#WW: Christmas bear #photo
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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Thank you for making me apart of your day.Today’s photos are a contribution on several of the fine Wordless Wednesday communities found on my Daily Blog Hops Page. Please leave your comments footprints so that I know you came and I will hop over to your place soon. Have a foto-tastic day!
28 Comments
paula schuck
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.
indah nuria Savitri
so sweet ..the story behindhy it completes it…happy WW Cathy 🙂
Far Away Eyes
This reminded me if my Paddy O’Cinnamon bear. Live the pic and the story.
XmasDolly
I need your Wednesday button. Can’t find it.
Cathy Kennedy
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!
Crafty Spices
Beautiful pictures, but the very first one is just so adorable…
Have a great rest of the week!
startraci
What a beautiful telling of such precious memories. I’m glad that you still have these two lovely bears.
🙂
Traci
alissa
I love that story. You’ll have to keep those 2 bears for forever.
Jessica Fiorillo
Thanks for sharing a precious memory! 🙂 Happy Wordless Wednesday!
emmasouthlondon
They are totally adorable!
Happy Wordless Wednesday –
Emma 🙂
Janice / GatheringGraces
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!
ohmyheartsiegirl
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
GrammyMouseTails
What a sweet & touching story 🙂
Faythe
Julie Corbisiero
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
Rosey
I think it is a sweet memory too. 😉
Mascha
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 🙂
Cathy Kennedy
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!
stevebethere
Aww! what a cute post and photo heheh!
Have a teddytastic week and thanks for roaring by 😉
XmasDolly
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!
Cathy Kennedy
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.
Abrianna
What a wonderfully sweet story and sweet picture too.
Rorybore
Aw, so sweet. I love your heart!!! It’s things like this that give life that bit of sparkle!
aquariann
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.
Lady Lilith
Fun shot. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce
Cute little bears.
https://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2014/08/wordless-wednesday-stressed.html
Arlee Bird
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
Cathy Kennedy
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.
Arlee Bird
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