The Cabbage Patch Christmas

~Elizabeth~

Growing up, Jennifer and I were blessed to have wonderful parents who always kept wonderful Christmas Spirit and the magic of Santa Claus alive in our home. We hold many memories of Christmas Eves and Christmas mornings that included Santa being near (or just leaving), and made us strong believers (to this day we still "believe" in the magic of Santa).

There was Santa's snowy footprints in the hallway when we returned from Mass, how he knew to get me that "I love Lucy" card set even though I didn't include it in my letter to him, Santa's gift bag that became more empty as Christmas approached, and the Christmas calendar mouse that was always in front of our bedroom door when we woke that morning. There is one memory however, that stands out above the rest - and that is the year of the Cabbage Patch Dolls.

To keep us from sneaking around and trying to find our Christmas presents, our parents told us that Santa would make any presents we found disappear and we wouldn't get them come Christmas Morning. This usually worked - of course we didn't want to chance Christmas presents disappearing, nor did we want Santa thinking we were "bad".

However, one year a few weeks before Christmas, Jennifer and I decided to sneak around in our parent's closet. Why, I don't remember. I can't actually recall if it was to find presents or out of pure curiosity. We sometimes liked to go in there to try on our Mom's shoes and mess around...as all girls at that age probably did. Well, while we were in there we looked up, and to our surprise saw two boxes holding the newest Cabbage Patch Dolls.

"Oh my gosh, they're our Christmas presents; they got us the new Cabbage Patch Dolls!"

Then the realization of what we just did set in... "Jennifer, don't look! What are we going to do, they're going to disappear?! Should we tell Mommy?"

After debating on whether or not we should say anything, we decided to tell our Mom what just occurred in case Santa was still deciding on whether or not they'll be under the tree on Christmas morning. We let her know that we didn't mean to find them, and that we were very sorry. We were hoping that maybe Santa could overlook this, just this one time...

"Well girls, I appreciate you telling me but honestly I can't say what Santa will do. You know what happens when you go and find Christmas presents early."

We were devastated, but felt good that we had been honest.

That Christmas morning, we rose early and rushed down to our parents' room (not peeking into the living room of course; a strict rule Jennifer and I held). After we got them up and ran to the living room, we stood in front of the fireplace in awe. What did we find? Our brand new Cabbage Patch Dolls, boxes unwrapped and covered in soot. With the dolls, was a letter from Santa Claus, written in beautiful calligraphy -

Elizabeth & Jennifer,


Although you found these presents early, I appreciated that you went to your Mommy with honesty and good will. For this reason, and because you have been very good girls this year, I decided that you should enjoy your new Cabbage Patch Dolls. Please remember though, that you should never try to find your Christmas presents before Christmas morning.


Merry Christmas,
Santa

We were thrilled and amazed, and of course never ever snooped again. It was definitely a Christmas morning that will never be forgotten.