“OLLIE….now try to stay awake son it’s only early evening!”
“(yawn)…Gee Mom…I wanna take a nap…..(yawn)”
“We’re HOOT owls son and we sleep during the day and hunt and eat and, well, do most everything at night.”
But Ollie was already asleep. His Mom nudged him back awake…”If you didn’t stay up all day chatting with those crows and hawks and all those “other” birds, you’d be able to do your chores and learn how to be a proper Hoot owl. Do I have to get your Father to fly back here and speak to you?”
“Ah….No Mom….I’ll…..be…..fine….ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ….” And Ollie was back fast asleep.
Ollie’s Mom just rolled her huge owl eyes and flew out of the tree to look for food as she did every evening.
Mom and Dad Hoot owl were out almost until sunrise while Ollie slept peacefully in the hollow tree dreaming about his beautiful green valley where he lived. He didn’t understand what all the fuss was about…almost every other animal in the valley slept at night and besides, at night you couldn’t even tell that the valley WAS green!
When Ollie told his Mom and Dad that all of his friends slept at night they said “But they aren’t Owls like us! Get some owl friends Ollie maybe you’ll be able to straighten out your horrid sleeping habits!”

Ollie did have to admit that the sun hurt his eyes quite a bit on really sunny days. He much preferred cloudy days and he also had to confess that he COULD see even tiny objects far away on totally moonless nights. He was sure he really WAS a Hoot owl even though some of his bird friends suggested that he might not be.
Ollie wanted to please his parents and he was proud to be a genuine Hoot owl but did wish that he could sleep at night at least on weekends. The next day Ollie tossed and turned in the nest trying to sleep but the chirping and daytime sounds of the valley were keeping him awake. His Mom put earplugs in Ollie’s ears and also fashioned a blindfold out of some mulberry leaves and that DID help some but Ollie still wanted to be out in the daylight having fun with his non owl friends.

It took weeks of trying before Ollie could sleep through the afternoon but he would still be the first one up each day and make lots of noises trying to wake his parents to keep himself from feeling lonely.
Eventually Ollie adjusted to the standard owl sleeping routine just as he became old enough to leave the home tree and strike out on his own.

And also one night he met Olivia, a very pretty Hoot owl from the far end of the green valley who was also striking out on her own. They would stay up all night talking and Ollie would tell Olivia about how the valley looked during the day and about all of his old friends that were awake all day long. But they both agreed that it was better and very natural to live a proper owl life…and so they did!

But occasionally, especially on weekends Ollie and Olivia WOULD stay up all day long!

Is there really a guy named Jack Frost?
Whose job it is to crisscross
The northern states all
At the end of the fall
Making sure that summer is lost

I can see that he’s been around
In the morning I look on the ground
If there’s lots of white
He came by last night
But who knows where he can be found?

I don’t really believe in him
I think it’s just somebody’s whim
I mean where does he go?
Is the next guy Jack Snow?
His existence seems rather dim

Mom says it’s just an old tale
That he coats every hill and each dale
But I’d ensure early spring
When Jack Thaw does his thing
I’d put that Jack Frost in jail!

‘Twas the day after Christmas
And all through the store
Great lines of people
stretched out of the door

They carried those presents
Unwrapped and unwanted
That they received yesterday
They were tired but undaunted

“I want to get something
In exchange for my gift
It’s been a tiring Christmas
And I need a lift!”

“That’s not why I’m here
Oh no, no…. not me
I just love my present
But I already have three!”

“I’m bringing mine back
That I got from my Honey
It’s kinda nice
But I’d rather have money!”

“I really like my gift
In fact, I think it’s great
But it was given to me
By someone I hate!”

“I can’t wait in line
Very long in this store
I’ve got other presents
That came from five more”

“I’ve got no time for this
And it’s a heck of a trek
We had family over
And the house is a wreck!”

“I know what you mean
I’m the same way too
I’m so glad it’s over
There’s too much to do”

“Well I’m very happy
To be in this store
Because counting today
There’s 364 more…

Days until Christmas
The most it can be
And the more days there are
The happier are we!”

And there were those too,
Who were saddened a bit
They only were there
‘Cause their gifts didn’t fit!

So Santa was finished
And Christmas was done
But the post Christmas cleanup
Is surely not fun

But it is a tradition
Every year at this time
And we have to give gifts
Almost spend our last dime

But it’s good for business
So it never ends
That’s why were all here
With most of our friends

Then one tiny hand
Reached out…tugged a skirt
“God hear’s you talking
And I know it must hurt

It’s his baby’s birthday
Jesus his son
That’s why we have Christmas
‘Cause he loved everyone

For our gift He gave Jesus
To us one and all…
Our gift’s in the manger
And not in the mall!”

