Christmas In July

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

– Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

My Dear Friends,

It’s no secret I love Christmas. I listen to Christmas music in October. My husband created “Christmas” in April because I had always dreamed of a Christmas proposal and engagement. And, I’ve always believed Christmas miracles can and do happen all year round. Well, when I think about the money you gave, and the encouraging words and love you sent my family during The Moms We Love Club (# Love For Jesse) campaign in an effort to raise $5,000 towards an adaptive vehicle for Nora, all I see is an overwhelming, joy – filled Christmas miracle. The type of miracle you see in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” (and yes, I watch this film twice a year, once during Christmas time and once in July, just in case I don’t have time to fully enjoy and appreciate it during the busyness of the holiday season.)

In the last scene of the film, half the town of Bedford Falls crams into George Baily’s (Jimmy Stewart’s) living room. The community empties their pockets and pours money onto the kitchen table while George and his family hardly say a word, until Mary (George’s wife), stands on a chair and shouts, “How about some wine!?” (a girl after my own heart) and the room breaks into music and song. George’s brother, Harry, gives a toast “To my big brother George, the richest man in town!” And then I (along with the rest of the world) burst into tears as the film concludes to the entire living room singing “Auld Lang Syne” (“For old times sake.”) You can watch the full scene here.

Being featured by The Mom’s We Love Club this month, was (almost) like living this scene from “It’s A Wonderful Life.” When I woke up on the first day of the campaign, PayPal informed me there was over $2,000 “waiting for me.” As I scrolled through “sent” money from both PayPal and Venmo, I was overwhelmed by names (and dollars) from friends (new friends and old friends), businesses, family, our extended community and of course, from complete strangers. Some people gave $5 and some people gave $500 dollars. Over the next 24- 72 hours, Tyler and I watched as people continued to pour into our online “living room” and pile money from their pockets onto our digital dining room table.

On the second day of the campaign, as I sat at my cousin’s wedding rehearsal dinner at a Christmas Tree farm in Washington, Anjuli texted me for an updated total to conclude the Instagram campaign; I did the math from PayPal and Venmo and told her The Moms We Love Club had raised $8,200! (yes, this is almost exactly the same amount of money Uncle Billy lost in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.”) As I write to you today, at the end of July, I am pleased to tell you that the total amount raised by The Moms We Love Club is now over $10,000. Friends, that is nearly double what these women set out to raise.

And, like George Baily standing next to a Christmas tree, watching the community pour into the living room, my family and I do not have the words to communicate everything this campaign has stirred in our hearts. But I can say our family is so grateful for each of you, for your generosity and for the (ongoing) encouragement and support you provide our family.

And, I think a celebration is in order. So like Mary Baily, standing on a chair in her living room, I’d like to pop the bubbly and officially close this campaign with a toast:

To you my friends, thank you for your gracious gifts, words of encouragement, humble and consistent support as we walk this unexpected, beautiful path together. Now, let’s cue the confetti and raise a glass to Christmas miracles – yours and mine – today and always.

Merry Christmas,

The Van Leeuwen Family

Photo Credit: Jessica Rice Photography