Dear Santa~~ Love, Mom

This was my moms Christmas Letter this year. She always surprises me and writes something that makes me cry while I am checking my email at work. I hate that but I love her and her special way with words. Thanks Mom.


Dear Santa,
Am I too old to still believe? Because I do---let me tell you why.

I was no different than most young girls. I had dreams of a magical life—why wouldn’t I? I had a wonderful family with a houseful of terrific and crazy brothers and sisters. I had two of the best parents ever and a childhood full of magical Christmas’s. Oh how I believed!

The years following brought me many adventures---not necessarily the life I had dreamed of---but just as miraculous in so many ways. Four of my early Christmas’s brought new babies to share the life I was given. I believed.

Amy was my first miracle. A wide eyed baby that had a smile that never left her beautiful face. I remember her tiny little fingers gently touching the ornaments---so afraid of breaking them. Memories of the Christmas tree light sparkling in her big blue eyes. How could I not believe?

Bonnie was my second miracle. She had a smile that would make her nose crinkle. I remember her dancing in front of the tree with her arms spread wide as she twirled around and around, memories of her long blonde hair shinning as bright as the lights on the tree. Of course I believed.

Whitney, truly a miracle, the baby I was told would not come. But she did---and what a perfect sweetheart she was. Timid and shy she would stand and gaze up at the tree and point at the twinkling lights with the amazement only a child can have. I still believed.

My son Benjamin, the surprise after the miracle! What a joy he was, a quiet strength in a small child that brought peace and comfort into our Christmas. His homemade ornaments covered our trees. He would spend hours making sure they were in the most prominent place of the tree. He would write detailed list of the treasures he desired from Santa---with pictures! He believed---so I believed.

These children are gown now, Santa. They have incredible spouses and have brought five new little grand cuties into my life. Braiden. Abby, Paige, Bailey and Cameron. The Christmas lights sparkle in their eyes and shine in their hair. They point in amazement and dance by the trees. They are making their lists because they believe! They make me believe.

This year I broke my nails as I pulled the decorations from the garage. I brushed the webs from the boxes of homemade ornaments, now crushed and yellowed and replaced by new ones. I untangled the lights and threw away the burned out ones. I found the years of stockings from each child. They looked smaller than I remembered. I decorated the tree by myself. It’s still beautiful and glows brightly. I bought new stockings. Two---even though I am one. I guess I still believe.

I do believe Santa, for 52 years I have believed. I believe in the beauty and hope this season brings. I believe in the love and happiness that is in our lives. I believe in family—no matter what it looks like. I believe that the Christ child brought new life to us and still does. I believe that the people who have come and gone from my life were blessings that taught me strength and fortitude. I believe in laughter, hugs and smiles each day. I believe we need to still dance in front of the tree and point in amazement, we need to touch gently and make our list with pictures!----I need to believe. So I do.

We all need to believe.

I wish you happiness this season. May you set aside your fears and experience the blessings and love this world has to offer. Tell someone that you love them; kiss the forehead of a child and-----
*~*~*~* Believe!*~*~*~*

With Love and Hope always,
Betsy