Flying in an airplane

www.SantasHope.com 

     I recently flew from San Antonio to Portland, Oregon (Yes, Santa flies commercial airlines once in a while). 

     It was a most enjoyable trip, though nothing compared to flying in a sleigh. I sat alongside a farmer and his family who were returning from vacation. His two children sat beside their mother across the isle from us. They were very excited to be sitting so close to Santa and while at first were a bit apprehensive, quickly warmed up to a high excitement. When the Flight Attendant passed by, they were quick to point out their father was sitting alongside Santa. 

     The flight was a delightful one and we passed the time telling stories. No doubt the children would be telling their friends about this flight. 

     The plane descended into Portland with a smooth landing and once parked at the gate, we collected our things and filed out of the plane.  The pilot stood outside the cockpit door and greeted the passengers. When I passed by, I thanked him and commented about the delightful flight and smooth landing. He got a big grin on his face and said, "Thank you! That is high praise coming from you!" 

     People very often ask me what it is like to be Santa. I can tell you it is great. I love my job!! Everywhere I go, and most everyone I meet almost immediately warm up to me. It doesn't matter if it is a child or even a business executive. Everyone knows Santa is a loving and jolly fellow who is known for his gift-giving. 

Lone Star Santas bring their Convoy of Toys to San Marcos.

     Last month, about 50 of us Santas from around the state of Texas got together and took over 2,000 toys into a community that has suffered from major flooding with loss of life and property. We served the families and children who survived and had lost everything. It is an incredible experience to give love, a hug and an armful of toys to children and parents in those circumstances. 

     Considering others more important than  ourselves is something everyone can do, not just Santa. All we have to do is keep our eyes open and our hearts ready to serve and to give. Even if you don't have anything you can give materially, most often, all people want is to know someone cares and is there to love them. It is the heart of God lived out through each of us to others. 

     With Christmas 2015 fast upon us, let each of us be thankful.

A PROPOSAL & a MARRIAGE!
http://www.santashope.com/2012b.php

Early in December 2012, Kevin F. called me to request a special visit for his fiance and himself. Kevin wanted to propose to his fiance, Deborah, and wanted Santa to deliver the engagement ring to her.  It was intended to be a grand surprise. On December 22, I met Kevin F. & Deborah C. at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Dallas where he had taken her for dinner. 

     As planned, Santa would go from table to table talking to guests of the restaurant and passing out candy canes and would work my way over to Kevin & Deborah's table. Deborah did not know I was actually there for her.  As I got closer to their table, she began waving, attempting to get my attention anyhow. Finally, I made it to their table, gave them each a candy cane and talked with them about Christmas plans. 

     As I prepared to leave, Deborah made a comment, wondering what else might be in my bag. I turned and handed her and Kevin a reindeer button, which she was delighted with and thanked me.  And then as I was preparing to turn and leave, I said, "Oh wait, there is something else in here for you." I then handed Kevin the ring box and he began his proposal.  Deborah said "Yes!" 

In early June, Kevin F. called me to say that he and Deborah wanted me to perform their wedding since I was an ordained pastor.  I heartily agreed.

     On August 16th, along the shoreline of Turtle Creek in Dallas, I married Kevin & Deborah. In a quiet ceremony among family and close friends, and a badelynge/a bunch/a brace/a flock/a paddling/a raft/ a team or a dover of ducks, I married them. 

     There were no turtles seen that day. 

     Deborah makes a beautiful bride and together they make a very handsome couple.

Santa Kevin

Never out of Season

I was on a book tour this week and at one point stopped at a Christmas tree farm.  It was the middle of the week, but the parking lot was packed out and at one end sat a couple of school buses.  Children and parents were all over the place.  I've been in situations like this before and know how easy it is for Santa to be mobbed as children see him.  Somehow, I had to get from my four cylinder sleigh to the barn without a lot of attention.  As I considered how to do this, my wife called and wondered how I was doing, so I told her of my predicament.  She laughed.  She thought it was pretty funny.

She was about to have even more to laugh about.  As I prepared to get out of my car, another two school buses full of kids pulled into the lot and parked directly across from me.  Every window on my side of the buses had eyes and noses pressed against it looking at me.

