Dear Santa

A few weeks ago my mom and I took the girls to see Santa.  We went to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop because they have a winter wonderland for kids with all kinds of free things to do.  Everyone likes free...it was very crowded!!! 

Here's the deal about Bass Pro Shop for those of you who don't know; Springfield is where it all began.  My husband likes to joke sometimes and say that is why we moved back.  Anyway, the BPS (Bass Pro Shop) here is HUGE.  It's kind of like the ozarks version of Opry Land Hotel.  Some people actually come here on vacation to visit it...I know what you're thinking...I, myself, prefer the beach.  The girls were in amazement at all the big decorations and all the fun things they could do while they waited to see Santa.

They rode a train, made an ornament, rode the train again even had McDonalds for lunch.  Until it was finally time to visit with Santa.  Ella wasn't so sure about sitting on some strangers lap.  So Santa had a smart idea for Mommy to sit in his chair and hold Ella and he held Lily and Abby stood beside us so we were all in the picture.  One smart santa, I say.  It was a fun filled exciting day.  Thanks Grandma for going with us!

I am afraid this may be Abby's last year to believe.  She has been asking so many questions, questions I would have never thought of when I was a child.

"How old is Santa? When is his birthday?  If there is just ice and snow at the North Pole, how does Santa keep from freezing, how does he keep all the presents warm?  Is Rudolf really real? "  She keeps us on our toes.  But here's the deal, she wants to believe so bad that she would not not believe no matter what anyone said.  She is so full of that child like faith.  Please Lord, protect that innocence in her.  Protect the desire to believe you no matter what anyone tells her.  My prayer for her is that her intellect will not hinder her relationship with Jesus, but it will only draw her closer and give her creative ideas for His Kingdom. 

Sweet, sensitive girl that she is, her mother's hearts cry for her is that she will ALWAYS be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in her life. 

Abby, I love you!  I love to watch the wonderment in your eyes as you try and answer all your own questions.  I love that you are reminding me all the time that you believe.  I believe too:)

Ella is such a funny girl these days.  we have been in talks about giving up our "passey" soon.  She is not a big fan of that topic.  Some days she will tell me she is ready to give her passeys away and start naming every baby she knows.  Then when I tell her what that really means she says "No, I don't do that."  We have decided that we are going to wait until after the first of the year and then "The Passey Fairy" is coming to visit.  I heard the idea from a friend and then from supernanny, so we are going to give it a shot.    We will let you know how it goes.  I can't really believe that it is time for her to get rid of those silly things!