Last year at Christmastime, one of our neighbors was our “Secret Santa”. Every evening, starting on the 13th of December, we would get a gift on the front porch. The first gift said “On the 1st Day of Christmas…” and it was addressed “from your Secret Santa”. The kids loved getting the gift each night. Around 9pm there’d be the customary knock at the door. I told the kids to wait for a few seconds to let the Secret Santa run off (Secret Santas don’t like to be caught… it’s kind of a downer) before opening the door the retrieve the gift. Then my kids would yell “thank you” into the night and giggle and close the door. The gifts varied each night. One night we got popcorn, another night we got fuzzy socks, another night we got cocoa in snowman mugs… it didn’t matter what the gift was. The exciting, enchanting thing for the kids was that someone was thoughtful — and sneaky– enough to leave something each night.

We never found out who it was. If by any chance you are reading this and our Secret Santa was you, thank you so much for thinking of our family.

Knowing how fun it was to be on the receiving end last year, we decided to do it for someone else this year. We picked a sweet, elderly widow down the street. This lady is so kind and thoughtful. She periodically calls me to see how our family is doing. To see how we are feeling.
To see if we have caught any of the stomach flus that have been going around. To say that Zoe looked cute at church last Sunday. To say that Jachin said hi to her and acted gentlemanly. She is adorable and I really wanted to do something nice for her. So starting on the 13th, we began dropping gifts at her door. Soup and a snowman mug, some Christmas cookie cutters, an ornament with her initial on it. Nothing big or amazing, but just something to let her know that she is thought of and loved.

So far, the kids haven’t been caught. Part of it is that this sweet old lady isn’t spry enough to get to the door in a dead sprint. There was one time that apparently someone was visiting and got to the door pretty fast. The kids dove into the bushes by the sidewalk. It was close. They came back through our front door panting and laughing.

This is totally one of those times when giving really is better than receiving. I absolutely think that the kids are just as excited (if not more so) being the Secret Santas instead of getting stuff from the Secret Santa. They get all giddy about it every night.

Try it next year and see for yourself. Pick anyone on your street. It’ll make ya all warm and fuzzy.

7 Comments »

1. adorable. you guys are way too cute.

   Comment by jenica — December 20, 2009 @ 12:30 am

2. We have some dear friends who do this. They choose someone different every year. So glad you all had fun doing it.

   Comment by Joan — December 20, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

3. This is brilliant! We will definitely try next year.

   Comment by Jenna — December 20, 2009 @ 11:24 pm

4. You’ve inspired us. I think we will do the same thing next year! I’m glad the kids had a great time giving and making someone happy.

   Comment by Diana — December 21, 2009 @ 6:54 am

5. So cool! This totally brought back memories from when I was a kid and someone did this for us. Thanks for reminding me – we will definitely be doing this next year!

   Comment by Heather — December 23, 2009 @ 3:40 pm

6. I wish I lived on your block- not only because I could see you all and we could be writing buddies, but because this lil’ ol’ lad sounds like a cutie pie and I’d want to help! I love reading about y’all! Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!

   Comment by ShayLo — December 28, 2009 @ 9:28 pm

7. I love this idea! We may have to try it. It’s so fun and sweet!

   Comment by Leslie — March 1, 2010 @ 11:52 am

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