Two Christmas Miracles in One Night!

First, early in my night came a page from a man who found one of our Pediatrician's wallet in a restaurant parking lot. Found the business card inside and called to try and return the wallet. I've never had more fun paging a doc!!!!

Then, later in the morning I sat listening to my 8 yr old who we thought would never walk talk or have independent thoughts sit by himself and read every word in a brand new book he's never seen before!!!!! He got upset when called away before he'd finished the book! :-)


As of this morning I have wrapped all the gifts and hung all the Christmas Cards I've received! It really IS starting to feel like Christmas!!

Santa Claus

This is a repost....I repost it every year at the beginning of December. It is a true story from my childhood.

OK, when I was a child we lived in what I now know was poverty. However, because my then step-father was going to SMU to seminary (he never finished) we lived for a year and a half in the richest part of Dallas. It was very hard to be "the poor kid."

Well, during the second of those Decembers we got an envelope in the mail that said "To the parents of Sarah ....." return address was Santa Claus. Inside were $100 in gift certificates to the local grocery store. Our Christmas was not big, but we did have one. Because of the former step-father's poor spending habits, we would have had Christmas regardless...but then wouldn't have had money for food. Those gift certificates were perfect. A month's worth of food (give or take) that can't be spent on anything else. (This was long before you could get groceries and "stuff" like clothes and toys at the same store.)

I have a younger brother with a different last name. Why was it addressed to my parents? Who sent it? How did they know that just sending money wouldn't be as helpful as the gift certificates? Did they know? How can you accept a gift when you don't know who to tell thank you?

These questions have no answers.

But I do know this. I was 12 years old and very depressed. Ready to lose hope in everything. My Mom was in the process of kicking out the former step-father with poor spending habits. The world as I knew it was falling apart. Out of nowhere Santa sent me a gift. Not just a gift of money for food for the family, but a gift to me of hope, an example that people aren't all hateful and snide, and the assurance that I could and would make it and be able to move on to a better life. Also, the knowledge that there'd be help along the way through the Grace of God.

Christmas is about the Birth of Christ. However, Santa Claus is about spreading hope and joy to those most in need. And every December I celebrate BOTH. Yes, I DO believe in Santa Claus and I DO believe that he still lives.

He lives in our hearts every December when we make a point of spreading hope and joy to someone else.

"And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Getting exciting around here!!

Dear Darling Daughter,Please note that pull-ups are NOT reusable. They do NOT need to be washed. And therefore do NOT put them in the washer anymore! The 2 pair of pull-ups that got washed in the last load of darks was The End of the recycling experiment! Got it?!




Wow. I must be overwhelmed this year. I'm crying my eyes out because a totally unexpected chain of generosity is making it possible to get my kids' Santa pictures done at a convenient time!!! Unexpected generosity amazes me!!



You may know that I work 6 nights a week, this makes it hard to do things that can only be done during "normal" business hours. Last year we had the most fantastic Santa pictures made EVER!




Pretty amazing with 2 Autistic boys!! But I got in the virtual line at 10am and didn't get the pics till 6pm. This year I just can't devote a whole day to waiting for our number to come up. I've been very worried about this situation and really wanting those pics. Matter of fact I'd have to say if I had a Christmas wish for this year, it'd be an easy way to get pics with that awesome Santa.

So, I happen to have a friend who happens to work at the store where Santa is taking pics this year. She happened to be there at a time when there happened to be NO kids/shoppers around. She was asking about the best times for us to show up for pics and "told Santa about [my] family." Santa said to come when I could and he'd move me to the front of the line! WOW! That's it! My Christmas wish has been granted......without me ever asking for it out loud to another person. I can't WAIT to see Santa!! And hug his neck.


I have another amazing Santa story to tell. Watch for it in a day or two.





Decorated a bit more last night.....

kids had a great time searching out the 2 new things that went up










And, of course, our Elf on the Shelf chose a new spot to watch from.

Plus we finally we able to open the first door of my Advent Calendar!!

The kids are so excited! I spiffyed up the box with some holly and glitter! I love that we rememorize the Christmas story each year with this simple and fun tradition! I added a new twist, this year I printed the daily verses on some sheets of ink jet magnetic paper that a friend sent me awhile back! Now it's more permanent and easy to just plop on our freezer each day!!

I'd love to shake his hand!!!

Secret Santa spreads joy, disbelief in Kansas City

– Tue Dec 14, 9:45 pm ET KANSAS CITY, Mo. –

Secret Santa II hit the streets Tuesday in a long-standing Kansas City tradition of handing out $100 bills — sometimes several at a time — to unsuspecting strangers in thrift stores, food pantries and shelters.

Some people gasped in surprise. Some wanted to know if the $100 bill the tall man in the red cap offered was fake. Others wept.

Secret Santa II has seen a lot of reactions since taking over where his mentor, Kansas City's original Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, left off when he died in 2007 at age 58. Like Stewart, who gave away more than $1 million to strangers each December in mostly $100 bills, this Secret Santa prefers to stay anonymous.

