Dear Mom and Dad...

As this Christmas is approaching, I've been thinking a lot about Christmases past. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on one of my best Christmas memories. My Mom and Dad ALWAYS worked so hard to try and make all of our dreams come true Christmas morning. As many of you know, my Dad was a minister while we were growing up and money was not growing on trees...BUT...when Christmas morning rolled around, they spared no expense to watch our eyes light up with excitement. One Christmas that I remember in particular was when I was in 6th or 7th grade. My brothers and I had opened all our gifts. We had each received wonderful things (as always) but hadn't received the main things we had asked Santa for. A little while later, while we were cleaning up the wrapping paper, my Mom looked at my Dad and said, "Honey, did we forget something?" My Dad smiled and disappeared. Low and behold, he walked out with 3 more gifts. The butterfly comforter set I had asked for, a bubblegum machine for Dave, and a dummy for Jon. OHHHHHHHH the excitement!!!!!!!!

I realize that Christmas is not about the gifts...but, my parents loved us so much that they worked to give us the world, wrapped up in whatever our fancy was that year. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for giving us all of those wonderful memories. Thank you for loving us so much that you were willing to sacrifice whatever it took to allow Santa to visit our home every year. We are so blessed to have you as parents. My prayer for you this coming year is that you may each have one of your greatest dreams fulfilled! I love you...