Posts Tagged ‘Santa Claus’

Is Santa Real?

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

One of the most “googled” questions this time of year is the question, is Santa is Real. Yes, Santa is Real. For those of you who got the book, The Santa Club, you know that answer is truthful. No, it may not be the Santa you see at the mall, that is a Santa helper, but Santa is a most amazing being who loves totally unconditional. Santa loves without getting anything in return. Santa loves kids and adults and every year finds a way to give toys, presents, and sometimes bigger gifts. And most importantly, Santa gives in secret. Giving is secret is one of the coolest things anyone can do and Santa does it every year. To give without even getting a thank you is the most selfless thing a person can do and if you celebrate Christmas, then you know that the celebration of Jesus is also about giving without desire for oneself. So Santa’s type of giving is a reflection on who’s birthday we celebrate. Santa doesn’t take away from Christmas, he actually, embraces the giving story of Christmas.

So, yes Santa is real and yes, you can be a Santa too by giving in secret and with love. When your child asks make sure you tell them the truth. Santa is real and that they can be a great Santa too.

Merry Christmas Everyone and have a wonderful, marvelous Happy New Year.

Kelly

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Irrational Giving

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

There is many times through the year where we can give to others. The most joyous time of the year is the holiday season. It can also be the most difficult time of the year for some. This year make it a wonderful time for other people by giving in secret. Anyone who has met my husband thinks he is the kindest man in the world, which he is. What they don’t know is my husband gives in ways that are simple, yet life changing. Joe is always smiling or a taking the time to say a kind word when someone is struggling. He always makes people feel better after they talk with him.

I call it irrational giving. Most people think irrational giving is something so big that it is hard to accomplish, but when you think about it, being kind and giving even when you don’t feel good, or when you may not prefer someone’s company, that is when giving is not so easy. Irrational giving is to always give, even when your emotions say don’t.

Irrational giving is also giving when giving doesn’t make sense. Giving to a co-worker who may not be the nicest person, or giving to a family member, when they never acknowledge you or support you. That is irrational giving at it’s best and for those, like my husband, they realize it is a wonderful blessing.

Giving in secret teaches irrational giving. When you give with no expectation of anything in return, you realize that giving is much more than what you choose to do as in who you are as a human. Every so often I remind my self that we can never “make” anyone do anything. We can however, make ourselves act the way we wish to be as a person. I wish to be kind and easy going. That doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated but what it does mean, is that I make decisions to overcome that frustration or emotion with an act of joy or kindness, regardless of the emotion.

Just like my husband makes a conscientious decision to be a giver.

Kids need examples and the Christmas season is the best time to show them irrational giving. How will you give this season, even when the chaos settles in? How will you overcome the desires of the season with the giving? How will you show your kids? The blessing of the season is it gives us opportunities to answer those questions in the best way possible for our families. So have fun this giving season and try Irrational giving, it is fun.

God Bless,

Kelly

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Blessings and Giving

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

 

We have much to be thankful for here at the Moss household.  Everyone is healthy, we are all very busy, and The Santa Club Book reviews are wonderful (TYG).  With life being a struggle for so many, we know how blessed we are and thank God every day.

Joe and I grew up in middle class families were money was not always there and times were sometimes tough.  We know what it was like to not have certain things and even in our blessings, we choose to never forget.  That is why The Santa Club is so important.  It is all about, the gift of giving and a way to give back.

We believe that material things are not important, that giving is.  Every day we try to give in some way.  Not every gift has to be monetary, but if we have extra money, we give it back to those that need it.  Saying that where and who needs it more?  As I have gotten older, I realize it is not about the need someone has, there is always need.  It is about giving where you are led to give.  When you give where you feel led to give then you have a vested interest. Everyone has a different “calling” to give in different places for different needs.  In our house I love to support missionaries, orphans and families fighting cancer.  Joe has a special place in his heart for the homeless, Jonathan thinks the Make- A- Wish Foundation, www.wish.org,  is the coolest, Jameson loves to support the Tug McGraw Foundation, www.tugmcgraw.org , and Alena wants to help everyone!  As a parent, that is the greatest gift you can give your child….letting them decide where they should give.  Just as we sometimes guide our children into things we love, we can also guide them into giving where we feel led to give.  A long time ago, we realized that our kids are individuals who have different desires and different callings on where they need to put their time, talents, and treasures.

So this Christmas our goal is to help families find an organization that fits their kids.  As we go on through the season we shall try and send information your way about organizations that are doing amazing work.  Most have stores to buy support products, some will need volunteers and even if your child just writes them a letter saying thanks for helping others, they will be able to give back.  In our family we give to many different charities and not all is giving through treasures.    We can give in many ways so this is not about money.  But as for our giving to each other, we do try to give with a purpose.  Since we are all t-shirt lovers, we give each other or family members t-shirts that help a charity.  The website sevenly.org, www.sevenly.org, is one of our favorite websites to find out about amazing charities and support them.  Every week they have a new charity that they sell t-shirts for.  Since t-shirts are cool and my kids love them, we support each charity by splurging on a t-shirt from Sevenly.

