Treasures...

Do you have a memory you treasure? One, that when you think of it, it warms your heart and touches your soul? I do!

Quite a few years ago I was a young single mom and it was Nic's first Christmas.

One day I went to the mailbox and found a Christmas Card. I opened it up and out dropped some money and inside read, "Merry Christmas, Love Santa." I had no idea who sent this...

Over the years, every Christmas, Santa continued to send Nic and I a Christmas Card. I tried to be a detective and find out who was sending it but could never uncover that wonderful person(s).

So, I just started believing in Santa. Because isn't Santa a belief in love, in goodness, in hope, in the spirit of giving? What a gift I was given! In a world where Christmas and Santa is so commercialized I was reminded of the love of the season...

In my Christmas card one year I sent a promise out to our Santa, that when Nic and I were able we would become a Secret Santa too. It was our promise to continue the tradition of love and giving to someone we thought needed it.

Just before Alex and I got married I received my last Christmas Card from Santa. It said that since Nic and I had found a new Santa (Alex) that they would be moving on to someone else that needed them. It was signed with Love from Aunt Lynn and Uncle Paul.

A few years later, when that inevitable question came from Nic, "Is there really a Santa Claus?" I said YES, and shared with him our beautiful story. And when Justin is old enough to ask the same question, Nic and I can sit down and share with him our wonderful story and show him our cards from Santa...

My Aunt Lynn and Uncle Paul have given me and my family a wonderful gift, a tradition, that we continue and carry on every Christmas as we choose a family that needs a Secret Santa. Our children will carry this tradition on through their children's life. A legacy, a belief in love, in goodness, in hope, and giving.

My Aunt Lynn has just been placed on Hospice. She has had an incredible fight with brain cancer. I want her to know what an AMAZING gift she and my uncle have given me and my family through their love ~ a gift that our family will continue to share with others...

We love you Aunt Lynn!