YES WORLD....... THERE IS A SANTA

Years ago,I taught first grade in a tiny town in Northwest Illinois. The population was about nine hundred people.
When I would read the newspaper I would chuckle because the paper would tell who went to who's house for Sunday dinner and what they ate.
When the Christmas season came along I decided to have all my children (class) write a letter to Santa and I sent the letters to the paper! The paper actually published all the kid's letters....PLUS MINE!! The letter I wrote said...."Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a car.....preferably a Celica.. and could you see about a date for New Year's Eve"?????? Signed, Laurie Wick
I didn't have a car, and had to walk everywhere....to school, the store, the laundry mat(all loaded down about a mile away)....hard times!!!
When Christmas vacation came, I got a ride to my folks house and my first surprise was a guy that showed up at my parents on New Year's Eve....wanting to take me out. He had driven all the way from Illinois. I didn't really know him though, so I sent him on his way.
When I got back to Illinois from the Christmas vacation, I got my mail from the post office. The letter I received was a shocker!!!! It said....."Dear Miss Wick, got your letter.... here's a down payment on your car (Celica).
Love, Santa".
Along with the letter was a money order for $1500.00 dollars. I didn't believe it was real so I showed it to a fellow teacher friend...she said "THIS IS REAL"!!!!! I started dancing on my kids desks at school!!!!!
I called home to let my parents know and my Dad's response was "send it back"...let me rephrase that..."SEND IT BACK"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called the state's attorney wondering what to do and he suggested me getting a poster saying "thank you " and putting it in the back window of my Celica!!! I called the bank and they told me I couldn't give the money back...it was already paid for!!!!!!!
I went back home, and my friend Bill... (future husband) helped me pick out a Celica!!!
I learned how to drive stick shift (kind of) that night and drove it home to Illinois!
I did get a poster and wrote THANK-YOU!!! and put it in my back window!
I would walk down the street and wonder if the person that gave me my car was right in front of me, or if it was a weirdo that would try something funny.....
I taught first grade for three years in that town and I never did find out who gave me that money. I was always wondering, though!
After my third year of teaching , Bill proposed to me and I was headed back to Wisconsin. On our way home, I wanted to show him one of my old students farm, because it was so huge and I loved this family! When we pulled in their driveway the family came out and said they knew I was leaving and didn't want to keep me wondering forever...IT WAS THEM!!! They were responsible for blessing me so abundantly! They told me that they got such a kick out of their daughter's stories from class, and they had the means ...so they wanted to bless me!!
It was a relief to finally know!!!!
I can certainly tell you with NO hesitation that YES!!! There is a Santa....and nowadays he works through wonderful caring people!!!I sure hope to be able to be "Santa" for alot of people soon!!!!!
In the meantime, if there is a need in your life that is too big for you, ASK!!!! You never know how, but I know God loves to surprise and bless us!!!!