Minnesota Soldier Surprises Family For Holidays

Summary

Eight-year-old Olivia wrote a heartfelt letter to Santa, wishing for her dad, Steve Guptill, to come home for Christmas after nine months of serving in Kuwait. Upon discovering Olivia's wish, Steve orchestrated a surprise reunion at the Santa Experience in the Mall of America. When Olivia and her sister Caitlyn visited Santa, Steve appeared unexpectedly, fulfilling Olivia's dream. The emotional moment marked a joyful Christmas for the family, with Caitlyn declaring it the best Christmas ever due to their father's return.

Takeaways

• 🎅 An 8-year-old girl named Olivia wrote a heartfelt letter to Santa asking for her dad to come home for Christmas.
• 🎖️ Olivia's dad, Steve Guptill, was serving in Kuwait with the Army National Guard and had been away for 9 months.
• 🎄 Upon discovering Olivia's letter, Steve decided to make her Christmas wish come true with some help from Santa.
• 🏬 Steve and his wife planned a surprise for Olivia and her sister Caitlyn at the Santa Experience in the Mall of America.
• 📸 Olivia and Caitlyn expressed their Christmas wish to Santa during their visit and took a picture with him.
• ✨ The surprise culminated in an emotional reunion when Steve revealed himself to the girls, saying, 'I'm home for Christmas like you asked.'
• ❤️ Olivia expressed how much she missed her dad, emphasizing the emotional impact of his return.
• 🌟 Caitlyn stated that having their dad home made this the best Christmas ever.
• 🤝 The story highlights the sacrifices made by military families and the importance of family during the holidays.
• 🎁 The narrative showcases the magic of Christmas and how wishes can come true through love and dedication.

Q & A

What was Olivia's Christmas wish?

Olivia wished for her dad to come home for Christmas.

How long had Steve Guptill been serving in Kuwait?

Steve Guptill had been serving in Kuwait for 9 months.

Where did Olivia and her sister meet Santa?

Olivia and her sister met Santa at the Mall of America.

What role did Santa play in fulfilling Olivia's wish?

Santa helped set up a surprise for Olivia and her sister, which included bringing their dad home.

What was the reaction of Olivia and Caitlyn upon seeing their dad?

Olivia exclaimed 'Daddy!!' and was thrilled to see him, expressing how much she missed him.

What did Caitlyn say about her dad being home?

Caitlyn said that having their dad home made this the best Christmas ever.

How did Steve learn about Olivia's letter?

Steve found out about Olivia's letter asking for him to come home for Christmas.

What did Olivia and Caitlyn do at the Santa experience?

They told Santa their Christmas wish and took a picture with him.

What emotions were expressed during the reunion?

There were feelings of joy and love, with Olivia expressing that her letter brought her dad home.

How does the script illustrate the theme of family during the holidays?

The script shows the longing for family connection during the holidays and the joy of reunification, emphasizing the importance of being together during Christmas.