Today is a day to remember Saint Nick.  Our family enjoys his memory.  Saint Nicholas was a man of Christian faith who truly cared about people.  He lived in 300 A.D. and was the Bishop of Myra, in what is now modern-day Turkey.  History states that he helped three poor girls by throwing three bags of gold through their window to give them a wedding dowry to spare them from a dire future.  Legend also states that townspeople would leave out their shoes so Bishop Nicholas would leave some coins in them.  Saint Nicholas became famous for his secret gift giving.  Have you ever received a truly secret gift?  I have.  Someone left me a wonderful present on my doorstep that today continues to be one of my favorite memories.  I cherish it every time I use it.  It was given in love and intended to encourage me.  It did, and continues to warm my heart even though it was many years ago.  We have been reading On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder during shared reading time.  Ma taught Mary and Laura a valuable lesson one Christmas on the prairie.  She stated, “Whenever anyone was unselfish, that was Santa Claus.”  May we all have the spirit of Saint Nicholas this Christmas.