2010 Festival of Trees

I was honored this year, to have been asked to contribute to the Festival of Trees, a fundraiser event with proceeds going to the Children's Hospital. I have wanted to do a tree for several years, but have never been able to quite get everything together to accomplish that. This year I was asked if I would donate my time and artistic talent by painting a picture on canvas of Winnie the Pooh's map of the Hundred Acre Woods. Well of course I was all over that! I ended up creating a 16x20 acrylic painting of the woods to be given with the Winnie the Pooh tree put together by the Riverton/West Jordan LDS employment centers where my parents are currently serving. Along with my painting, my children and I went through all our toys and collected everything that had to do with Winnie the Pooh, to include with the tree. When we got all the toys we had together, we scoured every store in town for Pooh and his friends. Then we made crafts with the girls... little bumble bees to decorate the tree with as well.

When this tree came into being, there was no other theme in mind. It was dedicated to the memory of a young girl named Casey who used to lay on her Pooh blanket, dreaming she was like Pooh, Care free and safe, holding her bunch of balloons, staring into the blue sky above. Years of abuse, unknown to those who loved her, took their toll on the little girl, who eventually grew into a young woman, and one day tragically decided to take leave of this life.

You put so much love and effort into making one of these donations, and you sometimes get to hear the story behind the creator of the trees, but you very rarely ever get to hear the story of the recipients. Well, tonight I was invited to the center's Christmas party, where I was privileged enough to hear the story behind why the tree was created, and to meet Little Tig, the man who purchased the tree, and hear his story. Pardon me for paraphrasing but I wanted to share with you, my friends and family, as well.

Tig was given his nickname by his Grandfather, also called Tig. Little Tig adored Winnie the Pooh and Tigger so much that that was a contributing factor to his Grandfather's endearing nickname for him. Whenever they built anything, poured concrete, or signed names together, you would see "Big Tig", and "Little Tig" as their mark. Sadly, Little Tig's Father passed away, then his Mother. Then just under a year ago, Big Tig passed away, leaving behind his wife, Little Tig's Grandmother.

As widows do, she found herself facing her first year of holiday's without her loving spouse. When Thanksgiving rolled around she opted out of spending it with family or friends. As the days passed and family came to help decorate for Christmas, she turned their efforts away as well. Life was just not the same without her Tig.

Thursday evening, near the close of the festival, Tig went with his family to get out and view the beautiful trees and other donations, as many here do. They went to view, not in the market to buy anything. As they went up and down the aisles, they looked at all the amazing, beautiful trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, and various decorations and donations that are always present at the festival. Tig and his family soon found themselves in an aisle where a rather large crowd was gathered, looking, snapping pictures, and admiring a tree. Upon approaching, they found before them a tree full of Winnie the Pooh and his friends. With almost every tree in the hall already sold, Tig looked down and found a big green price tag still available on the tree. He stood for a moment as he realized that this tree, one that would have normally sold opening auction night, that would have been perfect in any hospital, doctor's office, or child's home, was still available for a reason.

As Tig left his wife's side to purchase the tree, A set of missionaries from the employment center stood by the tree and remarked how sad it was that nobody had purchased the tree yet, only to hear a reply "Oh no, my husband just went to buy it". How funny life can be sometimes. That the only people who would know how the tree came about found themselves right next to the people whose lives were about to be touched by the tree is more than mere coincidence.

Tig prepared for the tree delivery at his Grandmother's house this past Sunday morning while she was off to church. Since she knew nothing about the tree or it's purchase, Tig waited as the tree was delivered and set up within 15 minutes,  then watched, ready for his Grandmother to come home.

He could see her as she approached the door and stood outside for a minute trying to figure out what had happened to the wreath that she had placed on her door, that had been replaced by one decorated the Tigger, Pooh, and their other friends. Figuring the grandkids had come by with their children and decorated her wreath she entered the house.

The little old woman who had sworn off the holidays without her husband by her side, lit up as she entered her home and found this taking up her living room:

Tig said as he sat with her for three hours, talking, remembering, healing, she said to him "Tig and your mom must have been sitting up in Heaven making SURE nobody else got that tree". 

With new understanding and gratitude, they each promised to make and dedicate their own trees to the festival next year, and for Tig and his family to also purchase a tree to donate to people or a place in need of some Christmas magic. 

When talking with Tig after his story, I was so happy to hear that my painting now hangs on the wall of his son, whose legal middle name is also Tig. 

It is amazing to me the great love our Heavenly Father has for us. That he would know something so simple as how a single Christmas tree could touch the lives of so many. That it would bring peace to the heavy heart of an old widow woman. That in his infinite wisdom, he would place two people together in the right place at exactly the right time so others could share in this story. So, to my loving Father in Heaven, and to a family of Tig's, I thank you for inspiring me this holiday season to remember that though we may have those whom we have loved and lost, through the gift of the the Savior's sacrifice for us, we will be reunited in the hereafter never to be parted again, and until that happy day, they are never truly gone as long as we keep their spirit and memory alive in our hearts.