“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
After Thanksgiving in Bloomington, we drove down to the French Lick Resort for a special Christmas weekend with my family. You see, last year, just days before my Dad died, he had bought all of us tickets to ride the Polar Express. And, he booked us rooms at the French Lick Resort. So, it was as if this was his very last Christmas gift to all of us, and boy did we enjoy it. I definitely felt the presence of my Dad, as we rode the train, sang and watched the girls dance and take in all the magic. He would have loved every minute of it and probably would have taken a hundred pictures! I thought of him the entire weekend. The first and last time I was at French Lick, was just a year and a half ago, in the Summer, when I was pregnant with Blakesley and Dad had planned a special trip for all of us then.
The decorations at both French Lick and West Baden were so beautiful! I loved walking through the resorts and looking at everything! |
Such a magical night. Ready to board the Polar Express! |
The Conductor read the story of the Polar Express, the Elves sang and danced and put on a big show, and they even passed out cookies and hot cocoa! There were beautiful flashing Christmas lights, we stopped at the North Pole, and then Santa surprised all of the kids on the train! He handed out silver bells and that made my girls’ night!
Thanks, Dad, for a special gift and wonderful weekend. We loved it so much and want to carry on the tradition that you started that we already bought our tickets for next year!