A fake white beard taped to his face, Secret Santa II handed out about $10,000 in total Tuesday. Recipients included a police officer with terminal cancer, a homeless man pushing a rickety old shopping cart, an 81-year-old woman who had recently told her 27 grandchildren she wouldn't be able to afford any Christmas gifts, and Bernadette Turner, a 32-year-old unemployed mother of two.

"It's hard to come by," Turner said looking in disbelief at the $200 Secret Santa had given her.

Then one of Santa's "elves" — another tall man in a red cap — sidled up to next to Turner, asked a few questions, and handed her an additional $100. Turner, whose children are 3 and 8, was overcome.

"I can only afford one gift for each child. But now ...." she said, wiping tears from her cheeks and reaching out for a hug.

"Do you believe in Santa Claus?" Capt. Ray Wynn of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department, asked from a few feet away. Wynn had followed Stewart on many "sleigh rides" around the country and now follows this Secret Santa, providing stories, memories and amusing sound effects.

"I do now," Turner said. "I do now."

Secret Santa II took over from Stewart about the time the recession hit and the economy went into a tailspin. Like Stewart, this Secret Santa doesn't talk about his own finances, where those $100 bills come from and if — like for so many people now — they've been harder to come by.

Come December, he just fills his pockets with money, dons his red cap and heads out looking for people to make really happy.

He will likely hand out about $40,000 this December. He says he'll go "till the money runs out."

"The recession, unemployment. This is the time you don't want to stop. You don't want to back off," he said.

He walked up to Peggy Potter, 59, of Kansas City, Kan., who was looking at some framed prints at a thrift store. He made some small talk, put his arm around her and within minutes she was crying. Her son died about a year and a half ago. Her husband died in July and her daughter died soon after that.

"I'm just ... today's been a rough day for me, just thinking about my loved ones," she said. "I've been having a hard time paying for all the funerals."

Santa gave her $200, listened more, hugged her, and told her the poster she was holding had special meaning. It was a photo of two hands, one large, one small. Words printed at the bottom could have been written by Secret Santa, the original or the current one.

It said: "Kindness in giving creates love."

Santa Claus

This is a repost....I repost it every year at the beginning of December. And it is my first Acts of Generosity post for this year!



OK, when I was a child we lived in what I now know was poverty. However, because my then step-father was going to SMU to seminary (he never finished) we lived for a year and a half in the richest part of Dallas. It was very hard to be "the poor kid."

Well, during the second of those Decembers we got an envelope in the mail that said "To the parents of Sarah ....." return address was Santa Claus. Inside were $100 in gift certificates to the local grocery store. Our Christmas was not big, but we did have one. Because of the former step-father's poor spending habits, we would have had Christmas regardless...but then wouldn't have had money for food. Those gift certificates were perfect. A month's worth of food (give or take) that can't be spent on anything else. (This was long before you could get groceries and "stuff" like clothes and toys at the same store.)

I have a younger brother with a different last name. Why was it addressed to my parents? Who sent it? How did they know that just sending money wouldn't be as helpful as the gift certificates? Did they know? How can you accept a gift when you don't know who to tell thank you?

These questions have no answers.

But I do know this. I was 12 years old and very depressed. Ready to lose hope in everything. My Mom was in the process of kicking out the former step-father with poor spending habits. The world as I knew it was falling apart. Out of nowhere Santa sent me a gift. Not just a gift of money for food for the family, but a gift to me of hope, an example that people aren't all hateful and snide, and the assurance that I could and would make it and be able to move on to a better life. Also, the knowledge that there'd be help along the way through the Grace of God.

Christmas is about the Birth of Christ. However, Santa Claus is about spreading hope and joy to those most in need. And every December I celebrate BOTH. Yes, I DO believe in Santa Claus and I DO believe that he still lives.

He lives in our hearts every December when we make a point of spreading hope and joy to someone else.

"And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

as the dust settles.....

sheweeeeee! What a week.


we partied,...and partied....and partied!

we glued and stamped and signed and stitched!

we snuggled and laughed and ate and ate and ate!


And here come the first of December and the beginning of Advent.

Let the decorating begin!

by the by....seems everywhere I go folks are saying Advent is a time to "clean your spiritual house to get ready for the Lord".....

this does not sit well with me!

If the Lord's coming to my house....yes, I'll clean it up....but don't you think a few streamers, some garland, flashing lights, balloons, tinsel and a great big WELCOME sign are in order too??

I mean REALLY!!

a clean house is for everyday guests...and should not be forgotten....but let's break out the fine china and set a gorgeous table while we're at it!

So, once again, as a means of spiritual decoration, I am going to spend this month looking for examples of Acts of Generosity and I invite you to join me!

If you commit or witness an Act of Generosity please post it on your blog...then leave me a comment and I'll link to your post. I'll post them as often as I see them. How beautiful would it be to find an Act of Generosity EVERY day till Christmas?

