Christmas Pajamas by Stephen Gardner

Christmas time is often hard for those who have lost loved ones. This is the story of one man who wanted to help ease someone else's burden by sharing his talent of writing.  

From the Author of Christmas Pajamas, Stephen Gardner

The book, Christmas Pajamas is about dealing with loss around Christmas time. 

Losing a loved one is like losing a part of yourself. The past few years have been hard on our family. We lost our 18 month old nephew, Thor Wayne Thompson, to violence and then a few months later our neighbors lost their three year old, Tanner Ault when he was unexpectedly hit by a car.

Tanner Ault

The tragedy of both losses rocked our family and devastated the families of these two special boys. As a person of faith, I struggled to witness this tragedy while trying to reconcile my spiritual beliefs. There seemed to be no good answer. We supported and comforted both families the best we could, but what do you say? No words seemed comforting enough or strong enough or true enough.

My personal struggle continued for several months. One day as I was stepping away from work to have lunch, the story of Christmas Pajamas suddenly flashed through my mind. I immediately burst into tears. I heard no voice. I just understood what I had seen and that I was to publish the story.

It has taken me over three years to find the right artist to capture the story. With the help of artist, Andrea Taylor, the story has finally come together. Andrea specializes in capturing the love of a family dealing with loss.

When I heard Tanner’s family was going to decorate a Festival of Trees tree, I asked how our family could help. Right then I knew I wanted to release my book and share the proceeds with Tanner’s family.

Tanner's Tree  #tannmanblue

Christmas Pajamas is available on Amazon and the proceeds of the book will be donated to the family to help pay for Tanner’s tree. I hope you find comfort and joy in my story, Christmas Pajamas.

The Diesel Brothers come to Festival of Trees!

Festival of Trees is excited to announce that the Diesel Brothers will be coming to Festival of Trees on Thursday, November 29th from 7pm - 9pm.  

Heavy D, Diesel Dave, The Muscle and Red Beard will all be available to take pictures and sign autographs. Their big, fancy “6x6” truck will be in the Mountain America Expo Center for the public to view. All proceeds will be donated to the Festival of Trees.

You can watch their show on the Discovery Channel. Buying diesel trucks headed for the scrap heap and giving them new leases on life has turned into big business for the Diesel Brothers. Led by Heavy D and Diesel Dave, the crew works hard and plays harder as they trick out the trucks for use in elaborate pranks and stunts, all of which becomes a marketing tool on social media. Millions of hits later the company is known as the destination for diesel lovers who are looking for custom builds, crazy stunts, pranks and hilarious antics.

The Diesel Brothers are known to give back to their community. Especially now, they hold Festival of Trees and Primary Children’s Hospital dear to their tough, but tender hearts…

Van Oakes, a long-time member of the Diesel Brothers, his pregnant wife and three daughters were returning from dinner on June 2nd, 2018, driving in their ATV. The vehicle spun out and flipped several times before landing. Their four and five-year-old daughters were thrown from the vehicle.

Van managed to lift the ATV enough so his wife could pull out four-year-old Kaizley.  Both Kaizley and Rylinn were life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital and suffered traumatic brain injuries. They spent a month in Primary Children’s Hospital and both have made amazing recoveries. They are grateful for amazing doctors, nurses, prayers and miracles that helped to save the lives of their daughters.

Van and his family have enjoyed coming to Festival of Trees over the years

Christmas Festival in Beaver County - A 35 year-old tradition of giving

Beaver, Utah -- a picturesque town, known for being the gateway to the Tushar Mountain Range and for having the "Best Tasting Water" in the Nation. It is the birth place of Philo T. Farnsworth and Butch Cassidy. The Cache Valley Cheese Factory has the freshest cheese curds and tastiest ice cream.  The town is full of generous folks who have a strong sense of community.  They are taught to work hard, play hard and to take care of their neighbors. 

Something magical happened in Beaver County in 1983.  It would change the county for 35 years and then some.  Excitement started early in September and continued through to December.  A wonderful Festival was planned that would bring the people out to celebrate, share, and bring gifts of love.  There was singing, dancing, musical instruments, artwork, talent, happiness, selflessness, love and service that would infiltrate throughout all of the small cities in this small area.  

It is the Beaver Christmas Festival.  

It all started when Mrs. Betty Carver, a Festival of Trees Board Member, came to the little town of Beaver.  She asked if the Young Women would like to share their talents to help the children at the Primary Children’s Hospital.  Of course, they did.  Many of the girls and family members or friends had been to the Primary Children's Hospital and had been given the help they needed.  

1985 Festival Leadership in Beaver

A party was planned and the girls and leaders made ‘Gifts of Love” to be sold at the Festival of Trees at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.  They were displayed at their own November party with pride.  Christmas songs were sung, treats were enjoyed and a feeling of love entered their hearts.  The “Gifts of Love’ were then sent to Salt Lake.  

