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aaaand it is a doozy.

I’ve been pestering her about her belief in Kris Kringle for a while. She’s ten. Its expensive for Mom. We’re all surprised that she still believe in any way, but she is a naive little girl.

My pestering has led to me admitting that I do not believe in Santa and her response about how she’s not sure. I get a response like “half and half” or “I sorta believe.” I want to tip her over to nonbelief of her own accord, so we don’t have to break her heart.

I was attempting again tonight in the car and got a response that I didn’t expect at least.

Sam said that Santa was just “superstition” and that mom wraps presents and “doesn’t hide them very well.” She elaborated that Santa sends mom presents in advance. Santa and Mom meet up. So I asked where.

Sam’s reply? Rib Mountain. I asked if they get coffee to talk it over. She said that they go to Wal-mart where Santa doesn’t give mom presents. No, he orders them. Then, the presents come in and Mom gets them. She hides them (not very well!) and wraps them, placing labels from Santa on the gifts.

This is a very specific story, and it certainly derails from the classic theology of Santa. It takes a lot of justification to find hidden Christmas presents and continue to believe in Santa in any form. That’s how most of us stop believing.

Anyway, I just thought you would all enjoy the story and if I don’t post before then, Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas. I love music and while I prefer the classics like “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas” performed in their classic way by almost anyone (Elvis, Reba, Alan Jackson, and Eurythmics are a few I love), I also love newer jingles and artists like Sarah Mclachlan, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Shedaisy who put their own original spin on them. Of course, I love to sing along.

I love Christmas movies, especially all the clay-mation ones. Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer are probably my favourites but I also love Home Alone.

I love to decorate and given the resources (time, money, perfect decorations and a house which is suitable) I would probably be one of those people who lights up the entire neighbourhood. I love to put up a tree and there isn’t anything like the real thing.

I love the big meal including ham and potatoes. I love seeing family and friends even if it means drama. I love the hustle and bustle and even like Christmas shopping – when I have money – no matter how frustrating.

I love gift giving and gift opening, even if it’s something silly. I still hang stockings (although ours hang empty tonight) and if I ever have children, I will tell them about Santa Claus. Last night I tracked him via Norad until 3 in the morning (and he wasn’t even done!)

While I do not consider myself a religious person, the holiday season makes me feel “closer to God” and everything around me seems to sparkle. Of course, if there actually is snow sparkling aruond me, that is a plus.

But it’s so easy to go through the motions of Christmas and not take any joy from it. It’s easy to forget what it’s about, even if it’s only about gifts to you but, hey!, those are as good a reason as any in my opinion.

I had been so disappointed in Christmas this year. It wasn’t feeling like Christmas and this made me frustrated ans sad. I know I’m not the only one but I wanted to be in the Christmas spirit so bad I was doing myself a disservice.

I feel a better today even though things aren’t perfect. I guess I forgot that Christmas is more than just a sum of its parts. Its something else entirely and while it might be extra special if everything comes together perfectly, it’s not unspecial just because it doesn’t.

So, with that, Merry Christmas! I hope you got what you want and – if you didn’t – I hope that’s okay, too.