SDC

I’m not going to bog your browser down with a ton of pictures of the Christmas lights on the buildings, but for my final vacation post I wanted to share some of the magical moments with you. *smile*

I’m only sharing one picture of buildings, so you can get an idea of the amazing amount of lights throughout the park without overwhelming you or your browser. This is just two little buildings in the huge park.

In the picture below I wanted to show one of the trees. They had these cool lights that Larry and I watched for what was probably a freakishly long time. The lights had a pattern, so it looked like they were dripping. During the day it was like dripping icicles, but at night the trees were lit with some incredibly vivid colors, so the effect was so neat. The second picture is of that incredibly huge Christmas tree that has a full light show set to music. It had probably fifty light patterns, but this picture turned out the best. Look how small the people are compared (btw, there’s no way to take a picture of that tree without catching a bunch of other visitors in the shot. It was just that crowded and we went before the busy part of the season!).

They also had a parade twice with some lit floats, various lit characters, and whatnot. I’m sharing my two favorites from the parade below. I have loved The Nutcracker and Babes in Toyland ever since I was little, so I’m always drawn to the toy soldiers and Nutcrackers anywhere I go. This guy was SO tall and fantastical that I had to take a picture. It was like seeing one of my favorite characters in real life. *grin* I totally went fangirl when he knelt down and shook hands with a toddler that just stared with eyes like saucers. The second is of one of two adorable little guys that interacted amazingly with the crowd. The colors were so bright and uplifting that I’m hoping to try to match them in some soaps (I really want to make some product once I’m fully over this yuck I developed from vacation).

Last I just had to share about the blacksmith. While he waited for his next bit of metal to heat up he chatted with us. It turns out that he was making over fifty old fashioned nails for the church. They were going to give them during services as a reminder of the reason for the season. It was absolutely fascinating to watch him take a hunk of metal and manipulate it into a functional work of art. Seeing them get made gave me such an appreciation for the work that went into little things we take for granted in our daily lives that were a lot harder to come by in olden times. Combine that mental slap of appreciation with seeing this close representation of what would have been used in biblical times and I got overwhelmed with emotions to the point that I had to step into the shop to distract myself. It’s ironic that I have been into writing since I started learning to read, yet I can’t find adequate words to convey that experience. It feels like I described a splinter when it’s really a massive cut down to the bone. What a gift this craftsman has to be able to create/recreate items as it was done in history and to touch hearts with something so simple.

If you ever find yourself trying to decide on a vacation spot I totally recommend Branson, MO. I think it can appeal to most people. There are craftsman, a Titanic exhibit (we hope to hit that one next time), summer activities like go carts and mini golf, a wide variety of musicals and comedy shows, tons of recreated history (Shepherd of the Hills is just outside of the city!), and tons of comfort foods. We have gone seven times now, at two different times of year, and it’s always an incredible experience.

Thank you for sharing in this with me. It was a little break from the monotony of being chronically ill and being at home almost all of the time, and it really cheered me up. I hope I captured a little of that magic and brought some happiness to your life, too. Until tomorrow, happy pampering. 🙂