It has been a crazy end to the year but a truly joyous one! I started making Christmas gifts in September with the Barbie Doll’s crocheted wedding dress for my niece. By the end of November, everone’s gifts were made and shipped for those out of town. All I had left were immediate family members in town. Then, all of the sudden in the first week of December, I had a swell of orders for the Mercantile! It was a true Godsend but created a stressful end to Christmas elving duties… just when I was becoming a real grump after dealing with a particularly difficult customer and worrying about what I’d have to give the kids if things didn’t slow down… the kids reminded me of the unselfish love that is Christmas….

The boys were required to gather toys in November in anticipation of Santa. They dutifully went and gathered three huge buckets of toys, cleaned and washed them in the utility sink by themselves, one washed, one dried, one supervised… (oldest of course. lol). They were to donate them before the holidays started. Well, time got away and there they sat. In addition, every year they buy new toys for the firemen that park in front of Walmart. This year, they bought toys, but the firemen never setup camp at the local Walmarts. We tried for two weeks to just give them to someone!

On one special trip they made to find the fire engine, they discovered the “bell ringer”. J1 (the oldest, 8 ) wanted to know what they were doing, we explained how they collect money so that once a year, people could provide warm food, clothes, etc. with those less fortunate. The next trip, he remembered them and brought all of his change from his piggy bank and emptied it into the bucket without even being asked. He then went inside with his brothers (7 and 5), bought toys they really liked for themselves with an early gift of money, then decided on their own after a brotherly meeting in the toy aisle, to give them as the gifts for kids this year. That in itself was really nice to see!

The night before Christmas Eve, they realized they’d forgotten to donate the toys they cleaned up, so after giving the next door neighbor some of the bigger toys, they took their huge basket of toys, added six new toys they bought, and two 3ft Fire Engines (they decided they could share the one they kept), up to the local grocers and left their basket with a sign that read “Merry Xmus, Fwee towys for ony kids, Fwee Take Owne. Love, (then thier names). Dot, the manager of the store, four salesclerks, and a little girl who helped them tape up their sign, was so impressed. They were just beaming with the knowledge that they helped lots of kids. Later that night, they said they felt so good about doing it, that they want to do “Toys for Temple” and wash and clean up toys from all the houses with extra kids (as they put it. lol) and fill lots of basket in front of the grocer next year. At first, I was going to mention to them that they left Christ out of Christmas, but I don’t think they needed to be reminded at that moment of Christ. Maybe I did! They truly were acting in his likeness!

We picked up their empty basket from the grocer, yesterday. Dot said it was emptied in the first two hours. All of the ladies had such a great time seeing the joy on the parents and kids faces, that they want to help in anyway they can for next year. She said, One little boy, about 5, came in with his mom, and just starting jumping up and down, grabbed one of the fire engines and told his mom, “Santa brought me my fire engine I asked for, See Mommy, I told you Santa would bring it!!!” The mom explained to Dot that she told her son that sometimes Santa can’t always bring everything you want… the little boy was so happy that he peed his pants with excitement. lol. He didn’t care that Santa wasn’t coming yet for another night. He only knew that Santa left it for him!

The kids went to Walmart to spend their gift cards they received for Christmas and used some of it to buy two bolts of red and green plaid homespun and white yarn, so they can make elf hats and stockings for the kids next year. They sure made my Christmas and I am so thankful to the boys for reminding me how brightly that Christmas star shines! I don’t know what it is that makes it possible for kids to just cut through everything and just get the job done! The Bible is right, A little child shall lead them!

May all us have such guidance in the New Year!!!