As a kid I remember how much I enjoyed playing and pretending with my toys. Roman has a vivid imagination and has that same joy. He also has an INCREDIBLE amount of toys and an amazing little mind for inventory. I really TRY not to buy a whole lot, but dang it, it's just really fun to do it. I have taught him the joys of window shopping, and we can walk into Target, spend 20 minutes in the toy aisle and walk out without anything and no tantrums, so I feel we're doing ok.
Well our toy situation (among other things) has gotten out of control. We've had several conversations over the months about thinning it out and giving toys to kids who don't have as much and have even put a stop to all toy buying because we just have so many. Last night, we bit the bullet. On the way home from school, I told Roman it was time; we were going to clean out his toys and give the ones he didn't want or didn't play with to kids who don't have as much as we do. His answer? "But Mommy, we NEED to keep them ALLLL" in a slightly whiny I don't really understand why you're doing this to me voice of a 3 year old. I told him that Santa was coming at Christmas, and we need to thin out if he wants him to come; what about kids who's families don't have as much as we do...etc, etc, etc....
We got home, and I have to say, I'm SO proud and impressed by this sweet little boy...we donated an ENTIRE GARBAGE BAG full of toys, and I'm not talking about big toys...I'm talking about the little tiny make you cuss when you step on them in the dark toys. He was thoughtful, decisive, and unwavering when he made a decision. Did me proud!
And just where does meeting Santa come into this, you're asking? I'm getting there. So I went to Hobby Lobby at lunch for more fabric for Roman's curtains (don't ask I'm still annoyed), as I was coming out, there was this HUGE red truck with a bumper sticker that read "My other car is a sleigh, pulled by reindeer" (I wish I'd gotten a picture), I giggled and kept walking as this delightfully jolly man, dressed all in red (red shorts and red t-shirt with a red cap) got out of the truck. I got in my car and pulled away as his wife (Mrs. Clause I assume) walked to Hobby Lobby and Santa walked toward Goodwill next door. All of the sudden, I froze, what was I thinking, letting Santa get away?!! I whipped around, parked, jumped out of my car, and sprinted toward Santa, yelling "Um, excuse me, um, Santa?!" I mean, that was defiantly a first...
Delightful Santa agreed to a picture, and the sweet little lady behind the Goodwill counter took it for us. I hugged Santa tight. Told him my little boy had JUST been asking about him...Santa asked me how old he was and gave me a little token that said "I was caught being good". He told me to tell Roman that he was checking in on him, and saw that he was being good. So he came and found me to give him that token, and to keep up the good work. I almost knocked Santa down with the exuberance of my hug and thanked him with, I won't lie, a little tear in my eye.
God bless this man, who has a for real white beard in the Tennessee summer, walking around in Santa clothes, with an honest to goodness embroidered sleigh and reindeer on the back of his red shorts (wish I had a picture of that too)! God bless this man, who gave me the spirit of Christmas and giving in July and made the purging of my house so much more of a blessing by giving to an organization like Goodwill that supports so many others. For reminding me of the kindness and love of Jesus and taking care of other people and to share that spirit of loving and giving year round.
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