Miss VC 2012: Boys and Girls Club of Ventura Christmas Party!

Everyone with the Boys and Girls Club
Kids!!

On December 21, I visited the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura to help with their annual Christmas Party! In addition to writing letters to Santa, enjoying a pizza lunch, and watching a demo by the Ventura County K-9 Unit, the kids sang Christmas carols with a guest guitarist and then got to visit with Santa, receive a wrapped book from me, and then pick a stuffed toy from underneath the Christmas tree! It was another opportunity for me to get into the Christmas spirit through seeing the joy on those children's faces... for some of these children, these are the only gifts they will receive this Christmas; for those volunteering and witnessing these children, it definitely puts things in perspective.
There was one particular child that put things into perspective for me and touched my spirit: every child got to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. A lot of children wanted computers, an iPad, a video game, or a particular toy of some sort, like dolls or a play set. A small little girl came up to Santa and instead asked for her grandmother to be there at Christmastime and for her family to get along on Christmas Day...
Sometimes around the Holidays, we get so lost in the Holiday "To-Do List;" needing to get all the shopping done; needing to decorate the house perfectly; needing to purchase and cook all of the food for visiting family and friends... that we can lose sight of what's really important: family, loved ones, thankfulness- the true spirit of the Holidays! That little girl served as a reminder for me to be grateful for all of the wonderful, loving people in my life: my family, my friends, my Miss VC family, my CSUN Music family- and to remember that it is not about the tree, the presents, or even the delicious Christmas food and sweets we all love; rather, it is about love, joy, thankfulness, and the true Holiday spirit! <3