Merry Christmas from Jim, Sue and Denny

Here is our Christmas Letter. I will still be mailing cards and letters this year but since I have not done a blog in a long time, I thought why not use our letter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009 FROM SUE, JIM AND DENNY!
Pull up a chair and hear the Tale of Christmas Eve 2008. For many, many, many years, my sweet husband, Jim has been a Secret Santa Helper. On Christmas Eve, he travels around to the homes of family and dear friends with small children. Jim has a set of "sleigh" bells for just the right effect. The parents call us and arrange an appropriate time for Santa to be out side on Christmas Eve. Over the years, Jim has had several companions a.k.a. helpers to assist him. For the past two years, that helper was me. I will have to say that Christmas Eve 2008 was the most memorable for several reasons. We arranged with three families to come to their homes and convince their little ones that Santa’s sleigh complete with reindeer was on their roof. The intent, of course, was to persuade the wee ones to scurry off to bed and go to sleep so that Santa could leave their gifts…. Well that was the plan.........

T’ was the Night before Christmas and all through the land Santa’s helpers scurried to lend him a helping hand. Sleigh bells to ring and cheer to bring to good little boys and girls in Tucker and Lilburn. Red flaming Sleigh (PT Cruiser) with a driver so lively she must be a blonde (Sue) accompanied Santa’s helper (Jim). (Yea, I know it doesn’t rhyme).

The first home was ready for a visit from little old Irish St. Nick but things just didn’t go as planned. Reminiscent of the Hounds of the Baskervilles or perhaps the Bumpass hounds (from A Christmas Story), we were greeted with loud and endless barking from the house next door which made it all but impossible for the three precious children to hear the sleigh bells or the rocks!!

At the next home, we parked behind a tree and called the Dad who needed a few minutes to get the dear children into their bedroom. Just as Jim was getting into position with jingle Bells in hand and rocks at the ready to throw on the roof for effect when what to our wondering eyes appeared but a mini-van delivering Christmas Cookies to the family. As soon as the visitors approached the house the security lights came on as bright as daylight … and stayed on…and on…. It was a bit anticlimactic but Santa Jim persevered with HO HO HO and jingle bells.

Well, that didn’t go as planned…..

Somewhat dissolutioned by these experiences, we drove to the third and final appointment – none other than the home of our practically perfect grandchildren. We called Victoria and Michael as we approached their home …… and they were watching a movie and were not ready for Santa’s appearance.

So………we drove around the neighborhood enjoying the Christmas decorations. One of their neighbors had outside Christmas lights that danced to the music on a designated radio station. How cool is that! After a 30min wait, we returned to their home and parked the car a couple of houses away. Jim got out of the car and looked for a good place to position himself and shake the bells so that the children would not see him. About this time, the neighbors who live directly across from Victoria and Michael came home and started staring at us. Unbeknownst to us, they called Victoria and asked if they should call the police because of the man lurking in their yard and the woman in a red car parked nearby. Now, that’s would have been something!!! She assured them that we were not robbers. Crazy maybe, but definitely not robbers! Well, finally it was time for Jim to ring the sleigh bells for the Taylor children (who by now know that Santa’s helper is Grandpa Jim.) Sigh…………

Finally, Santa Jim and his helper Granny Sue were home with Denny settling down for a long winter’s nap…….

You are probably wondering if we will be doing the Santa Sleigh ride this Christmas Eve……… (we will see what develops)

Merry Christmas to all!
Sue, Jim and Denny

Heavenly Father has blessed us in so many ways with so many good friends and dear family. Jim’s work in scouting as a mentor to young men working on their Eagle is tremendously rewarding. He is also teaching a class at church on Sunday (trying to keep the guys awake).
The birth of Jesus Christ, in fact, the life of Jesus Christ tells of Heavenly Father’s infinite love for each of us. We see his hand at work in our lives and are comforted by that knowledge.

Please keep in touch throughout the year. We really do care how you are and what you are doing. 2eteam@bellsouth.net