as my little one still worries that Santa Claus won't find our house. We have decorated a tree outside, mommy made a call the "Santa Claus Mommy Hotline", I have assured her that his GPS and Night Vision Goggles are in tact and still worry, worry, worry. It was Christmas Eve we were coming home from Grandmas house where the green chili stew and posole smells are still wafering in my nose. Little one worries and says I hope we have done enough mommy. I remind her she has to get right to bed. When we park in our drive I look up at the beautiful full moon coming up over the Sandia's. I noticed there was a strange cloud beside the moon's glow. Quickly I thought of Little one and what I could do to get her to bed, so I tell her "Look Little One there is the after burn of Santa's sleigh. He's close and he can see you. Get to bed quick." She ran into the house, threw Grandma and Grandpa hugs and kisses and jumped into bed (my bed of course). Where she fell asleep in record time of 5 minutes.

Her Grandma and I laughed at how creative I have become. We talked for hours about how great it is to see her imagination and her belief in this great creature named Santa Claus. As the night grew longer we all went to bed, and I snuggled up with my sugar plum and whispered my thank you's for that we have received this year.

At 4:00 a.m. my little one woke with a gasp and whispered (loudly) in my ear "Mommy someone is in the kitchen. There is a light on." I woke, rubbed my eyes and looked towards the bedroom door. Sure enough someone was in the kitchen and a light was on. We giggled and gasped at the same time. "It's Santa!" "Shhhh, he will hear you. Go back to sleep." We fell back to sleep and woke again at 6:00 a.m. in that hazy, overhung, I was awakened at 4:00 a.m. by Santa feel and jumped out of bed. Little ran to the tree and then to the stockings. There was a tornado of wrapping paper. People were laughing. Little one was screaming and giggling. All of a sudden she became very serious and in her very dramatic tone says "What is up with Santa? He only put one slipper in my stocking." We searched for another slipper high and low, but couldn't find one. How wierd of Santa. We were just about finished when Grandpa found one last gift under the tree, thrown in the back. Yep the slipper.

With the presents done we filled our bellies and remembered past Christmas's and told stories and then Little One had a passing thought, "I bet that is why Santa turned on the kitchen light. He lost my slipper and had to find it. He was in such a hurry he probably threw it under the tree on his way out."

I looked at Grandma and she looked at me and we were warmed again by a child's imagination and insight.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.