When Christmas Changes

This year I did a Christmas fund raiser for a local homeschooling family I know.  For a fee parents, aunts, grandparents, whomever filled out some info about a child and I sent out a lovely letter from Santa.  It was super fun for me, I hope it brought joy to some wonderful children, and it helped out my friend.

Well, the last letter requested was completely different from the others, it was requested by a friend of mine for her niece who just learned the truth about Santa.  She asked if I could write a letter keeping the spirit and magic of the season alive for this young woman.  I was struck to the quick because just this summer I had told my own eleven year old daughter and she had been devastated.  It was probably my worst mommy moment to date.

I know when I found out there was no Santa I had also been heart broken, yet as an adult I have always loved the holiday.  As I sat on my sofa, sipping my coffee and typing this up, I was over come with every emotion imaginable.  But most of all joy, that perhaps I could help this young woman in a way that would heal my own wounds and those of my own daughter.  There is magic in the air this time of year and I hope that this letter helps anyone who is searching for it.

Merry Christmas!  I understand that you have learned a little bit more about Christmas magic this year.  I know that it can be a hard lesson to learn at first and a little heart breaking.  However, I wanted to write you today to welcome you into the world of real Christmas magic.

Believing in Santa is such an easy part of childhood, the warmth of it can brighten your days all year round, the anticipation of the jolly man can fill your dreams, and the knowledge that there is magic in this world can ease worries.  Yet, the belief in Santa is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Christmas magic.

Now, that you know about Santa, you can start to see and experience the real magic of Christmas; the magic that is bigger and deeper and more meaningful than one simple man and eight tiny reindeer.  Your eyes can now be open to the world where we all join together to share in the Santa story for children.  You can now see the magic of thousands of toys and dinners and funds being donated each year so that children all across our country can share in the same joy every December 25^th.  You can now see the miracles of compassion and joy and generosity that people can make happen when united.

Over your life you are bound to share the Santa belief with others, your cousins, children you babysit, perhaps one day your own children.  Yet, more importantly you are bound to share in the Christmas magic that is more than just Santa.  You are bound to give a piece of yourself to the world to help make a holiday season a little brighter for someone else. 

                                  Merry Christmas!

Making Space, Transitions, and What Comes Next

Making space has come to mean so much more to me in the past few months, than it did in the prior thirty plus years of my life.  Making space when I was young was cleaning out toys that were babyish.  Making space as a teen was rearranging my desk so I could have my own phone line or moving my CDs so I could buy the newest single.  Making space then was child's play.

But now as a mom, a wife, a friend, a gardener, an organizer, a writer, a complete person, making space is about so much more than physical space.  It is about space in my schedule to breath.  It is about space in my life to be available to those I love whenever they want.  It is about space in my thoughts to be creative.  It is about space in my life to continue exploring and learning.  It is about the space in my house to really look at what we own and make sure we have the energy and desire to care for it all.  So with the desire to make space has come the world of transitions.

Transitions are hard for some people and some transitions are harder than others.  In the past few months, my family has faced some easy transitions and some much, much harder.

We have looked at some, not yet all, of our possessions and started to really put our ownership of things into perspective.  Does this bring me joy?  Do I want to take time to care for it?  These were the easy transitions and we have even laughed at seeing hundreds of our things spread out and realizing not one of them is worth our time caring for them.

Some transitions, like the re-homing of kittens born in the spring have been more pressing for allergy reasons, but difficult.  Giving up my nanny position after 20 months of opening our home and hearts to three children, much, much more difficult.

We have started our transition to a life with less income, fewer activities, less stuff, and more freedom.

So the question that sits before me, us, is what comes next!

An Introduction to the Juggling

I love watching jugglers, the really good ones.  The ones who juggle sticks on fire or swords, while standing on one foot or spinning in perfect circles between each toss.  I love the motion, the fluidity, the precision, but most of all I love their unwavering balance.  I have felt that balance before, not while juggling (anyone who has seen me try to juggle can verify I have no talent in that arena), but I have felt it in my life.  I have felt that amazing precision and purposefulness in my every action.  I have felt the calm of knowing my environment and what I can control within it.  I have felt the peace of being balanced among the variables I can't control.  I love that feeling.  I search out and crave that feeling.  I so often find myself teetering on balance.  Feeling it and holding it and being my own amazing juggler, just to have the moment pass.  Although we may only be strangers passing in this world, I would love to share with you my search for balance.