Magic and Wonder

For Christmas, my Dad gave all his children and grandchildren the DVD, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". It's the story of a magical toy store where everything comes to life. There is a magical wooden block in the story. But ultimately, the characters have to find magic within themselves to make the block of wood work wonders.

Along with the DVD, my Dad gave us each our own "magical" block of wood. These blocks of wood came from a plum tree planted at our home thirty years ago. Thirty years of magical moments and memories growing up in the country, with parents who let us explore, create, and discover the magic life holds. The magic of apples becoming juice, of a tree becoming a child's play land, of an egg hatching a fuzzy chick, of daffodils popping up all over the lawn, of a seed eventually becoming corn on the cob for dinner. The magic, or miracle, of raising nine children in a small home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, of seeing home-cooked meals appear before our eyes every evening, of feeling safe in a home where the back door didn't even have a lock. Yes indeed, I lived a magical childhood.

We had magical toys as well. Tinker Toys turned into windmills. Legos into log homes. Plastic animals and fences turning an entire bedroom into a farm. A homemade Cabbage Patch Kid feeling more magical and special than the store bought versions. A box of buttons creating hours of sorting and discovering. The magic of a mom who played Scrabble and Memory. The magic of a Dad who played HighBid. And the MIRACLE that a mom and dad did not loose their minds having so many kids play so many games and with so many toys, while literally "under foot" in a small home.

But my Dad's true Christmas wish to all his family was that we would each "fill our Emporium with all the magic of the Gospel." More of a miraculous blessing than magic--and one that is for each of us to decide if we want to partake.

When my little three year old niece, Shay, opened her magical block of wood from Grandpas plum tree--she said, "wrap it back up quick!! Get it out of here!!" Her brother had convinced her that he could use the block's magic to turn her into a frog!! So funny!!!

Logan loved watching the movie on Christmas afternoon. And as a side note to those who do not know my Dad--he is quite similar to Mr. Magorium.

Thanks Dad!! We'll continue to try and see the magic in everyday living. We love you!!