You just never know what a day will bring..... or who you are going to meet !

My family had talked about taking a drive to one

of my favorite places - Frankenmuth, MI -

so that my Grandma Geiling could visit a little yarn shop. Grandma wanted to start another one of her beautiful afghans.

It was a beautiful, sunny, fall day so we decided on the spur of the moment to go ...TODAY... What a beautiful drive! We went to Bronners - Grandma purchased a few more decorations for her Christmas Tree. We bought "lantern" hanging lights for the camper and a "Russian Santa" to add to our Santa collection.......

Speaking of Santa....

After we had a lovely mid-afternoon meal at Bavarian Inn...we were leaving the building when we had a WONDERFUL surprise in the lobby.

A "Santa" gathering - We heard there were 103 and another said 80.... needless to say.... there were a whole lot of "Santas". We understand that Midland hosts a nation-wide Santa Training program through our Main Street Santa House. This large group of jolly souls had just completed their training in our home town of Midland.

What a sight..... Of course, sad to say....Mom did NOT have her camera :( Several other people were taking pictures for us and said that they will email them to us. Midland Daily News took my picture and wrote down our names and said there would be an article in November. We will keep our eyes open for that !!!

As these wonderful happy men (and some of their wives) marched through the dining rooms, they were singing "Santa Claus is coming to town". Several gave me their business cards. They were not dressed in full "Christmas Eve Uniform" but had their everyday Santa clothes on (nothing like our everyday clothes). One very special one stood out in the crowd - His shirt said

"CHRIST" mas

Keeping the Reason for the Season

He was a Godly man and had a special place in his heart for people with special needs. He wanted me to get out of my chair to sit on his lap. He went and got a chair and my Dad placed me on his lap. He gave me his Christmas hat to keep and we took several pictures with his camera. He talked to me about God and told my parents about his emphasis on reaching people like me. He got "choked-up" when he heard that the only word that I sign is for "Jesus". He was a wonderful man.

There will be more to follow as soon as I hear from some of my new friends over email or if/when my picture appears in the paper!! Here are a few of the cards collected today..notice the bottom right Santa bowing before God!!!