At this time of year, we think of angels more than at any other time of year. The angels announced the coming of the Christ Child. First to his mother, Mary and then to the shepherds and wise men. We associate angels with Christmas. Therefore, my Christmas story is one of angels, but these angels are those wonderful earth angels. Those loving souls that give good will to men with all they do on earth.

Story Number 3 "Santa Comes To Town"

About 10 years ago, in a small town of 286 people in northern Arkansas, we were having coffee with some friends. This couple, in their late 60's wanted to start something new in the little town.

"Lets bring Santa to Lead Hill for the children"

What a great idea! You know that every Mall and Department Store has a Santa. You wait in line with your clean, cute child, and you wait and you wait! By the time your child gets to sit on Santa's lap, the child is grumpy, sometimes crying. Santa sits him or her on his knee, they snap a photo and off you go, but not until you lay out 4 or 5 bucks or more for you photo. It's no wonder you see so many crying children and worn out parents.

Well, we were going to do things differently! We planned and planned. We bought film, borrowed a camera for instant pictures. We bought apples, oranges and candy canes. We asked to use City Hall. This was a very small town, the City Hall was one room, but it was the best we had. Advertisements were hand drawn and copied, then posted anywhere we could find a spot. The local radio station gave us Public Broadcasting time to let people know "Santa was coming to Lead Hill and children of all ages were welcome"

The night before, a small group of about five couples decorated City Hall, put up a Christmas tree and decorated an office chair, we had a back drop made from a table cloth. The next day homemade cookies appeared like magic, huge pots of hot chocolate and coffee were brewed.

We whispered among ourselves "I wonder if people will show up?" About half an hour before Santa was to appear, cars started pulling up, children piled out, LOTS of children. Their eyes bright with the magic that Santa inspires in all of us.

Finally, at the appointed time, the doors were opened, and there sitting on his fancy seat was dear old Santa. The children lined up, all of them peeping around the one in front to see Jolly Ole Saint Nick. For the next two hours Santa talked with the children, they sat in his lap, they laughed and told him all the things they wanted for Christmas. They ate cookies and drank hot chocolate and then went back to talk to Santa again. They had their pictures made on Santa's lap, hugging Santa and Santa hugging them back. They took home brown paper bags with the apples, oranges and candy. Santa's visitors ranged from age 7 weeks to 95 years.

The 95 year old child had never sat on Santa's lap before and had never had her picture taken with Santa until that day. Pictures went for $1.00, just enough to cover the cost of the film. There were families who didn't have the money to cover the cost of a picture, many had several children. They each received a picture, we had all agreed to cover the cost for these pictures out of our own pockets. Every child deserves to have the magic of Santa. It was Christmas! This was giving!

There was not a single person that day that didn't have fun, especially Santa! We counted the children that we had that year, there were 30 kids, not counting the adults. To us, this was a success. We were a tired bunch that evening. The decorations were taken down, City Hall was cleaned and put back in order. Plans began for the next year.............

The next year we were at City Hall again. But.......Santa arrived by firetruck, sirens blowing, lights flashing and the crowd of children laughing and waving. Again we enjoyed a great success, more children this year. We had about 45 kids!!

Over the years our "Visit with Santa" has grown, we had to move to the firestation. We have a separate room for Santa in his own sleigh. A beautiful back drop, painted by one of the elves, shows a small town at Christmas with snow all around. The firetruck is decorated each year before it picks up Santa at a hidden location. We have tables and chairs for everyone to come and visit and stay and laugh and talk. The walkway into Santa's room is lined with huge candy canes. Christmas music plays in the background and the feeling of community and family is everywhere. The elves discovered some merchants willing to donate items, such as toys, film, candy, cocoa and money.

For the past 6 years, all the pictures have been free. Each child receives a wrapped present and a bag full of candy, apples or oranges and small toys inside. There are drawings for larger toys. We are proud that there is no cost to the families who come to visit. Every year we have people donating money, donating time, giving to keep this wonderful event going in this town. Each year something new is added to the decorations. Each year plates of homemade cookies appear. More and more people pitch in to help. And still we have children for ages 7 days old to 95 years young. The number of children has grown too, last year, 120 children from all over the area came to see Santa.

Santa has been visiting Lead Hill for ten years now, it is as much a part of the community as the annual Fourth of July picnic. All of the people who help with Santa's visit are angels on earth. But as time drawns near for his annual visit, we are a little sad, you see our Santa, who is now in his late 70's, will be stepping down from the firetruck for the last time. This gentle man and wonderful his wife have decided to let a younger Santa take over. They will still be with us, helping. planning and begging for film, candy and toys all year long. These gentle, loving people, who love children so much,decided to bring joy to as many children as they could. They were the ones with the idea and the determination to bring it to life. They give their love, their time and their money each year to make children happy.

Children ages 7 days old to 95 years young.

God bless our Christmas Angels!!

God has certainly blessed us with their presents in our lives.