We also love hats.  Krochet Kids International, www.krochetkids.org  is an amazing charity that teaches woman to crochet in Uganda and now Peru.  The wonderful hats they make are then sold thru Krochet Kids with the proceeds going back to the women.   These are great places for your kids to buy someone in the family a “Santa” gift while learning about giving back.  As the time goes on both on Facebook and on my blog we shall link more and more charities that need support. Our prayer is that your child, with your support, will start to think about which charity they feel led to help.

Also by November 1st we shall have merchandise on our website ready to sell.  It will be fun merchandise with our logo for families to share.  11% gross of every product will go to charities like Krochet kids and the ones you see on Sevenly.  Our goal is to take the blessings we have and pass them on while spreading the message of The Santa Club Book.  We know that there are amazing charities and instead of starting another one we hope to funnel any blessings we have right back to them.

The Story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is all about giving.  God calls us all to do different things in our life so not all of us can be missionaries working in a charity. But we can all give back and what a wonderful time to do it during the Christmas Season. Thanks for checking out my blog and for checking out our site.  As we grow we pray we can be a blessing to you all as we have been blessed.  Merry Christmas Everyone and God Bless.

 

Kelly

P.S.  Please see some amazing charities below.  If it says parents check first it means the charity may be easiest explained to older children.  If you have any charities you would like us to list please email me at kelly@thesantaclub.net

 

MERCY SHIPS- Provide surgeries and medical care to the people of Sierra Leone-  www.mercyships.org

WORLD RELIEF- Provide peace building and protection from violence for the people of the Congo. (Parents check first)     http://worldrelief.org 

HOPE INTERNATIONAL- Provides opportunity for a family in Africa to escape poverty.    www.hopeinternational.org

LIVING WATER INTERNATIONAL- Provides clean water for families.   www.water.cc

FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION- Provides a new, free wheelchair to someone in a developing country.  www.freewheelchairmission.org

OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL- Provides Micro-Loans to poor families in Sub-Saharan Africa. www.opportunity.org

 

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The Biggest Parenting ___: Santa Club ( Taken from Catherine Crawford)

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Recently, I set up Google Alerts so I can keep up with anyone talking about The Santa Club.  I am not sure how I got this Google alert but a  blogger named Catherine Crawford wrote a great blog at Cafemom.com about Santa and how it can be the Biggest Parenting Lie.  I wanted to email her and send her a book, but couldn’t get her email.  So Catherine this blog is for you….

Her blog is about the problem parents are faced with when they have really smart kids and have friends or family who do not celebrate Christmas.  I hear you Catherine.  That was why The Santa Club came to be.  Jonathan, our oldest, is extremely smart.  Totally out there on some things. ( He called me the other day and told me of how amazing it was to hold someone’s brain in his hands!  He is 21 and decided to take Anatomy for fun…fun!) When Jonathan was a little boy, it was no different.  At six years old he asked the Santa Question.  The Average age is eight.  But low and behold Jonathan wanted to know before I was truly ready to answer.

By the next year Jameson had asked and both the boys knew who their Santa was.  It was also the year that the kids learned about the Jewish Holiday of Chanukah.  We have great friends who are Jewish and we were invited to their house during  Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.  What an amazing wonderful time for our kids.  Jonathan was asking a ton of questions and as we  celebrated  the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple.  I realized that night the melding of the two distinct holidays is a blessing.

You see, as a Christian, I love reading the bible.  It has great tales of history and the first five books are as important to me as the rest of The Bible books.  That year we got to explain the difference about the Jewish Religion and the Christian Religion.  Jonathan, ever the inquisitive child, got the difference.  When we later talked about Jewish Law during Jesus’ time he understood.  To this day my entire family loves the Jewish traditions and truly believes that the Jews are God’s chosen people.  Not to mention some of my oldest and dearest friends are Jewish.

The truth of Santa explains much more than the idea of getting gifts.  It explains the Gift of Giving and why the tradition began. Which in truth began because of a Jew named Jesus.  When you answer Is Santa Real, truthfully,  then the ability to share the stories of the Jewish religion and the Christian religion is made simple.  The melding of the two Religions only enforces the belief that there is something bigger than what we see here on earth.

It really is OK  if my Jewish friends don’t worship Jesus.  And I know with them, it is ok if I do.  When did it become that if I even talk about Jesus to someone who doesn’t believe it is offensive?  Why can’t Christmas be what it has always been, the celebration of the story of Jesus Christs’ birth?  To love what Jesus stood for and to love the story is not a bad thing, even if you may not be a Christian.

