I'm 43 and totally believe in Santa Claus.

I know why we celebrate Christmas. I teach my children that the day is a celebration of the birth of Christ, God's gift (of salvation and so much more) to the world. It's a beautiful and important holiday to me. That gift wasn't small and it's eternal. There is no gift so great or so worthy of celebration.

Still, in our house Santa is part of the broader celebration. For my kids, Santa is a jolly man, with elves and a wonderful sort of magic, who celebrates the eve of the greatest gift by giving.

For me, Santa is the magic of wonder and whimsy and fun and the joys of giving and receiving. Santa is the spirit that makes even skeptics and non-believers make contributions so that others might happily celebrate those joys and know that magic. Santa is the spirit that inspires people to anonymously pay off thousands of dollars of layaways or deliver baskets of food or sing happy songs for people in need of company and cheer. 

We cannot give the way God gives. But Santa's story is of just a person, slightly flawed but decidedly loving and spilling over with so much joy that it could not be kept within, but had to be given away for the delight of others. Santa is attainable--anyone can be Santa. So Santa can and does exist any place in which someone believes. And if I live to be 100 I will continue believe in Santa and the fun factor of Christmas.

My children have asked why Santa doesn't leave anything for me.  I've explained that's it is because I have super potty mouth and a tendency to yell that really needs to be worked on. Since I'm trying to work on these things, I don't get coal or switches, so it's cool.

On the 12th day of Christmas the blogger gave to thee--bad poetry!

I think that I shall never see
A task annoying like dismantling a tree
I've cut myself and broken things
And I'm beginning to loathe angel wings.
The lights are down and packed away
And may ne'er again see the light of day.
Still, I'll admit it's sad to see
A space once full
Is now empty.

No good deed goes unpunished or Lessons in the joy of giving from a 5 year old

I thought I was so clever finding a scout elf, for my girls, who isn’t interested in expensive couture apparel and appreciates a more modest skirt length in a more traditional, Polar style, even though it might slightly resemble the pattern of a $3 knit bottle coozie from Target. 

Then I took my girls shopping last night at our local big T.  The only two reasons we were there were to get snacks to put in E’s class’s snack barrel and to select pajamas and books to contribute to La Petite’s participation in the Great Sprout Tuck-In.  

  Well, in the book department, such that it is, there just so happens to be an Elf on the Shelf adoption station.  There were no elves to adopt, but there were some elf accessories, including some “limited edition Elf couture” skirts. 

  E was delighted.  “Mommy!  Look at this!  Looks like I found a present for Samantha,” she gushed, while grinning ear to ear, so proud of having found what had to be the most perfect elf gift ever.

  “Do you really think it’s something she’d like?” I respond.

  “Oh, yes.  Look it’s special for the Elf on the Shelf,” she says pointed carefully to the words on the display.  “Please, Mommy, please, can we get this present for Samantha?”

  See, now this is what you get for trying to teach your children the joy of giving AND the belief in Christmas magic.  How could I say ‘no’?  After all, we were there to buy gifts for strangers and she’d been great and thoughtful with that. 

  “Well, if you think she’d really like it.”

  “Yes!  Can we get her a card to thank her for being such a good elf?”

  “I think she’d probably like it more if you made her one.”

  “Yes, but won’t she see?  I want it to be a surprise”

  “No, I’ll tell her to give you some privacy and stay upstairs until after bedtime.” 

  Grin.  “Okay.”

  E took so much delight in making the “card” and wrapping the present.  She was so happy to put the present where Samantha could see it.  It was beyond sweet (I may have gotten a cavity watching it all).

Both girls were so excited to see Samantha wearing the new skirt and E was beside herself over the thank you note she received.  It was worth the ridiculous $6.96 for tiny piece of fabric--cheaper than a movie and more entertaining and definitely more memorable.

Samantha is responsible for the snowflakes.  She's a messmaker, that one.

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