It is part of the territory of being Santa.  Doesn't matter what time of year, or where you are at.  I've had children turn around in church and wave at me and whisper back and forth all giggly.  Frankly, I get a lot of attention from grown adults, too. 

So what do I say to  people and children who stop me?  I tell them a little about who Nicholas was and why he was so beloved.  And then I ask them if they are secret-givers like Santa, people who look out for others in need and give to them.  Being a secret-giver is more about who we are and who we follow.  Nicholas was a believer in Jesus and from that love, he learned to love others and give unselfishly to others. 

Being a secret-giver is never out of season.  It can be done anytime, anywhere and to anyone who is in need.  It is one of the true joys of being human. 

So let the children come.  I have a wonderful message to tell to anyone willing to listen. 

Oh, and, Merry Christmas!

http://www.santashope.com/ This afternoon, about a dozen of us Santas from Texas left for Joplin, MO to take up 2 trailers full plus RV's and pickups full of toys.  They will be passed out to the children in Oklahoma City and Joplin whose families were devastated by the recent tornados.  We took up about 1000 toys plus about 10 cases of children's books and evangelistic booklets as well.  We may well run out.

This whole effort has grown a great deal from an idea last week, and most of us (probably all of us) want to see this as a regular effort of Santas here in Texas.  As natural disasters occur in our region, we want to be prepared to take caravans to these locales to bless the children and families.  This is an effort that is part of our 'Lone Star Santa' organization here in Texas.

It will mean that we will need to begin toy drives immediately on our return.

The reason I bring this up here is two-fold.  First and most important, it is an effort that completely is in character with Santa.  It is who we are that we look out after the needs of others and try to bless them in as many ways as we can.  It is almost more important for us to do these kind of things as it is for the children and families that will be blessed by it.

Second, there is something to be said for forward thinking.  We got going on this quite late and still came up with about 1000 gifts plus books and things.  But with more planning and preparation, we will be able to better meet and bless others.  I don't know how many states and regions have regional Santa groups, but this is something that has been great fun for all of us.  We have learned some important short cuts and resources that I will attempt to write up and provide to anyone who wants to run with this in their own area.  THIS IS CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR AROUND!!!!

Merry Christmas!  "Consider others above yourself!"
Santa Kevin  sk@santashope.com

WOW! I mean WOW!!

This afternoon, I received a picture message on my phone of a 5 month girl sitting on the lap of the Easter Bunny. Now ordinarily, this would not be something all that exciting for most of us except the girls mother.  But it was the little girl's mother who asked the manager to send this picture to Santa.

Just a few days before Christmas this last year, a woman arrived at our Santa land just as I (Santa) was leaving.  My manager told the woman that Santa was leaving for a much needed dinner break and she would need to bring her daughter back in an hour to be photographed with Santa.  Well, the mother pleaded with my manager who referred her to me.  She came to me and pleaded with me to allow her daughter to be photographed with Santa.  It would be too difficult for her daughter to wait until I returned and she wanted a picture of her with Santa.  I overheard her mother say her daughter was about to have major surgery.

I went back over and took her infant daughter in my arms and my manager photographed the two of us for her mother.

As the mother prepared to take her daughter, I asked her what she had told my manager.  It turned out when her daughter was born, she had a defective heart and was going in for major open heart surgery to repair a large hole the day after Christmas.  I asked her if I could pray for her daughter, and she quickly agreed.

So the two of us took her daughter and sat back down and bowed our heads in prayer asking God to heal her and to guide the hands of the surgeons in Jesus name.  As you can see, the grandmother urged my manager to take a picture of our prayer.

It turns out that the picture on the right was the one mom purchased and took home that day.  She wanted to remember the time when Santa prayed for her daughter.

What a blessing it was for me to get this new picture of her daughter a few months later. 

Some things are just too good!

By the way, it is only 260 more days till Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

It is a Thursday morning in Early October, only 79 days till Christmas. It's coming so fast I can't wait! Can you?
Christmas is of course the busiest time of year for me, but I also enjoy meeting children all year long, like when I go out for walks, or out to dinner with Mrs. Claus. You never know when you might see me, or I see you.
So be good and obey your Mom and Dad. Show them how much you love them by doing nice things for them and for others. Especially your brothers and sisters.
It won't be long now!