The Christmas season has always been my absolute favorite time of the year. People just seem to treat each other a little bit better. When it snows, which is rare back in my hometown of Portland, Ore., the white seems to make everything so much more pure than normal. Nothing makes me happier than to stand outside my front door after everyone has gone to bed and watch and, more importantly, listen to the snow fall in front of a street light in my neighborhood. When snow coats everything, it takes all of the echo out of the everyday noises of outside and an almost a deafening silence takes its place.
When I was younger, I knew for a fact that Santa would come down the chimney, deliver presents for the whole family and be on his merry way. As an 8 year old, I would have sworn that I heard reindeer on the roof every year on Christmas Eve. As we all did, I grew up and, for me, Santa faded away. For my little sister, however, the magic will always be real.
When Kimberly Hailey was born into our family, we immediately knew she had Downs Syndrome. With a disability like Downs come many challenges — my parents grieved over the difficulties that would come from having achildwithDowns,asmostparentswould. What we hardly anticipated was the tremen- dous blessings she would bring to our family, especially during the holidays.
Kimmy was raised just as the rest of us kids were: believing that Santa brought gifts down the chimney, ate the cookies and drank the milk we laid out and went on his merry way. Now, 18 years later, she wouldn’t believe us if we told her he wasn’t real. She has no trouble believing in a little bit of magic.
What do you get when Santa is real in a house of grown ups? A 23-year-old married older sister, a 21-year-old brother and two parents putting out cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. You get a family that is constantly reminding each other to be good because the big man is watching. You get a family that can’t sleep because they are listening for the sound of hooves on the roof.
On Christmas morning, all because of the belief of our 18-year-old Kimmy, we all run downstairs to find that Santa really did bring presents for everyone. In the Hailey household, the Christmas spirit will always be alive and strong.DuringtheChristmasseason,it’ssoeasy to get lost in the stress and frustration of buying gifts. I have found though, that the excitement of a child seems to clear the fog and shine light on what Christmas is really all about. So this year, don’t forget to leave the milk and cookies out for Mr. C.
