Saturday, December 25, 2010
White Christmas 2010 (in more ways than one)
Today was one of those rare and magical white Christmases that the South so seldom sees! It was wonderful to share in the joy of Jesus' birth and Santa's arrival at home together. The girls were surprised to awake and find a real Tanzanian basket (and doll) that Santa left as a "thank you" for allowing another child to ride his sleigh. Then it was time for the traditional picture at the top of teh stairs, ... in honor of my friend Karin who did this every year with her children. Then it was time for toys! Bikes, punching-balls, and even a tiny bunny tea set! And one of the first gifts the girls opened was their big box of packing peanuts. It was fun for a while, ... but it wasn't long until those packing peanuts turned into tiny pieces of styrofoam snow, ... and for the next dozen pictures you'll notice it all over their hair, the toys, and everything! With the potenital of ruining our day, we banished the kids to our bedroom playing with any toys we could clean off first (like the calico critter houses that remained unblemished), ... and we began sweeping, cleaning, and vaccuming. It took about an hour to get it all cleaned up. Then it was time to resume. There always seems to be a "surprise" present that shocks us, ... and this year it was the light-up "mesmerizer" that made me think SO much of the little toy that the girls had when they were babies. The other shocker was somthing called a "candy tacklebox" which just contained tiny compartments of different little candies. The kids LOVED it, I think because it offered such a choice. It's also a special moment when I give the girls a toy I loved when I was a child, and this year I gave Annie the very special "Sunshine Family" while Leia got my Monchichi, Eskimo, and Ginny dolls. 
Friday, December 24, 2010
Milk & Cookies for Santa
This year, Cousin Zachary gave Leia and Annie a really special cookie plate and milk mug to both personalize and put out for Santa. The girls did a GREAT job personalizing Santa's mug, ... and Annie even wrote her own name! ... unfortunately Leia's hand is covering it. ; )
Christmas Eve Mass
There was just something really special about being squeezed into a pew between Oma, Papa, Mamma, Daddy, Auntie April, and Uncle Ben that Leia and Annie couldn't deny. It's the only time of year I like to be squished that much. And I'm SO glad we squished there instead of being separated! (I purposely chose a pew right behind an isle so that we could breathe, ... and we ended up using the isle as the girls' seats anyway.) The girls spent the 1.5 hours of waiting time before Mass doing their Noah's Ark sewing cards. They were VERY well behaved!
A Letter from Santa?!?
The girls woke up on Christmas Eve to find a letter from Santa and two small gifts adorning their stockings! You see, the girls spend the weeks before Christmas longing to take a ride on Santa's sleigh. *sigh* Santa can't possibly give everyone a ride every year. In the past, he has taken the girls while they were sleeping. Not this year:My dear ones, my Leia and Annie, you both make such nice Christmas lists!
Leia rose the one you gave at the Santa breakfast was just wonderful: not too
much, not too little. And let me say that, Annie, I really loved your “letters”
to Santa! I will keep them in my pocket tonight and think of you.I have heard your sweet prayers for a sleigh ride. I have heard your requests for gifts and plan to grant them all, but I do have a request for Christmas eve.
For the past two years, we have gone up in my sleigh with some wonderful and fun
results! But this year I have gotten a very special request from a very poor
child on a continent called Africa. Believe it or not, Her name is Elizabeti,
and she is a lot like the Elizabeti in the books of yours that I found upstairs.
Elizabeti lives in Tanzania. She is an amazing child, full of wonder and the
spirit of Christmas, for this is the first year she has known the love of Jesus.
She is eight years old, just like you, Leia, and has just received her first
communion. I pray that Elizabeti will someday find the same grace in God that
you two girls have found.Do you think you could give a very special Christmas gift from two special children to another by giving up your trip on my sleigh this year to give little Elizabeti a chance? It is the only thing she wants for Christmas, and I am only able to give one ride a year. I am sure she would be so very grateful, … grateful enough to bring you something special that her and her mother make by hand. I will let her take it right up to your room. And I would be grateful enough to send an extra special toy to remind you of this wonderful gift you have given.
Just pray to me this evening, and I will know your answer. Thank you for your graciousness and your love of little baby Jesus. I will send His love on this Christmas eve!
Meanwhile, here is a little sample of tomorrow! Enjoy girls!
Love, Santa
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