Friday • December 23 • 2016 • BrainerdDispatch.com
Stories Of Christmas On the following pages, you’ll find the winners of the Brainerd Dispatch’s annual Stories of Christmas contest. There were three categories: Kids, Teens and Adults. Weather drawings submitted by local elementary school children are being used as accents to go along with the winning stories.
Thanks to all who took the time to submit their stories. Enjoy reading and Merry Christmas!
On Christmas Watch 1
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Joseph Coalwell, Brainerd
The night was still as he gazed out across the landscape. A light fog hung in the air with each breath, providing the only company he hoped for this Christmas Eve. Like a family member being received for the party, each listless breath slowly dispersed into the night as another arrived in its place. The young soldier’s eyes traversed slowly as he surveyed the bleak terrain. In the distance he spotted a small child taking refuge under a tree, playing peacefully with a doll. A peculiar sight in the eyes of anyone else. The blackness of the night began to ease as blue and green lights adorning the small, yet proud, pine illuminated the horizon. The child played alone, but was content in his solitude. The orange glow of a small fire flickered brilliantly off of the tinsel, dancing gleefully along a shroud of warmth that surrounded the boy. A soft breeze passed through the branches carrying the scents of freshly baked ham and apple pie towards the tower. The soldier inhaled deeply as he savored the aroma. Beyond the berm he could hear the faint ringing of bells. Gradually, the bells faded into joyful voices carrying familiar Christmas carols from afar. The chorus was pleasant, but distracting. This was his watch and his focus was on the boy. Would he be all right? The young soldier squinted intensely, trying to bring his vision into sharper focus. He watched as the child moved the small soldiers limbs around, testing the agility of his new gift. He could see that the child loved the soldier and beamed when he hugged it tightly. And as quickly as his breath dispersed, the night was still once more.
Home
Weather drawing by Kiera Warta of Mrs. Narlock's second-grade class at Lowell Elementary School.
The Mother of Jesus
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Santa’s sick
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Natalie Smith, Baxter
Molly Wells, Baxter
Dec. 25th is a date that comes every year and each year we follow the Christmastime rituals: decorate the tree, hang up the stockings, play in the snow, bake cookies and watch jolly movies. These bring all of us that feeling of merriment that only the holidays can bring, but sometimes we forget about the true meaning of the Christmas season: Jesus. This wonderful holiday only occurs because he was born in a manger, brought into the world by his mother, who was the first tabernacle of Jesus Christ. This is where my story begins … My family and I were sitting at mass last year, around the beginning of Advent. The priest told us a story of a man who
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“Achoo!” “Santa, dear, you look like you’re sick,” said Mrs. Claus. “Ho, ho, ho! Could you
The season
get me some hot cocoa and shortbread cookies?” “Yes, dear.” Mrs. Claus walked into the kitchen. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Look at the time. It’s nearly 10 o’clock!” Santa had overheard. He started worrying. “Sweetie, could you saddle up the reindeer?” he said politely. Mrs. Claus felt bad for Santa. “Nicholas, I’m so sorry,
but I don’t think that Christmas can go on this year! Achoo! Oh no! Now I have the flu!” Mrs. Claus said, feeling sick. “And I don’t!” Santa said happily. “I’ll make you some coffee and pancake.” That night, Santa made it to all the children’s houses and you might be one of them! One year later… “Achoo!” Here we go again!
Weather drawing by Amber Fleischhacker of Mrs. Meyer’s third-grade class at Harrison Elementary School. prayed the rosary every day during World War II. He then challenged us to pray the rosary every day during that Advent to prepare for Christmas. My first thought was that I didn’t have enough time to pray the entire rosary, every day. But as the days went on and my family and I gathered in the living room each night, taking only 10 or 15 minutes to pray, a waterfall of peace slowly washed over me. I was excited for Christmas, but not for the material reasons I had been other
years. This year, I was excited for Jesus to come. I can now look back on that Christmas and know that it was by far the most wonderful Christmas I’ve ever had. By praying and preparing your heart for the coming of Jesus Christ, you will take on a whole new outlook of Christmas. As you gaze upon the tree, or catch snowflakes on your tongue, remember the reason began when the mother of Jesus brought him into the world. Her name was Mary.
Ho Ho Ho Weather drawing by Nevaeh Lindquist Cagle of Mrs. Narlock's
second-grade class at Lowell Elementary School.
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Stories Of Christmas
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Christ’s good life Esther Rehnblom, Baxter You probably have seen Taco Bell’s advertising: Got más? Need más? Live MÁS! Well, I asked my granddaughter what MÁS was. And she said roughly translated, it means “good life.” That got me to thinking: Does ChristMAS also mean Christ’s Good Life? Yes. Here is the way I have it figured out: We celebrate Christmas as Christ’s Birth, which leads to His death on the cross, which leads to Easter and His resurrection, which leads to His promise of eternal life, the good life. So, in this year of transition, I find I, too, can celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas and embrace His words in John 10:10: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” My husband, Dale, died in May of this year, in our 63rd year of marriage. There have been many changes in my life without his presence, but Christmas will be celebrated as a constant reminder of Christ’s promise.
Looking in
Weather drawing by Taylor Manecke of Mrs. Stolski’s third-grade class at Baxter Elementary School.
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How Sweet It Is To Have Friends Like You We cannot thank you enough for making 2016 a successful year for us. Good folks like you remind us how lucky we are to be a part of this community.
May your holidays be blessed & happy!
