Welcome back to Literacy Musing Mondays. This week, just in time for Christmas, we have a special post from Eli Pacheco who writes the blog Coach Daddy about a mysterious encounter with reindeer and a special letter from Saint Nick. With only days until Christmas, I felt this true story would captivate our Christmas imagination. I hope you enjoy.
Also from all of us at Literacy Musing Mondays, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 🙂
Now onto our guest post:
Christmas Magic:
A Reindeer and Special Letter from Santa
“Does Aunt Danelle bring the Christmas presents?”
Marie asked this deep into the Christmas season years ago. At around age 10, maybe 11, she’d begun to question the whole concept of St. Nick. Probably the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Jose Canseco were next on the list.
My sister? Really?
“What makes you think that?” I asked.
She cited the unfamiliar handwriting on presents and letters from Santa in this quest to solve the universe. It’s the investigation kids embark on, when they probably don’t want to find the clues that dispel the myth of Santa Claus.
I commenced a similar journey when I was a kid.
Doubts crept in during that transitional age, when my attention split 50/50 between all things Star Wars and all things Kathy Ireland. I wanted to be a kid, but not be considered a kid. Plus, hormones. Adherence to the Christmas fable blended into that volatile mix.
For me, a Christmas trip from our Colorado home to visit relatives in Texas muddled my doctrine.
We left a decorated home with a present-free tree days before Christmas. My younger sister and I bound into the house after the New Year, half wanting to find Christmas magic, half fearful we’d see nothing had changed. We found the former – the glorious, faith-restoring former.
Marie waited for more organic evidence.
It came on a balmy Carolina midday. She played in the yard as I decorated the door for Christmas. Marie bounced over to my side, and that’s when it happened: A swoosh, some cobbles, and the distinct sound of a bell. She spun on her heels to see one of Santa’s reindeer hauling down the street.
I did hear the swoosh.
And the cobbles. Like, hooves, hitting the pavement. Only a couple of times, as if …
As if the danged thing took right off into the sky.
And the bell … I think I heard that too. Could I have?
Marie described the reindeer, right down to the red bridle.
“Gotta be Dasher,” I said. Clearly, he’d be the one trolling around the Carolinas mere weeks before the Super Bowl of holidays. Marie, unconvinced of a quick assessment of reindeer identification from a dad who couldn’t even wrap a Christmas door pretty, took it to a higher authority.
Not her mom. Higher.
Dear Santa … her note began. She described the scene, all the pertinent details. If the cops were after Dasher, they could’ve picked his antlered butt up in 15 minutes from her details.
Santa’s response came on Christmas morning, amid cookie crumbs and eggnog-induced, on a scrap of Christmas wrap, scribbled in cursive script that looked nothing like my handwriting.
Santa confirmed the reports. Dasher did go AWOL during the time in question. He’d been rumored in the Carolinas, where he’d met a love interest. Plus, he was there to keep a watch on Marie.
The answer appeased Marie. For another year, at least. And isn’t that all it takes?
Kids who seek this truth – perhaps their first in life they chase down themselves – don’t want indisputable proof of a hoax.
They want a wisp of hope.
She got that, for another year, until another Christmas season unfolded, with a not-so-common snowstorm weeks before Dec. 25. And that’s when she saw it.
Hoof prints in the snow, leading straight to a tree … then vanishing.
My sister can’t take credit for that one.
If you want to learn more about Eli head over to his blog post today!
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When he’s not collecting six-word responses from his strange blogger friends or answering questions for his three daughters, Eli Pacheco writes the blog Coach Daddy. Follow him on Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and Tumblr.
Now on to this week’s Literacy Musing Mondays Linkup. First let’s ….
Last Week’s Top Clicked Post!
Every Little Thing :: making a world of difference right where you are
{*plus* a video interview *and* a giveaway!}
In a not to miss interview, Katie featured Deidra sharing her words of wisdom and encouragement for all who question their significance in this life. I really loved her insight and special message. I hope you will check out this great review!
Want to be the next to be featured! Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to us so others will know about our link up and join in. We try to make it worth your while to linkup with us by promoting your posts across our social media networks. We also pin your posts to our Pinterest Board!
Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop! You will have until Saturdays at 12 p.m. now to link up! So come back often. 
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Linking up with these hops this week: Social Butterfly Sunday, #LifeGivingLinkup; Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday, Motivation Mondays, Good Morning Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Tell Me a True Story Blog Party, #Words with Winter Linkup, The Book Nook – Blog Party For Book Lovers!, Totally Terrific Tuesdays, Women with Intention Wednesdays, What to Read Wednesdays, Mom’s Library, A Little R &R Wednesday’s linkup, Kid Lit Blog Hop, Booknificent Thursdays, Cozy Reading Spot, and TGI Saturdays.
Also:
Magical.
I had two girls who would not settle on Christmas Eve.. and mama grew tired waiting for them to sleep so Santa could arrive. And then I remembered my Christmas wreath had jingle bells on it. A couple of open and closes of the front door, and the tinkling sounds…. you never saw two girls be quiet so fast.
So magic sometimes needs a helping hand; I’m okay with that.
Happy Christmas! 🙂
Lux recently posted…The Miss Universe 2015 Pageant: Life Lessons And Steve Harvey’s Story
What an amazing story! I love Christmas and the hope that is found in it as well. Thanks for hosting 🙂
Kelly @RaisingSamuels recently posted…Educents Holiday Gift Guide
Your kids are at an interesting age. And you are right, hope is what they want to hold on to, and I guess it is for the best, as they will have to deal with reality soon enough. 🙂
Shantala recently posted…Advice for Aspiring Authors from a Bestselling Author – Sundari Venkatraman
Thanks Shantala – I like to think of it as a lesson in faith too. I know as grown-ups, it does us a world of good if we believe in something so steadfastly that we can’t be nudged from it, even in the darkest hour.
Such a sweet story. Thanks for this glimpse into your holiday heart.
Michele Morin recently posted…Words Matter
Glad you liked it, Michele. Holidays are just a reminder sometimes that we create and maintain magic not just for us, but for our kids.
wonderful as always, eli )
thanks for checking it out beth – i know you’ll find more great stuff here, too.