Happy Birthday Jesus! and Merry Christmas!

We had a super sweet and fun Christmas! It was a super HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY day! All season long Melanie showed no sign of wanting to see Santa until Monday the 23rd. when her friend Capri mentioned they were going to see him. So I called Duane to ask him to come home a little early so we could go. He did. There were over 200 people in line. YIKES! We went to Braum's instead. LOL! But...the next morning, Christmas Eve, I took Melanie to see "The Big Guy!" We waited in 27 degree weather for an hour and a half. DOUBLE YIKES! We got there at 8:52 AM and didn't see him until 10:15ish. But it was worth it. She asked for a bow and arrow set, that's it. A bow and arrow set, which I didn't even know she wanted! And looky there...look what Santa brought her! Now I know there is a lot of controversy out there on whether or not you should let your child believe in Santa, the magic of Christmas. (I was one of those skeptics-unsure of what the right thing to do was.) Maybe believing in Santa breeds greed or selfishness and children aren't taught the true meaning of Christmas. But I have learned just this year that you can have the best of both worlds. Although it's important to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas and the very important things in life, tell them what is real & what is not, sometimes it's fun and OK to have the fairy tale or fantasy part of life too. After all, we could all use a break from the harsh realities of life. Life is tough. So needless to say, when Melanie woke up to find 2 of the three cookies that she helped bake gone, and a BRAVE Bow & Arrow set next to a special note from Santa and the first thing she does is put her hands together, look up and pray & give thanks to Our Lord three times over, I knew I was doing something right. In fact, I cried. Because if that isn't the opposite of greed, I don't know what is. Happy Birthday Jesus! and Merry Christmas! - -