My heart is so full!

This whole holiday season has been really nice. I have felt the spirit of Christmas with a peace and contentment that I haven't felt in years past. Other Christmas's have made me feel anxious and discontented about things and money and having "great" gifts for the kids. But this holiday has been different. Our neighbors have shown us so much love, just the camaraderie and friendship and passing around small gifts and cards to show appreciation for each other is so heartwarming, I love it.
But the reason my heart is so very full right now is because of our "Secret Santa". Since the 12th of December we have been receiving the cutest and most thoughtful gifts on our doorstep every evening. The perpetrators were very fast and would be gone in seconds when we opened the door. We got to the point that the kids knew to give them a few extra seconds before they excitedly opened the door. So the first two nights we got little cards with the gifts that said "On the first day of Christmas my Secret Santa gave to me...." and on the back of those cards Celise and I wrote how we felt to receive the gifts. Here is what I put on the first card.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY SECRET SANTA GAVE TO ME.. TWO CHRISTMAS PILLOWS
" 12/12/07 @ around 7pm
This was so fun to receive. The kids were so excited and we all were wondering who could have rang the doorbell and run away so FAST! I decided not to worry about it and just accept this gift with a grateful heart. I put the pillows on my sofa, they are soooo cute!!"

Well the gifts continued all the way up until last night, and were all so fun with a really nice Christmas book for the kids, card games and some nuts with the coolest nut cracker ever. All the dishes for a nice Christmas place setting. Lots of treats and goodies. And last night they gave us the stuff for a yummy Christmas dinner. I was so amazed and surprised when I saw who was at the door with the goods. It was my good friend Carly, her husband Brian and her parents Brenda and Kelly. I couldn't stop thinking about it all night. It was her and her husband Brian(it was a tradition that Brian had when he was a kid, so it was his idea) I just felt so overwhelmed with friendship and love from Carly, Brian and Carly's parents and sisters Jenny and Katie. It made me laugh to my self last night when I was thinking about the conversation I had with Jenny a week ago at the wedding. I was telling her about our "Secret Santa" and it was her who was in on it. How funny, also I think that she might have slipped out to make a trip to our house while I was there taking pictures. The gifts were so thoughtful too, so many things that they knew our family would love. Chips and Salsa... that is so cute Carly and Brian know how much the twins love Chips and Salsa, and actually the girls ate that for their breakfast the morning after we go it.

I could go on and on, this was the best surprise ever! It made our Christmas a very special one!! Thanks guys!! We love you all!!