Do you believe?

Austin and Carter informed me a couple weeks ago that they no longer believed in Santa. Apparently someone from school had blown Santa's cover and spilled the beans about what really happens at Christmas. So, when Santa showed up at our house yesterday for a "good boy" check before Christmas, needless to say, the boys were perplexed.

Santa seemed to know an awful lot about their lives and what was going on, even the fact that they had been wrestling around to mom's dismay right before he came through the front door! He knew the name of the "bean spiller", and the fact that Austin found all the Christmas lists of what mom had purchased on the computer! (Yes, mom's having it rough lately!)

Their eyes were wide the entire time trying to figure out how in the world all of this could really be happening. Santa had a nice little chat with them about believing being what is in their hearts, even when things don't seem to make sense. It's like our belief in Jesus. We can't see him, but his spirit is in our hearts.

He then proceeded to give them each a little gift, along with a candy cane for being on the nice list this year. Mom told Santa he had better check again because she's not sure that's the list she would have put them on! Santa assured mom that he had been watching and overall they had been pretty good this year. Santa even gave the boys an extra candy cane to give to the bean spiller from him and told them he'd really like to back Rudolph up to his house on Christmas Day and have him leave a little present on the doorstep! Oh my, Santa's got a sense of humor!

Santa left them with some great advice about being good and helpful boys for mom and dad and then dashed back out the door. Austin and Carter ran to the window to watch him leave and were in amazement that Santa drove a truck with "blue fire flames on the front"! In their words, "That's a pretty sweet ride Santa has instead of his sleigh!"

So, do they believe? I'm not sure. However, I'm sure even if they do, this will be the last year. Austin has assured me he does. I'm pretty sure he's just savvy enough to know that if he says he does, then he'll get a Santa gift. Carter on the other hand, he's a bit more stubborn. He told me, "Let's just quit talking about this!"

May you all have safe travels and a very Merry Christmas!