I always thought we were one of those Hallmark families\u2014glowy and a little ridiculous. Hayden still tucks love notes in my coffee mug after twelve years, and our daughter Mya asks questions that make you fall in love with the world again.<\/p>\n
Each December, I try to bottle that magic for her. When she was five, I turned the living room into a snow globe\u2014cotton batting drifts and twinkle lights. Last year, I organized neighborhood caroling and let her lead \u201cRudolph.\u201d She hugged me afterward and whispered, \u201cThis is the best Christmas ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, I wrapped Nutcracker tickets in gold beneath the tree, eager to see her face.<\/p>\n
Days before Christmas, Mya was her curious self. \u201cHow do Santa\u2019s reindeer fly so long without getting tired?\u201d she asked. \u201cEven magical reindeer must get sleepy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSanta takes good care of them,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo they get special food?\u201d She thought hard. \u201cMaybe sandwiches? People need choices. Like Daddy likes turkey but you like chicken.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the mall, she told Santa just that.<\/p>\n
On Christmas Eve, the house sparkled with icicle lights. Mya spun in her red dress, declaring the lights looked like stars come to live on our street. We tucked her into pajamas early. \u201cThe sooner you sleep, the sooner morning comes,\u201d I told her.<\/p>\n
But at 2 a.m., I woke to find her door ajar\u2014and her bed empty. Panic hit. Hayden and I searched, then found a note by a present.<\/p>\n
Dear Santa,
Your reindeer must be very tired, so I left blankets, sandwiches, and Mom\u2019s car keys at the abandoned house across the street. Please let the reindeer rest there.<\/p>\n
Outside, I found Mya bundled on the porch, waiting. She smiled, proud of her rescue mission.<\/p>\n
Back home, she slept deeply. In the morning, a letter from Santa thanked her for her kindness, mentioning Vixen loved the vegetables.<\/p>\n
That Christmas, I realized Mya\u2019s kindness was the real magic\u2014lighting our home from within.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I always thought we were one of those Hallmark families\u2014glowy and a little ridiculous. Hayden still tucks love notes in my coffee mug after twelve years, and… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n