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Daddysredhead -> Blessings and Other Good Stuff (12/25/2008 1:03:26 AM)
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This Christmas was proving to be a bit challenging to say the least, but a few complete surprises, which leave me feeling blessed beyond measure, have turned things around 100-fold. Here's my "miracle"...
Last Friday night, I got a surprise gift in the mail which helped me make some Christmas wishes come true, and made me cry big, huge, happy tears at the kindness of others.
Then... tonight, as I came home, I saw cop cars escorting this thing that looked like a bus, into my subdivision. As I got closer, I saw that it was a trolley car, full of people who were getting back on it, as they were singing Christmas carols, after visiting one of the buildings near mine. I called my dad and the Things, telling them that carolers were coming around, to make sure to open the door if they stopped by our building.
As I pulled up to my building, the trolley car stops, the people begin to exit, as well as a couple dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus (who apparently won some sort of contest at Santa school last year, because they were in the local papers - natural white beard and hair, the whole works). I was getting the Christmas dinner groceries out of my van, watching them go single file, singing, while some gathered up presents, bags, and all kinds of stuff, as they exited to trolley car.
I said "hi" to the police officers I knew as I walked past, and one of them stopped me and said, "Oh hi, [Red]... don't you live in [insert my address here]?" I looked at them and said, "Yes, is something wrong?" (I was starting to panic because the Things and my dad had called while I was at the grocery store, and I rushed them off the phone because I was trying to pay for stuff.) The Lt. said, "There won't be anything wrong if you hurry up and get inside right now. We'll be ringing your doorbell in a minute, now go on in... hurry up!" I just did as I was told and scampered inside, very puzzled.
I called for the Things and my dad to come to the living room because I thought they were going to sing to us on their rounds. Next thing you know, *doorbell*. I opened the door with my little brood behind me, and they all started singing, and one by one, made their way into my place, like little elves. I stood there, holding my door open, jaw dropped, as I watched them bring in presents for the Things, my dad, and me, as well as food, gloves, hats, scarves, and a little basket of sweets and fruit. It was so surreal. Mrs. Claus came to me and smiled, saying, "Sweetheart, there are some special things in the one bag, just for you to use next time you go to the grocery store (I'm guessing grocery gift cards?), so be careful when you open it, ok?" All I could do was nod and cry, and hug her tightly. Then a lady from the local ladies auxilary came in with another bundle of goodies, and sang as she set things on my counter, then came over and hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek, saying, "Honey, as long as those are happy tears, I'm tickled to death." I just nodded and hugged her back.
By this time, I was shaking really badly, just from being overwhelmed. My kids were scrambling through the goodies, my dad was ear to ear smiles, looking at me, and I was still holding the door open, like a valet of sorts, as these wonderful, delightful, angels, came in like magical, singing beings, and filled my table and counters with all sorts of amazing things. Then the police chief walked in with one of the pastors from a local church, and Chief said, "Hi there, [Red], Merry Christmas, sweetie. I hope we helped in some way." I shook his hand, nodded, while still sobbing, then said, "Oh come here, I don't do the shake hands thing, I'm a hugger." So he gave me a hug back, wished my family a beautiful Christmas, and let the pastor come say hi. The pastor was all grins as he looked at me, completely bewildered. He gave me a hug, asked for blessings for me and my family, and said, "Remember, young lady, God is good." All I could say was, "Yes, He is" and start crying again.
Then dear old Santa himself came in, hugged my precious Things who were awestruck, shook my dad's hand, wished us Merry Christmas, said he'd be back after the Things were asleep, and looked at me and said, "Why do you look so stunned, sweetheart?" I could only whisper through tears, "How did you know? You just have no idea what this means to us... but how could you know?" He winked and smiled and said, "My dear, don't you remember? Santa sees everything, so of course, I just knew." Then he and the throng of miracle workers left, singing, just as they came.
I have no idea how or why, but there they came, and there they left. I was shaking for nearly an hour after they left, putting things away, calling my sister, trying to tell her what happened although I think I scared her because she drove to our house, since she couldn't understand me through the crying on the phone. She peeked into my packages and knows what they are, because I want to wait to open them in the morning with the Things and dad. Whatever the one thing was, it made her cry as she put the package back together, and said, "How very awesome."
I looked into my subdivision and saw the trolley make another stop, and it looked like they had chosen one unit from each building and had a "special stop." I don't know how or why, except that I am blessed beyond measure, and that I am glad that I was brought up in a faith-based home, because I know that the pastor was right... God is good. And a little bit of Santa's Christmas magic certainly doesn't hurt. [:)]
So, do you all have a warm fuzzy to share? It doesn't have to be holiday related, just something wonderful that happened to you, or something wonderful that you were able to be a part of for someone else.
Wishing all of you much happiness, good health, and peace.
~ Red ~
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