Oh, geeze! My girls have this amazing capacity for overwhelming my heart at unexpected times.

Yesterday we were at a nursing home acting as Santa's Helpers during thier family holiday event. There is a new Activities Director this year, and things were a little chaotic, but the girls (all of them) just jumped right in and did anything and everything that needed done! None of them held back, none of them whined or complained...and none of them expected anything in return, aside from a cookie and a cup of punch! I watched all these girls (ages 9-14) talk to, touch, and serve the residents...and my heart almost burst.

While some of the girls were with Santa, who had personal gifts for every resident; DD9 was helping serve the cake, cookies and punch to the residents who were gathered in the great room. As things were wrapping up, Santa was headed down all the halls to those who either didn't or couldn't come to the party. Since our girls had made decorations for each resident, they were going with him. I found DD9 with a lady in a wheelchair at the back of the room, who was having trouble managing her plate, gift and drink. DD9 was kneeling beside her, having quite the conversation and helping her eat her cake and cookies. I went by a couple of times, and each time, she told me that she was fine just where she was. Well, she spent almost an hour with that dear lady. Several of the nurses and aides came to me to tell me how precious my DD was, and how they never expected to see a girl that age being so devoted to someone she didn't even know.

Yeah, I'm bragging, I suppose....but I got the best Christmas gift yesterday: watching my girls give of themselves.