For those of you who have been stalking my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: thank you for entertaining me all night with your increasingly-frustrated and confused comments on all of my pictures from my adventure to the North Pole. But now I feel as if I have some explaining to do.
I really DID go to the North Pole, you guys. Along with 82 terminally ill, disabled, homeless, or under-privileged children and dozens of other volunteers, I got on the "fastest jet in the whole world" and literally FLEW to the North Pole. Well, actually the United Airlines hangar just outside of DIA decorated as the North Pole. And it was on a Boeing 757.
The event is called Fantasy Flight and United Airlines, partnered with the Starlight Children's Foundation, has been hosting it every year since 1991. Children are invited to come on the adventure of their little lives to meet Santa and receive literally everything they want for Christmas. Let me tell you, there was not a dry eye in the building. You can't help but be affected when you see that much magic in one place.
My mom works for United so she got the tip that volunteers were needed for the event. We went to the hangar on Friday night and set up dozens of Christmas trees, lights, and games for the kids. After many hours of assembling all that Christmas cheer, my own anticipation for the next day was at an all-time high.
I arrived at the hangar yesterday at noon to check in and receive my boarding pass. Much to my delight, our gate number was SNOWFLAKES and our destination really did say NORTH POLE. The little kid in me squealed with excitement (I'm totally keeping that ticket forever). Once all of the volunteers checked in, we boarded buses to take us to the terminal. We arrived and all of us, clad in gaudy Christmas sweaters and donning Santa hats, pranced to the media room for briefing of the event.
As we sat in anticipation we were given explanation for what to expect from the day. My eyes welled up as I heard about some of the children we would get to love and share some smiles with. Children with blood diseases, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, and cancer. Some others were coming from a women's shelter. My heart was breaking wide open. This event was most of these children's only Christmas this year, and as much as I hate to even think of it, maybe some of their last. As I sat there and listened to the special instructions for the children in wheelchairs, with stomach tubes, etc., I cried. I literally just started trickling a million tears. We were providing so much light in the lives of children who have experienced so much darkness. Immediately I knew this day was going to change all of us.
The volunteers were grouped up and given signs that had different Christmas symbols on them. Candy canes, Santa hats, snowmen, gingerbread cookies, presents, snowflakes, jingle bells, you name it. My group got the angel. "How appropriate," my mom said. I agreed. These signs would correspond to stickers the children would be given once they arrived at the airport so that everyone would have volunteers to help them through security. It reminded me of Vacation Bible School teams. Everyone has a symbol and a leader. This was definitely the most effective way to organize almost a hundred ecstatic children.
When we got word that the buses had arrived we all picked up and ran outside to greet them. As we formed a tunnel and sang Christmas carols, the children started walking into the terminal. Through tears and a smile I sang the most terrible rendition of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" I have ever sang. It's hard to carol well when you're trying that hard to keep yourself together. These were the cutest kids I had ever laid eyes on and the wonder in their eyes as they came in is something I will never EVER forget. They knew they were on their way to meet Santa himself. Today was the most special.
We escorted everyone back to the media room for the children to pick up their boarding passes. After being assigned a group of little angels, we were off to security. The ratio was perfect: about one volunteer per child. My little angel was a 4-year-old named Josie and she melted my heart all day long. A special security line was set aside for everyone going to the North Pole, so we all felt like we were getting celebrity treatment. After wrangling all six children through the metal detector we went down the escalators to board "Santa's Train" to get to our gate. Usually only one train to the concourses is running at DIA, but this time the second was blocked off for Santa's VIPs. Once again, star treatment.
Josie held onto my hand for dear life, and I certainly didn't mind. She kept asking questions about the North Pole because I told her I had been there before and I was friends with Santa. I would tell her that I eat cookies with him and Mrs. C all the time and she would put her head to the side and say, "Nah... wait. Are you being joking?! You really do that?!" Adorable. The train took us straight to the concourse at 30mph and we disembarked to find our gate. It was such a sight to see hundreds of people walking through the airport in Christmas attire. I loved all the looks we were getting.
We sat at the gate for almost an hour being entertained by Ronald McDonald himself. My very rational fear of clowns aside, it was a pretty cute show. He did a few magic tricks and the kids were certainly enjoying it all. When it was time to board the plane Josie ran to me and exclaimed, "WE'RE REALLY GOING!" Her outcries mirrored the ones in my heart. We were really going! Santa was waiting!
We got on the plane that had been decorated all over with garland and Christmas appliques, accompanied by flight attendants dressed as elves. Christmas carols echoed over the plane's PA system. I was just as consumed by the magic as the kids were. We sat down and got buckled in. Josie looked out the window and asked questions about the airplane's wings, my favorite toys, and Santa's workshop. When it was time for takeoff she screamed. As the plane ascended into the air, the Captain informed us that reindeer were leading the way. We needed to close all of our window shutters because the North Pole is a super-secret location and we didn't want anyone to see the lights from our plane (really it was because the plane was just going to circle in the air before landing a few miles away from DIA). Every child received a Happy Meal and we all sang more carols together. As the 40-minute flight came to a close the children were antsier than ever.
After landing on "Santa's Landing Strip 1" we pulled directly into the North Pole airplane hangar so we wouldn't get frostbite. Once inside we were instructed to open our windows for a surprise. Santa and several elves circled around the plane in a boom lift to wave and greet the children. There was an uproar. "THAT'S REALLY HIM!!! WE'RE HERE! WE MADE IT!"
We exited the plane and dropped all of the children off in a multipurpose room where a Boy Scout troop would read Twas the Night Before Christmas. This gave the rest of us time to finish setting up the activities the children would do while waiting to meet Santa and receive their gift bags. I was doing a face painting station and there was also a ring toss, cookie decorating, a Blue Bell ice cream bar, a bean bag toss, and balloon animals. I painted the faces of several eager adult volunteers while we waited for the story to finish. Nobody was exempt from the renewed childlike wonder that encompassed that building.
For several hours I painted smiling faces. I asked the children what they wanted for Christmas and if they were having fun. I asked for their names as they sat down so that as my brushes created Christmas shapes onto their little cheeks I could pray for them. Every child who sat in my chair warmed my heart as I prayed for healing, joy, provision, and protection over their own lives and families. It was absolutely the most fun I've had in a long time.
One at a time the kids were called in for the moment of the evening--a conversation with the big man himself. He talked to each child for a bit and then handed them a huge bag full of wrapped presents. Every child received at least ten presents. Good presents, too. Exactly what they asked for. Some even got new bikes! What really had me awestruck was the way none of the kids cared the most about what they got. They were more enthralled by the atmosphere of the North Pole and the jolly bearded man they had always wanted to meet. Everyone had an absolutely amazing time. Once the event ended children loaded up all their new toys and boarded back onto the limos and buses they arrived in. A gentle snowfall ended the most perfect evening.
It was a very long, very incredible day. Events like this restore my faith. Just because it isn't a religious event doesn't mean the Lord's work isn't being done. God was straight MOVING in that place. I hope to participate every single year until the day I die, keeping the Christmas spirit alive with hope, restoration, and joy. The true spirit of this season feeds my spirit and gives me life. I feel very blessed to have been a part.