Catherine, I am sorry I had to write the comment on the end of your blog.  I would have loved to have contacted you directly so it doesn’t sound like a marketing pitch when I talk about my book.  But, this book really is the way to explain Santa.  It is true, and it is amazing and it is not a lie.  Santa is real.  He may not always be fat, or always be a man…but Santa is real and the true story of Giving is real too. The Gift of Giving is what it is all about and what parent doesn’t want to explain that.

Merry Christmas everyone and for my Jewish friends Happy Chanukah,

Kelly

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The Moment Your Child Asks, Is Santa Real?

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Last night I saw an amazing post on Facebook.  This wonderful family, who bought the book, posted that they had a family moment when all four of the members read the book together.  With two school age children, I am sure the question of Is Santa Real came up and out came the book.

I have to tell you, the post said that it was a wonderful moment. (Thanks Nancy)  That is what the book is all about.  It is about that moment with your child.  When they want an answer about Santa and you not only answer them truthfully, but you take them from Christmas being the time you receive gifts to the time that you give The Gift of Giving. They become part of something bigger.   Those moments are truly the time we need to cherish.  Kids grow so fast and those moments we sit together are very special indeed.

As this book starts to spread we hope that you will share your Santa stories.  It keeps us grounded on what this little book can do, and focused on what we need to accomplish to help other families. We really believe that this is a gift, The Santa Club Book.  A gift to us in that we can share it with the world and a gift from above in that we are blessed with being the caretaker.

Thanks again Nancy for sharing.  We are blessed and thankful you took the time.

Have an amazing Santa Club Day,

Kelly

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Adoption and The Holidays

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Whenever a new The Santa Club Book is sold, a portion of the book goes to charity.  Since we truly believe in “The Gift of Giving” we give at least 10% of the money we earn to charities that have a special heart for orphans or kids.  Sometimes you may see another charity that is for adults or other things listed due to need but the majority of our gifts go right back to organizations that are doing amazing work, mostly with orphans and exceptional children.

 Saying that, we do  have a very special place in our heart for orphans.  You can see why at the blog; http://mossfamilytravels.blogspot.com

In 2006 our family started the important goal of helping at least one child.  We are very open about our adoption and our daughter is very comfortable with this.   We wish other families to know how amazing it is when you bring a teen into your family.  Alena is a wonderful daughter and we are very proud of her. Our story has been an amazing adventure that we can say with clarity God has had a hand in.  Many families will tell you that.  Adoption is a part of something bigger and truly is an adventure. TYG 

Unfortunately, not all kids can be adopted.  In Kazakhstan we would have loved to have adopted more kids.  Unfortunately, just as the US, there are many kids who are not eligible for adoption. Some kids live in orphanages, children’s homes or foster care.  Our goal here at The Santa Club is to pass our blessings on to amazing charities that help these kids.

Charities like The Global Orphan Project, and Angels of East Africa. (See links below)  There are many other charities that need help that we are just contacting.  Please feel free to send us other worthy charities that need help.  As we are blessed with the books being sold, we shall pass on those blessings. Many of the amazing charities you can find on our link page.( One of the best is Jericho, the Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults in MA.-see the link page)

The holidays are a time for family and love.  May we remember the kids who are alone.  May we always be a shining light for them, so that they know they are loved, even from those so far and near. Thanks for visiting The Santa Club.

God Bless,

Kelly

The Global Orphan project

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Storytelling this Holiday Season

Friday, November 5th, 2010

I love storytelling.  Really love it.  I used to think that storytelling was a frivolous thing.  A way to pass the time, pure entertainment.  Like a jester in the medieval faire.   He would always recite stories but be the fool doing so.

Now, I think differently.  I realize that storytelling is really the communication of our lives.  I hear and tell stories every day.  My daughter tells me what school is like, a story.  My guys tell me about their classes and auditions, a story, and my husband tells me about his work, a story. I hear stories about my parent’s lives, and my beautiful nieces.  Our everyday life is made up of stories both good and bad.

My dad just called.  He is in Lake Placid, New York, watching our amazing nieces in their school play. It was a great story.  He told about how our oldest niece really shines when she is performing and the younger one was the best dog on stage! He also said that it is hard to be there in Lake Placid.  That everywhere he goes he thinks of my youngest brother Kevin, who passed. (See my past blog The Gift of Giving Can Be Given in Many Ways)  Lake Placid is a beautiful little town and nothing is far.  He told me how hard it is to drive by Kevin’s school where he taught, and the hockey rink, where he coached.  They were all places in Kevin’s story.  Even as short as Kevin’s story was it is so very important to us and others. Even though I miss Kevin terribly, I feel blessed to be a part of his short story here on earth. I know that I am much more blessed to have his short story intertwine with mine then not at all.  Kevin’s short story truly is a gift.

