I will always remember when Santa knocked on our door the Christmas of 1975. He was just in the neighborhood, checking in on the kids, wanting to make sure we were being good, and if we had any additions to our Christmas list.
1975 it was okay to let strange bearded men into your home AND let your small children in pajamas sit on their lap.
I only wanted one thing that year – a Baby That-a-Way doll. She crawled and walked. I wanted my own baby to take care of. I told Santa over and over about how I wanted this doll.
I remember my mom telling me she wasn’t sure that I would get my doll that year. It was a hard year, and perhaps Santa could not make any promises.
*******
As much as the man in the red suit is not my favorite guy in the world – what he symbolizes is…joy, hope, giving, the spirit of the Holidays.
When my kids sit on his lap and giggle and share with him their hopes and dreams each year…I melt with love. Their eyes shine a bit brighter, their faces glow and they skip a little faster.
They believe. They believe in the magic. That reindeer can fly, and elves make toys and Santa knows their names. I remember that same feeling at their age.
And it is such a short time in their lives – from when they can grasp the concept of Santa – to when the 4th grader tells them on the bus that Santa doesn’t exist – and that childhood spirit starts morphing into a pre-teen suspicion.
So I want to make it count – to give them the magic, the stories, the surprises, the wonder, the joy….
They believe – and it’s magical right now.
*****
So I read their Santa letters and eavesdrop on their conversations. I listened to the good Santa telling them “he will do his best” and not making any promises.
And I make my shopping lists, wondering if I can really do it all..and if I don’t, will they stop believing? How to I keep the magic and the joy?
******
Every year I think of my mom, and how she must have felt when I asked Santa for the doll, and my brother asked for the race track – knowing she couldn’t afford those gifts
And I know now how she did it – but I will never forget running to the tree Christmas morning to find my new baby waiting for me and me yelling “I knew it – I just knew Santa would bring me the doll!!”
..and the smile on my moms face knowing that she kept that magic alive for another year.
******
What is bringing you joy this season?
If you want to see and spread some Christmas joy yourself this year…visit The Bloggess. The email from the mom who received my gift card made me sob yesterday when she told me about the baby doll she can now afford for her daughter. Hope.Joy.Fate.Magic.
Dana, at Bungalow 56 is linking up Christmas Joy stories today. Come join us!
What a beautiful photo of you and your girls. It looks so natural.
I have so many memories of Christmases like you describe, ones where that special gift appeared even though the circumstances should have predicted otherwise. There is magic everywhere this time of year; it’s one of my favorite aspects of Christmas.
Kate recently posted..seeking a memory
I just read The Bloggess and I am sobbing, and cannot stop. You are amazing-thanks for sharing it as I would have missed it. Love to you.
maybaby recently posted..Christmas is about miracles
i love the way you weave your old family photos into your blog. . .priceless!
The photo of you and the girls is amazing!
and, I too cried as I read through the Blogess! Thanks for sharing true Christmas Joy!
I love this post. Love love love.
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Beautiful.
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Beautiful post. Visiting from Dana’s. Merry Christmas.
Tracy, your stories always come full circle and I love them. As for the Gingerbread houses, I didn’t touch a thing. They did it all. My youngest is your eldest. And I do know the worry of a last minute change in child’s Christmas wish. It sounds like this year it is smooth sailing though. Thank you for joining up to share some Christmas Joy. I love your memories, and your photographs. Off to read The Bloggess.
Take care,
Dana
The love you wrote about here, for family and others, is what keeps the magic of Christmas alive for me…even now, as an old fogey!
=)
Sue Anderson recently posted..Little Bits of Heaven
I love the “magic” of all holidays and it is so short lived. It was always fun for me to see the excitement my children had and share in that excitement – and in a wink of an eye it’s gone. Your Santa is “WOW”! Loved all the pictures.
Thanks for passing on the Blogess post – amazing. I’m sobbing away here at the remarkable people in the world!
Our little guy is almost 3 years old, and Christmas is definitely magical for him this year. I love your post! So sweet. I wanted to cry when you wrote how your mom (santa) was still able to get you the doll that year!
Hi Tracy … I also linked up with Dana today and was just reading through some of the others who linked up as well – I love this story, you write so beautifully … thank you for sharing.
sloan recently posted..my everyday joys
Dear Tracy,
Just got through reading today’s post. I love the magical aspect of Christmas. I know it shouldn’t be about material things, but for me some of it was (is). Growing up, my parents did not have a lot of money. There were seven children and yet every Christmas was magical. I remember the Fashion Plates and the doll house Santa brought me. I believed in Santa much longer than my friends because I knew my parents could not afford all of the presents Santa left for me. My mom has been gone for almost ten years now. I miss her. I miss how even as adults, she would try to find that one perfect gift for each of us.
I hope my little ones believe for many years to come. I wish the same magic for you.
Your Utah Friend,
Tina
I’m already a little teary-eyed just reading your post. Wow! Wonderful post.
Shannon recently posted..fat chance
I got Baby That-a-way for Christmas one year too. I remember begging for her as well. She must have been a hot item!
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The magic lasts for such a short time – but then is replaced by the sweet memories, and eventually by the desire to be the spirit of Santa for someone else. Merry Christmas from one Santa to another!
I loved seeing your girls with Santa. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Muffin Tin Monday-Treats for Santa and the Reindeer
A wonderful post! The only Christmas I ever really remember is the year I got a Madam Alexander doll dressed as a ballerina. I played with that doll until her hair fell out and she had to go to the doll hospital to get new hair. It is the only childhood toy that I still have!
Judie recently posted..Our Christmas Letter
This is such a beautiful post. What wonderful memories of yours to your daughters’ memories and the joy of a stranger. Very nice.
Teresa recently posted..Candles at Christmas
Love your beautiful family photos (past and present) and the stories relating to them. Also thank you for sharing about the Bloggess’ post. It is so nice to meet you through alphabe-Thursday!
Blessings & Aloha!
What a beautiful past/present mixture of joy.
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