Santa Claus is real....

**Daisygirl** · 12-23-2007, 05:54 PM

This morning my kids had gone out with their dad. I got a "merry Christmas" email from the person at the women's shelter who provided legal assistance during my whole 2 year custody saga. She wanted to have me pick up a couple of gifts for the kids, since they had provided counseling over the past year to us as a family.

I got there and there were two garbage bags and 3 gift bags. I said, "These cannot all be for us! You may have misunderstood, but we are doing ok, we have some things under the tree." She said, no, these were put aside for your family because we have provided you service for the past two years. She said they understood all the legal bills I am paying and wanted us to be able to celebrate. There was absolutely no saying no.

I got home and opened the bags for the kids. I could not believe my eyes, there were 10 presents for each girl! I did not buy them any toys this year, just practical stuff. There were some things for me, like toiletries and a $40 grocery store gift card and a candle holder. I cried so hard. There was so much that I gave some very nice things to the girls to donate to children that have far less than we, not to be ungrateful, but to share in our good fortune and make someone else's holiday bright. I kept 3 things for each girl, the grocery card, and the toiletries. The candle holder will sit in my living room forever to remind me of how much a simple kindness can mean to someone.

I will never ever forget these kind people who thought of us. Now I really do believe in Santa. At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark movie of the week, these women have been the spirit of Santa and I will never forget this day or how much it meant to me.

I vow with all my heart to keep this kindness going, not just as a New Year's Resolution or giving at Christmas, but to live in a way that I can touch the lives of others the way these beautiful women have touched ours.

**Jskell911** · 12-23-2007, 06:57 PM

Karen,

That is just so wonderful. I absolutely love the idea of having your girls donate a few of the items. You are right, the spirit of this kind of giving cannot be restrained to just Christmas.

**northernmom2boys** · 12-23-2007, 07:51 PM

AWWW you and your girls deserve it
I swear I have never cried more reading any posts as I have today lol

**Cricket1** · 12-23-2007, 07:55 PM

Geez--what's going on here at the village? PMS or Christmas? We're all crying here. I'm glad for your good fortune.

**oct2667us** · 12-23-2007, 07:56 PM

AWWWWW that is so cool... I loved reading your story. I am happy for you and your girls.. It is a Merry Christmas....

**northernmom2boys** · 12-23-2007, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cricket1

Geez--what's going on here at the village? PMS or Christmas? We're all crying here. I'm glad for your good fortune.

lol I am going for both lol

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-23-2007, 08:05 PM

That is so wonderful, I agree, that you and your girls deserve it

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-23-2007, 08:15 PM

Hooray twice--once for getting gifts and once for sharing those gifts!

**Darlene** · 12-23-2007, 08:15 PM

I'm just sitting here grinning. I'm betting next Christmas you will be one of those ladies who is giving back to someone, doing what just happened to you. Women helping women, damn good stuff.

**baxjul** · 12-23-2007, 08:31 PM

That is so sweet!

**changed4life** · 12-23-2007, 08:49 PM

Wow! What a beautiful thing. It's so wonderful when worthy people like you are thought of in such a big way. Enjoy your toiletries and candleholder and Merry Christmas to you and the girls.

**wwe11** · 12-23-2007, 09:03 PM

That is so sweet.

**boogiemum** · 12-23-2007, 09:11 PM

Ahh, thank you for sharing this with us. I really needed a pick me up and this did it for me. I did cry but b/c it is so wonderful. Thank you and merry christmas indeed!

**McD** · 12-23-2007, 09:19 PM

Karen,

Let this stand as a reminder to you, that when your light shines brightly, people will remember you and think of you. You are an amazing person and people recognize that. You are doing right by your girls.

Merry Christmas.