As I look back I think I have always thought of “stories” as made up.  But now I know that our everyday life is a story.  What we do, who we love, those actions are all part of our life stories.  I am sure you even have stories about doing laundry, cooking, cleaning if you think about it.  Going to work and doing chores are stories too.  Ones we want to make less of  in our overall story, but stories none the less.  Life becomes somewhat magical when you think about it that way, doesn’t it?  When I think I am making the bed, ok boring.  But when I think, I am making the bed as part of the story, it feels better.  It makes the chore so much more of a pause in bigger things to come.

This Christmas season is a time to make lots of new stories for you and your family.  When your child asks, Is Santa Real, think about how blessed you are to answer that question with the true story of Santa Claus.  I wish I could write what the book The Santa Club says.  (There is a fine line with answering the question, Is Santa Real, on the internet and smart children who are looking on the internet.)  I really believe that a parent or a special person in the child’s life should answer the question. For those of you who have asked, that is why the book must be read with a parent, grandparent or guardian.  Stories that we have together bond us. The moment when your child asks Is Santa Real, is a story in the making.

Part of talking about my book, is telling about that moment when my oldest Jonathan asked, Is Santa Real.  It is a great story. Now we have stories to tell from that point on with him, Jameson, and our daughter Alena just because of that moment.  Enjoy this Christmas Season; make great stories with your family, friends and new friends you meet.  Even the short stories, like Kevin’s are amazing and should be cherished.  Remember, you are very much a part of the story of life and this holiday season is great stories in the making.  Have a great Santa Club Day.

Kelly

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THE VOTE

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Since this blog is about everyday life then I wouldn’t be “keeping it real” if I did not talk about the historic vote last night.  First when I say historic, I mean just that…historic.  No emotion of whoo hoo or ooohhh, just exactly what it means, historic.  What was done last night has not been done in so very long, I think I heard 1943.  As I get older, I love watching history in action.  It is a humbling experience to think what we see firsthand, others will be studying for years to come.

So, what about the vote and how could this ever tie into Christmas and The Santa Club.  Well, I think it is the very essence of The Santa Club. I am sure you think I am stretching, but really let’s think about it.  The Gift of Giving and the story of Christmas are at the heart of Santa Claus.  I would like to think that most politicians are working to support our country, in the best way they are capable of, and that is giving.  They give their time, and they give of their energy.  Just like Santa…

I have been on many boards and know that working together when people have such different opinions is very hard.  We have also lived all over the country and know that because this country is so big, what is important to those in California, is not the same as Ohio.  Outside of the big issues the little issues run into play and we should never want to agree on everything because Santa Monica is not Cleveland and vice versa.  Think of it this way.  We lived in Santa Monica, CA, wonderful place, wonderful people. Santa Monica has a huge homeless population, really big.  Socially that is a big issue for them.  We have also lived in Parma, Ohio, great place, wonderful people there too.  Homelessness is not as much a social issue in Parma.

Homeless families and individuals should be all of our concerns, however, in Santa Monica it affects their budget, in Parma homelessness really isn’t a part of their budget…get the picture.  So, why can’t we see the differences at the National level and accept we are different?  If people voted because they are frustrated with the bickering in Washington, and I sure am, then really what people are saying is, give a little.  Give to each other.  Give kindness, give concern, and make your words Gifts of Giving.  Giving doesn’t have to be expensive and everyone who voted pretty much said, stop spending!

One of my favorite passages is Galatians 5:22-NIV- But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

That is what I think the vote is about and that is what The Santa Club is about.  Giving is as simple as a cheerful smile but real giving or loving others is following that passage.  No it is not easy and thank goodness I have loving family members who live this way every day and remind me to follow those words.

Now if only we could get all the politicians of every party to follow those words.  That is what I think people voted for, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control out of Washington. The love, joy, and faithfulness are also a part of it, but hey let’s start with the above and the rest will come.   Remember, this is not about a religion, it is the golden rules, it is what every mom teaches their child, and it is the essence in giving and the essence of The Santa Club. You can still be passionate, and still be strong. Please do not think the passage Galatians 5:22 waters strength and passion down.  It is just that self-control oversees the passion and strength.   “He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.” Lao Tzu

So today is a new day.  As every day goes by I have a chance to conquer myself.  I can conquer the P-90X video, the eight glasses of water goal, the healthy eating goal (don’t like that one), living the Fruit of The Spirit passage, and The Gift of Giving goals I have for today. Our country is amazing.  After living overseas and spending time in Central Asia I know that for a fact.  I am blessed to be a citizen of this great land and to watch history take place.  God Bless America and all of our elected officials.  May every one of them and you have a great Santa Club Day.

Kelly

PS If you like any of the blogs please share.  Thanks so much.

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