MISSING BELL

The Polar Express has been a traditional Christmas Eve read for my Grandchildren since they were babies.  My daughter and her family live in Charleston, SC and there is an island full of Christmas lights.  Every Christmas Eve we would have a big dinner and then drive over to see the Christmas lights.  You drive through the park listening to the Christmas Carols, stop at this BIG open fire pit where you roast marshmallows on long sticks.  We then hop back in the car, head for home where the children get to open one present.  We are very tricky in the wrapping and disguise them quite well, because everytime they select the present, it is pajamas.  (You have to have new pajamas for Christmas morning pictures, don't you?)  Then we sit down to read the Polar Express.  Every year one child is selected to "Hold the Bell" while we read it.  They get to ring it everytime we turn the page.  After we finish the story it is time to prepare the special cookies and milk for Santa, the carrots for the reindeer and the cheese for the Christmas Mouse.  Then it's off to bed and I bet there was more than one dream about riding a train to the North Pole. 

This is my creation using Cheryl Alger's Missing Bell Stamp.  I wanted to create a card in remembrance of that wonderful story.  It is now a movie and a family tradition to millions of people.  I hope you like it and have your own Christmas traditions filled with magic.  Remember you just have "TO BELIEVE!

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