Santa was busily delivering his Christmas bounty of gifts to GOOD little girls and boys when, instead of going on to the Smith’s house, next on his list, he circled around the Jones’ roof where he had just been because Santa thought that he had forgotten to leave the red bike with training wheels that Tommy had asked for.
Santa saw his own footprints in the snow but he also spotted a small person with a bag similar to his and the person was wearing a mask!
“What’s this?” exclaimed Santa. “This person is following me and I do believe that they may be taking the gifts that I’m leaving and that makes Santa very angry.”
Santa hovered the sleigh and commanded the reindeer to be very quiet as he watched to see the “bandit” emerge from the chimney, looking all around to see if they were being watched.
But they didn’t look up into the sky where Santa was hovering and that’s when Santa swooped in to land right in front of the “bandit” trapping them between the sled and the Jones’ chimney.
“SO!” Santa yelled, startling the person.
“Exactly WHAT are you doing following me and raiding the houses that I’ve gifted?”
“I…well…I…just…” the would be “Bandit” took off their mask as they spoke, and lo and behold it was a rather young woman who was speaking to Santa.
” I…was…just delivering these gift certificates to each house that you visit in this neighborhood. I figured that if you visit a home there must be good and deserving kids living there and I wanted to make sure these worthy families received the food vouchers so that they can have an even better Christmas.”
“Well…I’m amazed young lady, but why are you wearing the mask when you are doing such a noble deed?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know that I left the certificates and not Santa…well…you, Sir.”
“Hmmm…I see…I think. That’s a wonderful and generous thing that you’re doing but I don’t think that I should be given credit for something that you did.. But…tell you what! Why don’t you ride along with me from here on until you finish your generous giving?”
“Oh Santa, that would be wonderful!”
“And by the way, I recall leaving you that “Raggedy Ann” doll back a few years ago. You were a mostly good little girl “SARAH”, and you sure have become a fine young woman!”
And Sarah and Santa and the nine reindeer flew off to finish the Christmas Eve giving that is the true spirit that everyone should cherish and continue forever.

Most of you know Santa Claus is also named Kris Kringle, but I bet few know the real first name of Mrs. Claus. Well when she married our jolly friend (who by the way was quite thin and clean shaven at the time)and became Mrs. Claus or “Mother Christmas” as she is known in the United Kingdom, her first name was said by many to be either Mary…Jessica…Maya…or Carol…but I know the name that Santa calls her and it is none of those.
Almost all of the popular stories about Santa and Christmas hardly even mention Mrs. Claus who is the most important person of all to Santa. He always refers to her as “Dear” but he knows that her real name is….EVELYN. There…now you know.
Evelyn Kringle…AKA Mrs. Claus. And just one thing more before I finish, and it is perhaps the best-kept secret of all.
Santa says (and he is THE authority) that Mrs. Claus is the REAL Christmas “EVE”.

“Eve Dear, have you seen this year’s Christmas list? I can’t seem to locate it.”
Santa was looking in all the usual places.
“Why no Snookums, I haven’t seen it since last December”…replied Mrs. Claus.
“Well that was last year’s “GOOD” list and things may have drastically changed since then.” Santa said, while accidentally overturning the ribbon bin.
“Perhaps one of the elves has it to get a count of how many of a certain gift to make.” Mrs. Claus suggested.
“No…Elphonso would have told me…but I’ll check with him anyway.”
Santa buzzed the workshop on his special phone that was a gift from the C.E.O. of A.T.and T. who never did forget that Santa had brought him the Southern Pacific train set one Christmas when that C.E.O.’s parents were unemployed.
“Yes Boss…Elphonso here!” ansered the senior elf.
Santa asked about the list but got no positive answer from the busy workshop.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Santa. “Without that list even very misbehaving children will be getting top shelf gifts and that would set a very bad precedent!”
“Maybe the children who KNEW that they were not really as good as they could have been during the year will appreciate the kindness and forgiveness if you treat them as “Good List” kids.” Mrs. Claus slyly suggested.
“Hmmm….well…it may come to that if I can’t locate my list.”
Santa resumed digging through the back of the closet under the red and white trimmed suits stored there.
It was WAY too late to compile a new list and it wouldn’t be fair to use last year’s list, so Santa just sat in his big easy chair and resigned himself that Mrs. Claus’ suggestion of gifting EVERY kid would be his decision for at least this Christmas.
And kids…that was YESTERDAY!
So…all of you kids out there that were not exactly on your best behavior this year, (and you all know who you are) will get a gift from the Jolly Old Elf this Christmas.
So my suggestion to you is to enjoy the benefits of a “Good List” kid and do your very best to earn your own way onto the list next year.
Because we all know that Santa isn’t going to lose next year’s list don’t we!

Smack dab in the middle of a great green forest
Far beyond where anyone could see
Grew the tiniest smallest but surely the prettiest
Perfectly shaped evergreen tree

The big trees around him just blocked out the sun
And he could scarcely see stars when each day was done
He wanted to grow big and full like the others
He’d be eight feet tall had he had his druthers

A growing tree needs rain, air and sun
But this poor evergreen almost got none
His secret wish was one day to be
A brightly trimmed star-topped Christmas tree

But alak and alas
As the Christmas’ passed
Not one mortal soul came near him to see
What a spectacularly fine
Christmas tree he would be

It was now his third winter and with snow on his boughs
He was starting to hear some loud whooping yowls
As he glanced around, an astonishing sight
Two kids and two parents appeared in the night

“There it is! I told you…
I saw it before!”
“We just couldn’t find it
But we’ll be searching no more!”

The tree tried his best
Not to look at the axe
But if you want them to take you
You have to face facts

When the chopping was over and had NOT hurt a bit
The tree happily found that he perfectly fit…
In the bed of their pickup, an F150
On the ride home he thought “Man…this is nifty!”

What a wonderful Christmas it came to be
For the lucky family and of course, for the tree
So the littlest tree in the forest had his dreams come true
And if you’re good and patient your dreams will too!