Sparking magic!

Holiday magic can find its way into the most unlikely of places. And sometimes, I’m reminded of that in unusual ways. Like this one memory that popped up on Facebook yesterday. In it, Handsome Pants had shared a picture of an Elf (of the Shelf variety) reposed in his battle helmet while he was on deployment to Afghanistan. And being that this picture was taken six years ago, it’s easy for me to forget the symbolism behind it.

You see, this particular Elf, named Alfred, is the second Elf for our family. Our first is a girl Elf named Rosie and she has been with us since the beginning of our parenthood journey. Alfred was a bonus Elf that joined our family on the sole wish of a sweet little girl. Blu was 5 when her Daddy deployed to a combat zone, and while her innocent mind struggled to grasp the seriousness of the assignment and the danger that accompanied it, she fixated on her concern over her father not having an Elf visit him while he spent Christmas halfway around the world. When I took her to visit Santa that year, her only wish was for her father to have an Elf of his own. And to everyone’s delight and surprise, one showed up and he brightened so many spirits in that dark and scary place. Alfred found adventure where you’d least expect it. He built a Christmas tree out of cases of water and decorated CHUs and MRAPs aplenty. He visited Handsome Pants and his fellow service members all throughout the month of December and warmed hearts both stateside and abroad while we all eagerly followed his shenanigans.

But the greatest joy that Alfred brought was the spark that he ignited in my daughter. She was over-the-moon to see an Elf join her Daddy in a war zone. And honestly, it made it all seem a little less scary to me, too. Any military spouse can tell you how it feels to know that your husband is in clear and imminent danger for months on end, so I won’t do that here. What I will tell you is that this small Elf eased some of that worry. I looked forward to pictures and updates to share with the kids each day and I’ll cherish the fact that his presence was born from the innermost wishes of little girl who just missed her Daddy.

I know the Elf on the Shelf isn’t for everyone. It’s a polarizing topic year after year, on social media and in real life. Some say it’s creepy, some say it’s a cop out for punishing children during the holidays and some say it takes away from the true spirit of Christmas. But for me, it’s a sign of hope and compassion. The manifestation of a child using her precious time with Santa to ask for something for someone else. And so, when Rosie and Alfred continue to visit us to this day, I smile and bask in the magic that they bring. I remind myself that while this year we’re lucky enough to be together, future Christmases aren’t promised and we have to cherish what we have right now. And I hope you have things in your life that can show you that, too.

What brings you holiday magic? Do you have a custom that you look forward to each holiday season? I’d love to hear more about what makes each of your hearts warm and glowy, too.