I’ve been wondering if this would be the year. You know, that Christmas where the magic suddenly … changes. Well thankfully, it hasn’t been and I was reassured today when Connor got to watch his message from the Portable North Pole (PNP). He had mentioned he checked his naughty or nice list status at his dad’s and wondered if he got another video this year.

I told him that, coincidentally, I was pretty sure I’d seen an email with a note about a video for him. What’s more challenging is that he’s seven and can read pretty well so I had to sift quickly through my messages, e.g. “Staci, send a message from Santa.” We found “the one” and Connor settled right in. I had to capture it on video because, after last year, I can’t imagine not capturing this expression of complete childlike joy. He did it again. Oh, and notice his crossed fingers and when he says, “I love Santa.”. Please disregard my man voice. It’s a known problem.

Tonight we snuggled and watched The Polar Express, quite possibly my favorite Christmas movie of all time. Not only does the story begin in Grand Rapids (one of the top ten cities to visit, holla!), but it’s about a boy right around Connor’s age who has already traded in his belief. Once in the North Pole, though, that all changes when he picks up a bell and can’t hear its sweet sound. He fervently whispers, “I believe” three times and then shakes it one more time. And there it is. I whispered to Connor, “That’s it; that’s the magic of Christmas.” He made a comment about how he can’t figure out why some kids don’t believe; he said, “You believe and you’re …”. I said, “Yeah, I know I’m 33 years old,” and he said, “No, you’re 27, aren’t you?” with a sweet grin. Love.that.kid.

I’m thankful that we subscribe to the whole Santa thing. I know some families don’t and that’s completely fine, too. I tend to shy away from the debates over belief in a guy that can hit every house in the world in a 24-hour period because, to me, that’s not what it’s about. The belief is about much more. Frank Lloyd Wright may have said it best …

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.