Giveaway #5.... and your gift....

Every year I purchase a new book to add to our Christmas collection.  The books are boxed up with all the Christmas decorations and then when we bring them out they sit in a bucket under the Christmas tree... a new book is added  and every night we read a book (or a chapter or two) depending on the book.  Tonight we started our new book, "SANTA'S SECRET" by Christy Hardman with Phil Porter.  Can I just tell you... we only got half way through chapter 2 and I CAN NOT WAIT until TOMORROW night!!  I'm HOOKED!!!! (I need to get me some specs though I'm afraid... I have a horrendous headache from reading tonight... getting OLD sure has some STINKY perks! That is what they are called isn't it?.... perks????.... LOL!) Anywhoo....

I was hooked from the very first page.... and I just KNEW this was the answer I was looking for, for over a week now.... I KNEW what I wanted to do my giveaway on tonight... but I just couldn't find a way to "KICK" it off ...until now! I'm so happy that we started this book tonight!  It was a answer to my prayer!

Santa's Secret Wish 

by Betty Worth Westrope 

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes

Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise,

And said as he sat on Santa's broad knee,

"I want your secret. Tell it to me.

I want to know how, as you travel about,

Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys

You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys?

Your bag is all bulging, it fills up the sleigh

Stays full, never empites, as you make your way

From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,

From nation to nation, reaching them all?" 

And Santa smiles kindly and said to the boy

"Don't ask me hard questions.  Don't you want a toy?" 

But the child shook his head, and Santa could see

That he needed the answer, "Now listen to me," 

He told that small boy with the light in his eyes, 

"My secret will make you sadder and yet wise.

The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside

It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.

But although I do visit each girl and boy 

I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy. 

Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,

Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.

Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve,

Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,

But for the homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,

And I pray with them that they'll be given the joy 

Of the Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit that lives 

In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

If only God hears me and answers my prayer,

When I visit next year, what I will find there 

Are homes filled with peace, and with giving and love

And boys and girls gifted with light from above. 

It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,

To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.

But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,

For God has a way of meeting each need.

That's part of the answer.  The rest, my dear youth,

Is that my sack is magic.  And that is the truth.

In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day 

More love than a Santa could e'er give away.

The sack never empties of love, or of joys 

'Cause inside it are prayers, and hope, not just toys.

The more that I give, the fuller it seems,

Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

And do you know something? You've got a sack too.

It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you.

It never gets empty, it's full from the start

It's the center of lights and love.  It's your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to hlep me,

Don't be so concerned with the gifts 'neath your tree.

Open that sack called your heart, and share

Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care." 

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing,

"Thanks for your secret.  I've got to be going." 

"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don't go.

Will you share?  Will you help?  Will you use what you know?"

And just for a moment the small boy stood still,

Touched his heart with his small hand, and whispered,
"I will."

OH MY!!! Isn't that just PERFECT!?!?! What more can I say.... I'm back on track... with the Christmas Spirit.... a heart full of love.... So, how does this work with this GIVEAWAY you ask... here is your task... (sorry... too much rhyming going on just now!!! LOL!)

ENTRY 1

I'm sure that we all know someone who could use a extra "HUG" and "PRAYER"  this time of year... 

WHO would you give that hug and prayer to and why? 

(You do not have to give names unless you want... but here is where it gets really fun!) 

If you win... so will your EXTRA HUG receiver! 

3 winners by entry ... 3 "unknown" winners because of your entry!

(I know, I know... that's 6 winners.. it should be 5 - but it just wasn't fair!) 

You can enter as many HUG & PRAYER receivers as you would like... 

Just make sure they are all in a separate entry.

Extra Entries: 

1-Become a FOLLOWER of this blog (or if you already are... let me know you are!) 

2-Post about this giveaway on your blog 

3-Post the "TIS THE SEASON" button on your blog 

This giveaway will end on Sunday Nov. 11 at 10:00 pm MST