This was not a decoration that I grew up with in my home. It is from my bonus mom. A little back story of a marriage that lasted 17 years until the death of my dad; Sarah and Rayford Maynard were married for over 50 years. My dad and mom were married for almost 43 years. Illness took Rayford and my mom about a year apart. Sarah and my dad were widowed with no intention of remarrying. He started by fixing her bird house and she would bring homemade bread to his home. They married in 1990 and had many good and active years together. Sarah and Rayford never had children. She never expected to be called grandmother. Sarah had many nieces and nephews that she loved very much and she was a special aunt. She bought this decoration years ago and she and Rayford enjoyed this each Christmas. These were their Christmas children. When Sarah married my dad, my husband and I stood with them. A little dark haired girl held Sarah's hand during the ceremony. It was more than a wedding, it was a uniting of our family. Later a little blonde boy with blue eyes would join this group. Sarah once said that it was a blessing that she had her Christmas children in Katie and Robert. I keep this up all year long to remind me that even when things look bleak, our future does hold hope.
Dad and Sarah enjoying a summer day in 2005.
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