To know me, is to know, when I get down in the dumps, it's the feeling of Christmas and its musical splendor that brings life to my soul. These past few days I have been doing something I despise the most - Cleaning my basement of clutter that has been jockied from the family room to the garage and back again over the course of 17 years. Ouch, yes, that is a long time. So my younger son, realizing what it is that can bring his mother back from the depths of bitchiness, he found "The Christmas Story" (Yes the one with the Red Rider BB Gun), he put in on the big screen TV and before I knew it I was attacking the mounds of boxes and bagged clutter once and for all. (Pictures to be posted later). So being in that pre and way to early to think of Christmas mode, I thought of this story and wanted to share it with you. I do hope you enjoy it. So let me be the first to say...(with a big smile) Merry Christmas.
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"The Golden Snowflake"
Written by Stacey L. Bolin
December 2008
As I spent my holidays running to and from and here to there, I always had one thing on my mind...finding friends and family the perfect Christmas gift. Yet, the mission of this quest, deemed harder than one would think. As I shopped and searched I had found gifts for friends and loved ones and felt at ease that my shopping was done - well almost. I had two special people remaining. Christmas had come and gone and I felt bad that it had taken me so long to find a gift, but it didn’t matter Christmas or not, I still pondered what could I give that would be special and be like me, uniquely different, (smile).
Well, I began to think back on all the special places that this special couple had shown me through pictures, conversation and even places that they had told us about, and my family went to see such as: Gettysburg, the Apply Festival in Pennsylvania and the Candle Light service at their church. But, there was one place that had been suggested, The Homestead Gardens and its lights and train display, they insisted that it was a must see, but failing to make the time in my schedule, I didn’t get there during the holiday season. I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. One Wednesday night after Christmas my family and I took the kids to the skate zone in Odenton, Maryland and then to the Pizza Hut in Bowie.
For whatever the reason, we didn’t come home on our normal route, this time we took route 214 instead of route 50 east. As we drove the dark and windy road and enjoyed the Christmas lights displayed in the yards of unknown families, our eyes were graced with the utmost beauty that I believe we were all anxiously looking for. The Homestead Gardens was decorated in this magical display of Christmas lights in a multitude of color. We had to stop to see this glorious holiday splendor in person. When I walked through the doors, I felt like a kid again, yet much to my hearts desire, I was striken with deep disappointment when I saw that the shelves were only filled with remnants of what was once a gorgeous display of ornaments and holiday decorations.
Although myself, and yes, my family was very disappointed with this used to be Christmas utopia’s baron shelves, I remember thinking to myself that “we just had to find the train display”. We all ran around the building as if we were looking for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow or better yet, a crazy game of hide-and-go seek with no place to hide. Then suddenly...there it was, miniature towns of yesteryear accented with my most favorite item that all Christmas holidays should have, even if only once, PILES OF HAVE TO HAVE SNOW. My heart smiled as I could hear my friends saying “Stacey, you have to see the train display at the Homestead, it’s just beautiful.” As I took in the beauty of the display, there lying on the snow, were five intricate designs of what looked like golden sparkled caramelized snowflakes.
I knew it then I had found the perfect gift for two special people. A gift that symbolized my love for Christmas, snow, snowflakes and that the special gift that they had given to me and my family - The gift of and unconditional friendship. Because of their many travel adventures and sharing those trips with us through pictures and conversations, my family and I have also gotten to experience some of the beauty of the world outside of our town and I can only hope we will see many more places in person. When I gave them their gift, I shared this story of where I found my special gift and hoped they would accept my gift and always remember each time our snowflakes find their way to our trees, we can rejoice in knowing God had brought us together and the bond of friendship will last forever.
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