So, who's with me? Let the decorating begin!!

Sudden instances of support.

3 totally separate things have happened in the last 3 days that I'd like to share with you.


First, Sunday, Subvet posted a link to this blog post. In which Dr Nadal says, among many other things:

"No words so completely capture the challenge of parenting an autistic child. Loving behavior doesn’t come to an autistic child the way it comes to ‘normal’ children. It needs to be handwired bit by bit. In teaching love, we learn love. In suffering with and for our children, we learn depths of love unfathomable but for the experience.

So why so many autistic children?

I believe that in His infinite Love and Mercy God is permitting this to happen as a means of rescuing us from ourselves. We are aborting 93% of all Down Syndrome babies, engaging in sex selection, experimenting with cloning, etc. We need to stop this, and soon.

Autistic children are Love’s answer to our designer approach for offspring, especially as there are no clear genetic markers or physical attributes to pick up in pre-natal testing. We are being given one last chance as a civilization to get it right, to learn the meaning of sacrificial love through a condition that strikes at the very heart of social communication, to walk ourselves back from the precipice of the abyss of narcissistic annihilation."

read the rest here!



Then, Monday, I saw an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor for a minor issue and while I was there asked him about Sonshine's snoring and mouth breathing. As is typical of me I mentioned he's Autistic. Dr Alteneau's response to me was:

"God Bless you Ma'am. You're going to Heaven no matter what the Hell you do! You're going straight there. And it would be an honor to take care of your son."


Then, Tuesday morning (today) Sonshine starts talking about where God is and where the Angels are and asking me what his Guardian Angel's name is. This leads me to search for a Patron Saint of Autism. On Catholic Answers Forums I found the answer. There isn't one but many people have adopted St Bartholomew and St Dymphna. So I told Sonshine St Bartholomew. As I further read the comments (starting in 2004) in the thread someone had posted this article:

(please do include fathers when you read it!)

"While I was searching I came across this:
http://www.aboutautism.org.uk/reflections.htm

Reflections
Mothers of Disabled Children, by Erma Bombeck.

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.
This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how these mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
Armstrong, Beth: son; patron saint, Matthew. Forest, Marjorie: daughter; patron saint, Cecilia.
Rudledge, Carrie: twins; patron saint.. . give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.
Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles. Give her a blind child.
The angel is curious. Why this one, God? She's so happy.
Exactly, says God. Could I give a child with a handicap to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.
But has she patience? asks the angel.
I don't want to her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you.
God smiles. No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.
The angel gasps. Selfishness? Is that a virtue?
God nods. If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word; She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-ignorance, cruelty, prejudice-and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.
And what about her patron saint? asks the angel, pen poised in midair.
God smiles. A mirror will suffice. "


Some days God tells you what you need to hear even before you're aware that you need it.
Thank you Lord, and someone please pass me the Kleenex.

Advent acts of generosity

Cookie posted this over at his place, I'm reposting it just in case you missed it over there.



Definitely a small act of generosity worthy of note!

Thanks Cookie!!

Advent acts of generosity

I told you about our trip to ChuckECheese where the manager threw a bunch of free tickets up in the air for the kids to grab. I think at that time I mentioned how small acts of generosity are catching my eye these days.

So, in the spirit of Santa. I want to highlight those small acts of generosity when and where I find them. I invite you to do the same on your blog this month and lets see of we can find the GOOD in this ol world!


Just about once a week (usually Saturday morning) we get donuts for the clan. We always go to the same donut store.

My town has just about 5,000 people....and 2 donut shops. I imagine the competition between them must be pretty fierce....the next small town to the east has at least 2 donut shops of their own and the next large town to the west has many, many independent and chain shops....even that K-K one that people are soooo in love with...

So, why do we go to this one guy religiously?? Partly because we like the donuts......

But the other part is this.


With every order of a dozen donuts we get a free bag of donut holes........

count em folks....there's more than a "baker's dozen" on there!


PLUS!





He always puts extra donut holes in the box of donuts too. Since we always get chocolate donuts...he throws in chocolate holes....we'd eaten about 3 or 4 of the chocolate holes before I got a pic...but count how many freebies we got there.


If you purchase a dozen holes....he doesn't count them...he grabs 2 handfuls and throws em in a bag. We've gotten as many as 22 in one bag before!

He has done this every time we've gotten donuts from him. And he does it for everyone!

Oh, and then he picks up the entire order and hands it to you, with a bow and a sincere thank you. I don't know if this is just tradition in his country of origin (he's asian) but I truly believe it's something we need to adopt! There's something very nice about being handed your purchase and thanked. Not just "have a nice day" but "thank you" there's a difference.

So, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this:

Post about a small act of generosity that you have either perpetrated or witnessed. Leave us a comment here so we can all go and read about it.



(pause the Christmas music by hitting the "pause button" right under the little picture on the music player before you watch the video!)