Christmas Trees and Memories

Christmas is an odd holiday.

It celebrates newness, hope, and beginnings.

Simultaneously, it's a time to reflect on years and events now passed.

This Christmas marks so many precious firsts in our family. Our first Christmas in Ontario, our first Christmas as a family of four thanks to our little monkey's arrival this summer, and our first Christmas where Peanut is old enough to start participating in family traditions and making his own memories.

 One of my favourite traditions is trimming the tree. 

I love the memories as each ornament has its own story. Whether it's a place, a celebration, or a person, once trimmed, our tree transforms into a monument of living memories for one month of the year. Well, at least for the adults, a certain monkey is still convinced it's just a giant teething toy for his pleasure but one day, he too, will learn the history held in each branch.

But I wonder what history some of those branches will hold. 

This year while trimming the tree I came across two ornaments, each bearing the face of a young girl whose lives are now on diverging paths and recalled a third who's story holds yet another.

The first of those ornaments held the face of a young girl named Tori. Last year, Tori was one of over one hundred children on the Angel Tree. A warrior advocated for her. People shouted for her and a family stepped out in faith to bring her home. They are currently completing paperwork, waiting on dates, and raising the last needed funds so that next Christmas Tori will be home.

The second ornament bore the face of a young girl named Tara. 

Tara was also one of the many represented on last year's tree. I had the privilege of being her warrior and despite some complications on my end that almost resulted in us losing our little monkey the kindness of many saw Tara reach her goal.Like Tori, Tara is not a part of this year's Angel Tree. Her grant is too large!Sitting at over 15k Tara needs visibility and a family before she ages out next fall and her ornament becomes a memory of opportunity lost.

The final girl on our family tree is Tarsha

Tarsha will be celebrating her 8th birthday following her time on the Angel Tree and, if memory serves me, this isn't her first time through. Like Tara she is still waiting for a family to make memories to invite her in and make those memories,, participate in traditions, and share love and hope. Unlike Tara, Tarsha's grant was small enough to be on Angel Tree and her goal for this year is still a long way off.

Three girls, three different stories, so many easy ways to make a difference. 

http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2015/

Dear Santa

I remember the old song

 "he sees you when you're sleeping, 

he knows when you're awake. 

He knows if you've been bad or good"

It would seem that you know when people need a little something too.

I've heard so much about Santa and commercialism. The reason for the season and the spirit of the holidays, the attack on Christmas. Sometimes it's tempting to throw out everything and miss the good in an attempt to simplify the grey. Maybe sometimes in the grey where things are not so clear, that miracles are witnessed and wishes do come true.

Because this week you've been oh so busy Santa with stories that people need to hear.

I've heard about you visiting children, sleeping while they slept. 

Meeting children where they needed you - because sometimes Christmas is out of our depth. The way you got down on the floor or let your fingers fly with speech, For special kids you put holiday tradition easily in reach. 

I know how you sat with a young girl, almost too big to come and visit as far as her peers will soon perceive. I know you promised to pray for her Mama when your toymaker's skills weren't up to the deed.

I also know know what you did for us on a week I felt so alone. Did you see the behaviours with sensory overload and the screams from teething that echoed our home. Did you feel this lonely Mama's heart wondering what to do and decided to send a blessing to show that we're remembered too?

Sometimes our blessings come when we least expect it.

Has anybody seen November?

It's hard to believe we're peering down into 2016. 

At least, I can't believe it. 

I still expect to be prepping for speech class (which ended the 2nd Tuesday of November). 

I'm still wondering if I should start checking on Christmas baking or if there's still time to wait 

(the answer is check things, oops). 

I'm still wondering why there's no snow on the ground to help me figure out what month it is as I've long given up trying to remember something as tricky as the actual day of the week 

(today ends in "y" right??)

Yet, despite my lack of preparation, December is here and Angel Tree has officially passed the halfway mark with a mere 26 days left for each and every one of these precious kiddo's to try and reach their goals - $1000 or, even better, a family.

I'm always amazed at the barrage of requests that accompany December - our time, our resources, our attention - each are in high demand with the holiday season (and, I confess, a major giveaway for me that it had become December)

It can be so easy for faces to fade into the noise

Faces like Tarsha

It can be hard to connect a need with real child known by a nickname and an undated picture if they're lucky. Harder still to identify how a few dollars or sharing that name and picture could really make a difference.

But please, before the bells, the noise, and the lights take your gaze, take a minute and look here.  See the Jackson's, the Reilly's, the Ian's. These are the kids last year who sat with their faces fading into the bustle of our holidays. The children who people sat and debated whether it was worth sharing their picture or donating their own two mites.

These are the kids who are gearing up for their first Christmas at home. These are children who were seen because someone shared, who's family was encouraged and helped along by so many people sharing their two mites. These are the found.