Grinches? NO WAY!!!!

Have you been to a Knights of Columbus Christmas Party for Special Needs children??? You haven't lived. It is the most FANTASTIC time you will ever have. Feeling a little down - Christmas blues? Go to this party and you WON"T be able to be Grouchy - guarantee!!! The JOY in this room is unbelievable!!! The Knights put out a feast of Chili, pasta, hot dogs, chips, all the trimmings and then cake (both yellow and chocolate) and ice-cream!!! Then the choir comes in and sings all kinds of Christmas songs to sing to. One of the special needs kids (young adult) Marc, sang Silent Night and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. The sound of clapping afterwards could be heard all the way to Downers Grove, I'm sure.

And as we all sang - Santa Claus is coming to Town we heard sirens and then - oh, my, they all ran to the street and who should they see? Santa, himself upon the back of a huge Fire truck - lights and sirens blazing! All the kids jumped and screamed and yelled!!! It's like nothing you've ever seen. Take all the cynical crap out of the world and you get - the special needs world.

Santa came in and started to read the names off the presents and one by one each child went up to sit on his lap and get their present. They were so thrilled. They so wear all their emotions upon their faces and you just can't help but be in awe of the sheer joy that they feel.

S got Little People and coloring book and crayons! She lined them all up on the table and just stared at them - anticipating going home and playing with them. There wasn't even one person not happy with their gift. So little means so lot to these kids. It really puts your faith back into Christmas when you attend this event. There's no commercialism, there's no jealousy, there's no keeping up with the Jone's'. It's just pure joy and celebration. Your heart just cant' help but overflow. Kids in wheel chairs are lifted up by adults and helped to dance to the carols. Kids that don't know each other except maybe seeing each other at swimming or something are now forming a dancing train- and for some that's quite a task.

Yes, Virginia - there IS a Santa Claus - he lives in every heart of a special needs child - no matter how old he/she is. You can be SURE that everyone one of them can hear the bells on the reindeer's harness.