There really is a Santa Claus!!

He brought me what I wanted:  my brother!  It happened like this:

I was at church yesterday, where I had to sing a solo.  I sang "Oh, Holy Night".  I was very nervous, but I guess I did alright:  nobody booed or hissed at me when I sang.  Which is a good thing, I guess.  Anyway, after I was done singing, the pastor at my church, Pastor Milliken, said I'd done a very good job, and he asked someone in the audience to come up to the stage, because he had a message for me.

I saw this guy come up on stage; he was very tall and walked like someone in the Marines:  very sure of himself.  He had black hair and was very handsome.  I thought he looked familiar, but I wasn't sure.  That was, until he opened his mouth to speak.

It was my big brother, Tommy!!  He was home from the war!!

He thanked everyone for the prayers to keep him safe, and then he asked if I, his little brother, Mikey, was in the audience.  That was when I ran up on the platform and gave Tommy the world's biggest hug.  I was bawling like a baby, but I didn't care.  My Christmas wish had come true !  My big military Marine brother was home!!!!

Tommy told me he got in the day before Christmas Eve (Wednesday).  He wanted it to be a surprise.  Boy, howdy, it sure was!!  I didn't expect him to come home for Christmas; I thought he would have to spend it in far-off Iraq or Afghanistan, or wherever he was fighting in the war!

We had a most wonderful Christmas.  We all laughed, talked, and ate; we then got to our presents.  There was a bunch of 'em; Santa Claus was very good to the Kipplinger family!  I got a bike, a Wii game system, and while those were awesome gifts, nothing compared to my big military Marine brother, Tommy Joe, was home!!!!  That was the best gift of all!!

*To be continued.*