answer to that question will always and forever be "yes, there is a Santa Claus." I don't see any harm in having my children believe in something that puts a face on giving and bringing happiness and Joy. They will find out in time that "the man in the red suit" may not exist but the season for giving is alive and well. I don't want to be the one to disappoint them when they may not really be ready or want to know the answer to that question. A friend gave me an article this week that I really liked. A granddaughter asked her grandmother if Santa was real and her answer was a very strong "Yes". She then took her granddaughter to a department store and gave her 10$ to spend on anyone. The girl chose a boy in her class that did not own a coat. The young girl picked a nice coat and gave it to the clerk to buy with her 10 dollars. When she got home her grandmother helped her wrap and deliver it in secret to this boy. The girl found the tag later and realized the coat was actually 20 dollars so the clerk had been generous as well. After the delivery of the coat and listening from a distance to the reaction of the young boy her grandmother told her "see, Santa does exist". I really liked that and hope to teach that concept to my children as they grow past Santa as they currently know him. Each year we try to help someone in some small way. It was good for the kids this year to see gifts that they would enjoy themselves,being wrapped for children who would not otherwise have gifts under their tree. I hope that each year we can be more and more generous and teach our children how important it is to think of others and see how very, very blessed we are. My heart breaks as I hear on the news or read in the newspaper of the many families out of work, or staying in homeless shelters. The numbers have increased dramatically this year. It brings renewed perspective of those things most important. I'm so grateful to be blessed with the knowledge of our Savior and his birth. Hope you have a magical and Merry Christmas!