One Christmas season many years ago when our daughters were very tiny we were browsing the Apple Valley Country Store in Townsend, TN (located west of Pigeon Forge across Wears Valley) when we came across the little brown bear below.
At the time, our daughters were only 2 and 4 years old. This little guy attracted DD#1’s like a moth to a flame. This is what she wanted to get her daddy for Christmas. Finances were tight. DH lost his job due to cutbacks. I didn’t know how we would make ends meet let alone buy Christmas presents that year. I tried explaining to this tiny person our situation and the moment I said, No, we can’t take the bear home because mommy doesn’t have the money, I saw the pain in her eyes through crocodile tears spilling onto her cheeks. It wasn’t a tantrum. She was genuinely crushed that she couldn’t give it to her daddy and to give the little bear a home. I crumbled and put the charge on my nearly maxed credit card. We decided on the name Christmas bear or Chris for short.
Fast forward…the year 2001. I was in the hospital. DH and my three little darlings, who were quickly growing up, brought flowers and the small blonde bear to me. We named my bear, but her name escapes me. Anyhow, I placed the two bears together because they remind me of sweethearts and they still sit together to this day in their special place.
I often think back on a little girl wanting to buy this toy for her daddy and I’m happy I took the risk, considering our circumstances, to place a smile on her little face. This sweet memory is always with me and brings great joy every time I see Chris snuggled with his sweetheart happily in our bedroom.
~Images captured with Nikon D7000 & Nikkor 105mm micro lens. ~
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AW!! How adorable is this header with the cute little kittens. I loved your story and I can relate. My kids love their bears even still.
so sweet ..the story behindhy it completes it…happy WW Cathy 🙂
This reminded me if my Paddy O’Cinnamon bear. Live the pic and the story.
I need your Wednesday button. Can’t find it.
Marie, at the top under Blog Hops you’ll spot a tab for Photography Memes. It’s there where you will find my WW button code. Thanks for asking!
Beautiful pictures, but the very first one is just so adorable…
Have a great rest of the week!
What a beautiful telling of such precious memories. I’m glad that you still have these two lovely bears.
🙂
Traci
I love that story. You’ll have to keep those 2 bears for forever.
Thanks for sharing a precious memory! 🙂 Happy Wordless Wednesday!
They are totally adorable!
Happy Wordless Wednesday –
Emma 🙂
What a wonderful background story to your bears. So precious. I think you will enjoy those memories for years to come – and maybe even be telling them to your grandkids someday!
Im smiling, to this day and no kids at home, I still decorate Christmas with Teddy Bears!!! There just fun, I look for new ones each year to add to my collection.
Please stop b and add your #WW
Enjoy your day!!
Karren
What a sweet & touching story 🙂
Faythe
The teddy bears are so cute! Thanks for hosting the fun party and wishing you a nice day and the rest of the week.
Julie
I think it is a sweet memory too. 😉
Nice photos and such a soulful story!
(I know the feeling to haven’t money for anything, in all my life, again and again – )
I know Pixidusk’s blog and like to visit it often…its a great idea to featuring it
Greetings from Germany 🙂
Featuring a photo blogger each week is just my way to show my appreciation. It’s an honor to spotlight Pixidusk this week. Thanks for stopping by!
Aww! what a cute post and photo heheh!
Have a teddytastic week and thanks for roaring by 😉
That is the sweetest story I have heard in a very long time. Thanks for sharing my friend. It put a lump in my throat for sure. Have a happy day!
Ahh, you’re so sweet to say this! It’s funny how tender moments like that just stay with you. I tell you I am so happy I got that little bear or that fond memory would be a regret today.
What a wonderfully sweet story and sweet picture too.
Aw, so sweet. I love your heart!!! It’s things like this that give life that bit of sparkle!
Such a sweet story! I still have a teddy bear my mom won me at the boardwalk by throwing a ball in the only gold cup there.
Fun shot. Thanks for sharing.
Cute little bears.
https://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2014/08/wordless-wednesday-stressed.html
I know Apple Valley well. It’s where I regularly go for fudge when I’m in town.
A sweet memory.
Lee
Tossing It Out
How interesting you know Townsend. It isn’t nearly as visited as other parts of the Smoky’s. If you like fudge, the best place we found to get it is actually in Cherokee at the Heavenly Fudge Shop near across the river when you enter the reservation from the Smoky’s side of the mountain.
Keep in mind that I lived in Maryville for many years. My mother’s house is right off Hwy 321 going to Townsend–she’s about 10 miles or less from Apple Valley. In my high school years one of the favorite hang outs of my friends and mine was Foothill Parkway not far from where Apple Valley is.
Have you ever been up the Parkway (which crosses over to Chilhowee Lake)? The Look Rock observation tower at the halfway point of the Parkway affords a spectacular view of the Blount County area as well as the Smokies. I can’t count how many times I’ve been up there and the view never gets old.
Lee
Tossing It Out