livinliz112

All - here is the letter my grandmother wrote and the beautiful response.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897. [see The People’s Almanac, pp. 1358–9.]

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Here is a link with more info on the editorial, etc.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus – Beebo

That's fantastic!!!! I look forward to the special!!!! I will watch it after I get home for roller skating tonite!!!! =D:thumbup:

Awww I have mt tv set to record the Virginia special already!!!!! How neat!!! Send the letter =D

Good luck in the deposition Candra...breathe breathe....

Candra.... tear tear for the kitty but I am sending my good feline juju your way!!!! I loves my kitty cat she is my baby so I totally know how u must feel.

Donna... so glad you were able to experience that event this weekend, I heard it was awesome! I am so happy for you and your fill!!!!!! HappY bAnDiVersaRy!!!!!!! U go Miss Thang!!!!!! Woot Woot!

I think I need to measure food more..heheheh... I have had Migraines which makes it very hard to workout and busy with xmas stuff... gotta get on track. Doing well with eating though so i am proud. I realized I am not in a rush. This is for life. The holidays have been a test... food everywhere and i have done so great! I do know that I need to journal. My mom is gettuing better with support , well atleast not always eating crap in front of me. She slips up but has definetely made an effort and its helping me. I know the emotional toll it is taking having her in my home but I am working on it and not using food! whoo hoo. Seriously doesnt it feel like Friday????? I think the calender must be wrong.

I am going out to Celebrate a friends birthday this weekend and I will be drinking... any suggestions for something better for ya????

Have a great great trip Heather!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!! Take lotsa pics we will wanna see!

I am done wrapping all my presents which have grown and grown.lol. Today is our xmas luncheaon at work... taco bar so I am confident it will go just fine. I got to work and had presents waiting ;D

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo

hApPy MoNdAy ALL!!!!! New week to look forward too... planning and wrapping awaits. I fell off a bit this weekend. I went to see my friends lil girl sing a solo at a filipino performance and she was great! But guess what that means... lumpia and pancit so I had to have some... its very rude not to in the filipino culture, lmao- thats my story and I am sticking to it! ahahhaah. Totally worth it though... I have been very good accept for this wekend. So today is a new day, a new goal, and a new me. I spent the weekend surrounded by unconditional love and thats what I needed! A child can make it all better with a hug or even a look =D This is my favorite time of year and the great part about that is its not my fav because of the food.... its because of the GIVING and the love. I seriously cant stop buying toys for kids... and I dont have andy kids. LOL. Have a great week everybody. P.S. does anyone want my mother as a roomate... I am gonna stuff her in the xmas tree box in the garage soon.

Good Job Tina!!!!!!! =D Thats AWESOME!

LOL.... I can picture us in our overalls livin on the land hahhahah =D

Good luck Candra I know you are feeling alot of things lately... U need to go kick the heck out of a punching bag! So frustrating. This is such a crazy journey and a tuff one at that!!!!! Being tight with money at Xmas sucks... but xmas is not about money. Make things for people or give the coupons of thing you can do for them or with them later. Time is precious. I pray that your money comes through for you soon... it is so hard to eat healthy when you have lil funds. I will tell ya ... ground turkey goes along way and makes alot of things. Can you eat that?

Candra~ I completely understand what you have said. I am not going to get into things on here. Let me just say I have supported Nicoles relationship and been there for her and her boyfriend more than you would ever know. I want the best for her.

~I just wanted to let everyone know the reality of things and I will not appologize for that. I am in an akward position as Nicole and I are referred to as the twins or a team. I do not want to continue this as if all is great. This is a support group for the Lap-Band surgery and the journey... this is now part of my journey. A treu and harsh part of what can happen. Of course in the future I want the best for all of us but we are all going to hit a speed bump or 2 along the way. Honesty about what I am doing, eating, exercising, feeling is the best way to face this head on.

I am very sorry if anyone feels uncomfortable. I do not want anyone thinking about sides, We are adults. I was not going to continue a charade that I am great. I am not. I would not want to be a part of this group if I felt I had to lie or cover up the truth.I lay it out there as I see it.

My intention is not to drag anyone into this but to get advice regarding how to deal with this. I do not want people thinking it is all good between us and asking questions. I am not going to lie and pretend. Im am not going to put a fake front up when I am trying to make my life healthier and happier through this surgical and mental process. I am honest.

I am putting this out there. This is akward. Nicole and I are no longer speaking.Our friendship had broken down within 1 month of orientation. I thought we were stronger but thats not the case I do not know what to do in this situation. We are both striving for the same goal and need this group. I am very saddened by the turn of events. I thought I would go through this with my best friend but I am on my own not by choice.

I am looking for input regarding the program and succeeding during this type of thing. The circumstances are frustrating. Nicole did not want me to mention this but I really feel like I need too.

What does limiting this mean ...non-veggie/fruit carbs ?

The exercise is hard to get in. I have done well with walking the treadmill and stuff. I have a bad back and have to be careful. I have had Migraines for a couple days now and feel like I am at the end of the headache cycle... I hope!!!! That holds me back but I went to the gym and did the treadmill while having a lighter Migraine and walked.... wanted to vomit but I did it!!!! I dont have a workout partner so its tuff . But I have talked to a friend recently who is going to work out with me so I hope we can kick eachothers butts into gear..lol.

I would love to join the 12th... let me check things and see if I can.

I have done really good on the 1200 cal diet and am proud of myself despite going through hard times.

I am so looking forward to the holidays and being with those that love me for me and support me no matter what. My brother comes home from the Navy for the holidays and I cant wait!!!!! Keep on truckin.

Turkey burgers and oven fries.... so good!

Riley,.... it is like biofeedback.... i gotta rewire this head of mine. lol. Pam u r so right!!!!! My mother wants to stay the way she is and cant deal with me changing so she sets me up and then says well why did u do it to make me feel like crap. I need to take that frustration and anger i have and retrain myself. I am a work in progress!

Thank you Riley I am going to work harder and use the information you have given me. I appreciate it!!!!!!!!!! I am going to do the D!!!!!!

not awarer. lmao... im eating an apple and typing. dumbass

She said she would be awarer and I told her I will keep letting her know when I have a problem. She said she wants to try to do the diet too but she always strays away from it. I just told her I can not be around it. It triggers a million different things and once u cheat.... u cheat again. I am hoping she will be aware but she tends to be wrapped up in herself and doesnt care about what I need.

So I got home Saturday from group and there was a bag of cheeseburgers on the counter that my Mother bought!!!!!!!!!! Thats my fav.... so I ate 1!!!! Damn it. The next day I had a talk with her to please keep it away from me and hide it. I explained how tuff it is. Thats the support im getting... I am a very strong person but this is a totally different thing. People think cuz I am so strong with other things in life that this will be the same. It is frustrating when I am there for every crisis with people and the daily stuff but they cant even see I need help.

Good morning ladies.... so much too read I feel like I havent been on here in days. I will have to attempt to catch up later. I hope everyone has a great short week... and Thanksgiving!

Heather my dear.... U need to rest up for a while. There are a few colds and flus out there so u stay away from germs for atleast a week. Doctors orders!!!!

I will face the problem and learn to think differently.. a lil cognitive behavior I guess, lol. If I dont strangle people hahahahha. Good luck!