Obviously astonished, a young boy recently stepped away from Santa’s lap in downtown Lemont and almost sang as he breathlessly announced, “That was the real Santa! He knew I didn’t make my bed!”

Eyes dazzling, he pranced back to his parents, where the joy and wonder of that short visit transferred to their eyes. Through this small, remarkable event and his youthful exuberance, light also began to dance in the eyes of others nearby.

It was as if Santa and his elves magically rekindled the wonders of the season. However, if one keeps their eyes open, it may seem that elves are also rekindling the wonders of the season throughout the village.

Among them, ‘Secret Santas’ are appearing everywhere to help families caught in a severe pinch from current economic woes, according to Officer Therese George of the Lemont Police Department.

Gifts for the youngest of children to food for Christmas feasts have been coming in to various groups for weeks, she said. Coordinated through the township this year, the different lists are being checked so hopefully no one will fall through the cracks and children and families are remembered everywhere a request for help has come in, George added.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “People are donating everywhere — through schools, churches, special organizations like the Jeff Anderson Children’s Foundation, community groups — all of them. And all the volunteers who help get everything packed and organized are awesome, too.”

“In addition, Terri O’Neill from Hope and Friendship would love to have help dividing and delivering meals on Christmas Day,” George said. For more information, e-mail O’Neill at hopeandfriendship@comcast.net.

Even the holiday lights are so appealing, it seems as if elves dotted them through the village.
One Christmas tradition brought an explosion of joy to our friend Sharon Cullnan. Taking her plus another friend and family for a short drive through adjoining subdivisions just north of McCarthy Road near Fourth Street was a bright spot in the season.

Block after block of street-lined trees wrapped in miniature lights, green around tree trunks and white around branches, twinkle in front of house after house with similarly defined roof lines and doorways. Here and there, small colored lights add detail to bushes, figures and windows. One neighbor reverses the tree colors, and another covers everything with marquee lights that could stop you in your tracks.

Her first visit to see the lights, Cullnan gasped, “Oh my goodness! It looks like a wonderland! Who were the elves who did this?”

So keep your eyes open, too, and look for the wonders all around you.

Among them, remember that from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 19, Midnight Madness comes to downtown Lemont. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, a respite night for families of children with special needs will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, 12725 Bell Road. At 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, an evening of holiday music with the Southwest Community Concert Band and special guests is offered at the Church of the Nazarene. For more information, call (708) 349-0454.