It was so much fun to give of themselves that they wanted to do it again next year.  They did.  It blossomed and others could see how much joy it brought into their lives.  Other churches, clubs and organizations wanted to participate.   Soon Young Men were making toys, the Relief Societies and even children of the area wanted to participate.  Year after year, it grew as committees, businesses and individuals donated to help with the Festival.

Festival Committee members 1991

1991 Beaver Festival

The whole community comes out to view the donations and to watch the youth sing, dance and
play instruments.

Festival Leadership always drives down from Salt Lake to visit the Beaver Festival

1992

It became a very special tradition.

Wes Robinson and Vicki Hutchings have donated and decorated playhouses over the years.

It all started at a church gym.  It became necessary to move it because there were too many displays and too many people.  They moved it to the National Guard building for a few years.  Soon it became an even bigger festival.  It was divided into two areas.  A Festival on each side of the county. 

The spirit of giving and Christmas fills the air.  Tables of beautiful handmade items are displayed.  Beautiful Christmas Trees are decorated, some in honor of loved ones who have passed away and some in honor of those who have been treated at Primary Children’s Hospital.  Playhouses, Christmas artwork and displays are created. Tons of treats are served and a wonderful program full of singing and dancing and beautiful Christmas music happens.  It is truly magical.  And it is all sent away to the Festival of Trees!  It is all done out of love for the children who need help. 

Melissa Kanell (left) has served on the Beaver Festival and been on the
Executive Board for the Festival of Trees.

 

Every year for 35 years.

This year Festival was held on Nov 6th in Beaver, UT and on Nov. 7 in Minersville, UT.

Here are just some of the items donated to Festival of Trees Utah from Beaver in 2018.  Be sure to look for them!

 Dedicated to all the Beaver children treated at PCH

In honor of Kamie Bartlett

In honor of Kimberly Blackner

In honor of Jack Waters

In honor of Debbie Holcomb

In honor of LaDonna Reynolds

In honor of Austin Blackner

In honor of Beryl and Leonard Brown

Train donated by Holly Kerksiek

Festival Story "My Granddaughter Miss Mia" by Shona Peterson

"In November, 2011 my granddaughter Mia was born at 37 1/2 weeks weighing 4 lbs. 2 oz. We were not aware at the time that she had anything wrong with her. We were under the impression that she just wasn’t getting enough nutrition and needed to be born early.

After running several tests, we got the diagnosis that Mia has a chromosome anomaly. She was missing 62 genes on her 13th chromosome. We were given a list of many things that this could mean for her throughout her life such as severe seizures, learning disabilities, heart defects and missing parts of her brain. Many tests were run and it was discovered that Mia was deaf in one ear. Through the early stages of life we realized that due to her diagnosis her muscle tone was very low. When Mia was only 7 weeks old we took her to Primary Children's Hospital for a follow up just to check on a small hole in her heart. At that point in time we were blessed enough when the technician caught a glimpse of something he wasn’t sure about. He called the doctor in. A few days later we took her in for an angiogram where they discovered that she has RCAPA. This means that her right coronary artery was attached to her pulmonary artery rather than her aorta. The right side of her heart was not getting any oxygenated blood. They gave her a blood transfusion and scheduled us to come back in 4 days for an open heart surgery. To my knowledge this was the first right coronary artery surgery of this kind to be performed at Primary Children’s. 

Dr. AK Kaza performed her surgery and said she was a miracle. The surgery could not have gone any better. She was in the cardiac ICU for 1 week and then on the recovery floor for an additional 2 weeks. 

Mia has since had multiple check ups but no additional surgeries. Everything is perfect and they now consider her heart to be totally normal. Mia truly is quite a little miracle. Without this diagnosis that was caught by a young technician doing her echocardiogram, she would would have died before we would have known anything was wrong. Next month Mia will celebrate her 7th birthday.  She is a happy and healthy little girl.

In 2014, our family decorated and donated a tree to the Festival of Trees in her honor. We named it "Mia's Grateful Heart". We were so grateful for all the time and care the doctors and nurses at Primary Children's Hospital gave to our sweet angel. 

The very first tree I did was in 2003 when a young man in our ward was being treated for a brain tumor and I helped the Young Women do it as a project for their personal progress.

Then after Mia came to our family, we witnessed the love and amazing medical miracles that occur at Primary Children’s. I felt like Festival was the perfect place to pay it forward! Kathy Bess invited me to be on her committee and then to be a part of this amazing group of people that serve on the Executive Board! How could I have ever said No? 

We are blessed as a family to be able to love our sweet Mia everyday and watch her grow and thrive. We are also blessed to be able to donate something each year to Festival of Trees to help other special children who need care at this amazing hospital! 

Festival of Trees 2015 "Waiting for Santa"

Festival 2016 "We Believe"

2017 Santa's Campsite

Nyla Jane the 2017 Festival Poster Child couldn't resist playing in the adorable camper

My awesome family, friends and amazing employees help us to create and make the items we donate and it is always the highlight of our year!

Every day we realize what a blessing it is to have Primary Children’s Hospital."

Editor's Note: Shona Peterson has served in many positions at Festival of Trees over the years but this year she serves as our Festival Co-chair.