Christmas Came a Little Early...

Last night we were giving the kiddies a bath and getting ready for bed when the doorbell rang.

"I'm not dressed!" I exclaimed to my equally not dressed husband.



"Why are you looking at me? I don't know what to tell you."

"Good point. It's probably just carolers anyways" (we don't get a lot of people coming to our door when technology via e-mails and cell phones works so nicely). Seth was all willing to answer the door, but since he had just jumped out of the tub, we told him that wasn't going to happen.



So, we stayed quiet, contemplated turning our lights off then thought that would be a pointless guesture since they already noticed we were there.

Another doorbell ring and a few knocks later, we thought we were in the clear. Chris had peaked through the blinds and saw some carolers off in the distance at a neighbor's house, so we thought that was the end of the story.



But it wasn't. We finished getting on jammies and played with the kids before reading some Christmas stories to them on our bed. Then, Chris's cell phone rang.



It was on the other side of the room, we had just put Eliza down and we were snuggling in the dark room with Seth for a bit before putting him down for bed as well, so he just said he'd let it go to voicemail.

Well, MY cell phone then rang, and though it was charging, its location was right next to the bed so I picked it up not recognizing the local number.



"Hello?"



"HO, HO, HO! You really need to check your front porch. Merry Christmas!" a deep-voiced man stated.



"Uh...okay."

So, I quietly went to the front door, peaked out my peephole, silently cursing my Christmas wreath for being a little too jolly with the boughs slightly covering said peephole then slowly opened the door, not sure what I'd find.



A beautifully wrapped gift basket-no note-was sitting on the stairs. I picked it up and brought it back to the bedroom. I turned on the light and showed the gift to Chris and Seth.

Assorted fruit, Great Harvest whole wheat bread with holiday jam, a honey bear, and a free bread loaf gift certificate filled the wicker basket, though Seth was most excited about the sippy cups (go figure).

I've never been a recipient of an anonymous gift basket before, so I didn't know what to think at first. Finally, I stated, "It must have been a Secret Santa!"

"Santa?!" Seth exclaimed, fully aware of the importance in that name.

"Yes, Seth! He must have decided that you and Eliza were so good that we needed some Christmas presents early, leaving this on our front porch!"

He put his finger to the side of his mouth in deep contemplation (no joke) and really thought about that one. He knew that Santa's suppose to go down the chimney, but we don't have a proper fireplace, so he accepted it and oohed and aahed over the bounty, quickly laying claim to the blue sippy cup.

We have no clue who brought this early Christmas present (or if it even was the carolers or someone else) and yet are so grateful for the kind guesture (and Great Harvest bread?! What excellent taste!). I wish I would have answered the door.

And since there's already a few Christmas gifts shared early, stay tuned for the next post since I don't think we'll last until Christmas to share this one.

Air Terminal Spirit of Christmas

My brother just came home after interning for the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, and while spending a day in multiple airports, he really got into the Spirit of Christmas.


While checking in his bags, he was informed that his bag was overweight, which would cost him an extra $90. Being a poor college student, he thought of all the meals that would pay for and decided to lighten the load instead of coughing up the dough.


Before this, a middle-aged gentleman behind him in line chit-chatted a bit with him while they were both waiting. Just polite conversation that Nathan didn't think too much about.

As Nathan moved aside to begin unloading items like mouthwash, deodorant, etc... to meet the weight requirements, the man behind him had his turn.

Nathan overheard little bits of their conversation but was too busy on trying to figure out what NOT to bring that it wasn't until the terminal worker stated, "Thank you for letting me realize that Santa Claus is still alive and well" that Nathan paid a little more attention to his surroundings.

When he looked up, the worker had tears in her eyes (I'm not joking, but I also wasn't there and Nathan tends to get a bit theatrical in his statements, so take it as you'd like) informing Nathan that he could put everything back in his bag.

Thinking at first that his downtrodden expression of a woeful college intern just wanting to get back to his family was the reason, he hurriedly put everything back and checked in.



Then it clicked that something else happened. He asked if the other man paid for his luggage, and the worker just smiled and shrugged, saying she couldn't say.


Who does that, nowadays? Nathan thought.


He tried to find the gentleman to at least make eye contact with and wave, but he was already at his terminal gate behind a security gate, so Nathan briefly thought of jumping the gate to thank him.

Luckily, he realized that he'd be viewed as some crazy psycho by security and never allowed home. So instead, he's resolved himself that one day he will pay it forward and help someone else in need.

It may not have been a big deal to the stranger or maybe the unknown man had someone help him in the past, but it meant a lot to one undergrad traveling alone.

As Nathan boarded his plane, waiting to take off, another man sitting next to him offered him the rest of his mixed nuts mix, "Because they never give you quite enough on these flights."


Nathan almost burst into tears (and that I can imagine). Where are these people coming from?!


It's amazing what simple acts of generosity and kindness can do, which is the true Spirit of Christmas.