Almost two weeks have passed since my garden party charity event and it’s still not business as usual. Shoes continue to arrive by mail, on my front doorstep, and from friends who were unable to attend but wanted to donate.
Also, just days before the event, long after the pre-party thank you’s were dispersed to the many sponsors, supporters, and friends who signed their name to the cause, two other businesses stepped forward and gave graciously.
A heart-felt thank you goes out to Courtney Stauffer of Stauffer Funeral Home and Ron Layman of The King of Christmas for their efforts in making the night a memorable one.
What do these two companies have in common? They both create light, but in very different ways.
I recently visited Stauffer Funeral Home to pay my respects to dear friend Jay Geiser who passed away recently, coincidentally weeks before Courtney reached out about my event. Every time I’ve had cause to visit their home, I leave with the same sense of comfort that comes with knowing that you are among people who genuinely care about you.
How does Stauffer create “light” during these times of mourning? Through their presence, kindness, respect, and especially, love. It shows in the way they relate to all who enter their doors and through the many ways they continually make that love visible in the Frederick community, as evidenced by their recent support of our Soles project.
A full service funeral home, crematory, and monument company, they understand all ethnic and religious practices which help to honor the deceased and loved ones in a very unique and personal way. Thank you, Courtney, for your words of encouragement and for the very personal way you honored the children in need of our community.
If you were at the event, it was probably obvious how Ron Layman of The King of Christmas creates light. There is something special about soft lights that pierce the darkness during the holiday season which is when Ron and his team are the busiest.
But when he added that same twinkly sparkle to the trees, buildings, and hedges in my back yard, it was transformed into something truly magical. There was no more perfect way to wrap Nature’s bountiful gift than with thousands of white diamonds, which ushered our birthstones themed party into the night.
The lights are still up. I must confess that every so often after dark, I turn them on and walk back through the yard…. a reminder that, in the the words of Michael Strassfeld…..
Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.
It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe.
It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.
Thank you, Courtney and Ron, for being a true Soles friend.