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Snow Angel Makers
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A Christmas miracle Richard G. Lee, Brainerd
For my Christmas memory, it was in 2015, the year my mom had life threatening surgery and was very sick during and after her operation. This caused many hardships for my family, mainly for me and my grandparents. She had to have two surgeries after the first to finally feel a whole lot better. This was before Christmas. It was a miracle for her to be alive and able to spend Christmas with our family. I also got some really awesome gifts.
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Celebrating the Coming Christ Christmas Eve Service | Saturday, December 24 4:00 & 6:00 pm Family Worship 11:00 pm Candlelight Worship Christmas Day Service Sunday, December 25 9:00 am 001517290r1
Zion Lutheran Church A Congregation of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 220 N. 8th Street Brainerd, MN (2 blocks East & 1 block North of the historic water tower)
Merry Christmas
Thank you for your continued confidence in our care. We hope to see you in 2017!
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Best wishes to our patrons, friends & neighbors
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Merry Christmas!
326 W. Laurel St. Brainerd, MN (3 blocks South of Walgreens)
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Oh Christmas tree
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Laurie Hall
Weather drawing by Savannah Kukowski of Mrs. Stolski's third-grade class at Baxter Elementary School.
PEACE ON EARTH Happy Holidays!
Glory To The Newborn King
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THANK YOU FOR
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The beauty of the winter season reminds us of how blessed we are in so many ways, including the friendship of neighbors like you.
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Grandma’s last Christmas Mike Holst, Crosslake
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Six years ago this Christmas, our whole family gathered to celebrate Christmas as we had done for years. But that year’s celebration had a problem in the room. Grandma had been diagnosed with cancer earlier that year and had only months to live. Christmas is always hard when someone is missing. But this one was especially egregious because she wasn’t missing and we all knew — and yes even her — that this would be the final one. The gifts were there as she was an early shopper and most of them had been bought months before. She sat in her favorite recliner trying to mask the pain she was in — a frozen smile on her face. She made all the grandkids open their gifts one by one so she could enjoy that last giving moment with each of them. Then lastly, the adults. In the meantime the gifts that had been given to her sat unopened. She said she would get to them later. She didn’t want this to be about her, it was her last time to make her grandkids happy. Therein, laid her whole reason for Christmas giving. Christmas had always been her forte. Each year she started shopping the day after Christmas for the next one. Every closet in the house was stuffed with bags by Thanksgiving time and then after the meal she and her grandkids would decorate and then the wrapping started and the gifts piled up, until you scarce see the tree. Christmas has been hollow for all of us since her passing. Oh, we put on our best faces and try not to let it spoil the celebration. But I’ve seen the wet eyes mirrored in the lights of the tree. Those wistful looks and I know what they’re thinking.
Christmas Eve Worship
Wishing you and your family peace and joy!
218-568-8069 | www.pequottool.com | Pequot Lakes, Minnesota
Christmas Day Worship Sunday, December 25 9:00am Festival Song Service
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Weather drawing by Kyle Syrdal of Mrs. Narlock's second-grade class at Lowell Elementary School.
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Christmas Presents
Saturday, December 24 6:00pm Candlelight Service
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Fly over
Weather drawing by Avery H. of Mrs. Stolski's third-grade class at Baxter Elementary School.
Santa gains weight
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Austin Asher, Baxter Twas a great November day, the day after Thanksgiving, and the elves on the shelves were coming. Santa Claus was eating a lot of cookies. Santa only weighs 60 pounds. He gained 60 more pounds. He was 120 pounds. It was Christmas Eve. He got all the presents in the sleigh. They started to take off when … BAM! The sleigh hit the ground. It was too heavy. Santa’s elves said, “Oh no!” Santa got on the scale. Four hundred sixty pounds! “Have you been eating cookies again?” “Yes.” “You weigh too much.” “Smalls the Elf can drive the sleigh this year.” “It would be an honor, sir!” Smalls was Santa’s strongest, fastest elf he ever had. When Smalls took off, one of Santa’s elves said, “Santa, I will help you work out.” It was Christmas. Kids were opening presents and Smalls was back. They weighed Santa. One hundred pounds. Smalls told him, “Yes! Thank you guys!” “I will never eat too many cookies again.” One year later… “Santa!” “What?” “Too many cookies, Santa!”
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Thank You!
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Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!
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www.agencyonemn.com 13968 Cypress Drive • Suite #4 • Baxter, MN 56425 P: (218) 829-2844 • F: (218) 829-7945
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On the housetop
The reindeer 3 take over
Weather drawing by Caleb Rademacher of Mrs. Stolski's third-grade class at Baxter Elementary School.
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Taytum Goble
“Oh no! Santa’s sick!” Dashed said. “I know that!” said Prancer. All of a sudden, Prancer heard a noise. It was Santa. He said, “Prancer, can you lead the sleigh this year?” “Sure!” said Prancer. “Thank — Achoo — you!” said Santa. Finally it was time for leading
the sleigh. Santa said to himself, “I could barely fit through the chimney! How can Prancer fit through the chimney?” Then Prancer went down the chimney. His legs went down, but the rest of his body got stuck. After a while, he got down the chimney. He tried to be quiet, but the bells on his hooves were too noisy. He went to hide, but he was too late! A kid saw him, but he threw the presents at the kid and ran away.
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We hope your Christmas shines!
from all of us at The Brainerd Dispatch
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May the coming season bring, peace & joy and all good things!
218-828-4770 - 14211 Firewood Drive, Baxter, MN Find us on
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