Final Christmas Tree Lighting on Ledward Barracks

Everything we do this year will be for the "final" time for the Schweinfurt military community. Tonight we attended the last Christmas Tree Lighting in front of the Command Building on Ledward Barracks. A storm was brewing as the bitter cold winds were picking up so the countdown to lighting up the giant tree couldn't have come sooner! It is always a spectacular sight to see such a display of light on a cut evergreen bigger than most have ever seen.

Our girls sipped on hot cocoa which left a chocolate ring around each of their lips. It seemed to fit well with
their santa hats. Santa arrived in a blaring firetruck. I think the girls were more excited about the truck than the man dressed in red. Loralynn is definitely more aware of Santa this year, though, because he took their stockings that were hung in her German Kindergarten classroom last night. Tomorrow at school they take a walk into the forest to find St. Nikolaus. He will be carrying a sack with their stockings that he filled with treats.

I'm having trouble with the Santa idea. I fully support and participate in pretend and the imaginary with my girls but with the full realization (on everyone's part) that it's not real. I often explain to Loralynn that some stories we read are fun and pretend. Other stories, like the ones in the Bible are real and actually happened. I haven't ever confirmed or denied that Santa is real to her. I try not to put emphasis on it because I really want Jesus to be the focus of the season in our home. I've never been partial to Santa decorations, so most of our decorations are lights and four very different Nativity scenes scattered about the house. I don't want to be the spoil-sport parent that tells her kids that Santa isn't real. But maybe that's the point of being a devoted believer in Christ-- to be counter-culture-- especially when it's diverting attention from our Savior. What do you think?

Being four years old now, this year is the first time she's gotten super hyped up about Christmas. She loves the lights, everything sparkly and shiny, decorations, Santa, presents and treats-- what kids doesn't? I really enjoy her excitement. Just before we went to the Christmas tree lighting, we went to the PX and found the one of two Christmas dresses in her size. We normally never buy clothes retail price, but we decided it would be a special treat for Loralynn. Luckily the one dress was sparkly. While we shopped, she walked around the racks hugging the hanging clothes that she thought were delightful and exclaimed, "Oh, Mama, I love them! Can we get this one... and this one... and this one?!" It was really cute watching her.