Schilter Family Farm - Olympia, WA

Mommy and Me Fairy Garden Party 2019

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A Special Day to Remember: Bring your child “dressed up” as a fairy princess/gnome. Take home a beautiful fairy garden as a gift, or as a keep sake memory to watch grow throughout the year, nibble on some fairy sized treats, as well as cherish a magical time with your child. Story time with a fa...

Schilter Family Farm, Olympia, Washington

Here is a story that I thought should be shared. Santa passed this story along to us of a visit he had from a girl at the farm. May her Christmas wish come true! The afternoon of December 7th found me at the Schilter Family Farm in Nisqually. Simple appearance for Santa, right? Lots of families out getting their Christmas tree, hot cider for all and great cold clear weather to enjoy the fun. Lots of children asking for construction kits, cars, electronics, dolls, and the like with parents nodding approval at some, shaking ‘no’ at others. Then the request. You know, the one you, and they, know you can’t fulfill. She was about 14. Earlier she had waited patiently while her two younger siblings sat for photos and wishes, their parents smiling broadly in the background. Santa had smiled and said Merry Christmas to her, thinking she felt too old to talk with Santa. To the casual observer, this was a normal family. Later, respecting a lull in activities, she casually walked up, intending to make her statement and continue cruising by. “I know you’re not the real Santa, but for Christmas all I want is a foster home in Shelton.” I had been told a Santa Secret a few weeks earlier. Children will tell Santa things they would not tell anyone else. Santa grants wishes, makes dreams come true and is filled with love. Even parents and teachers don’t have the magic Santa has, I was told. And here was my test. I was sure it was the first of many. And I had to pass it. Now. And I had only seconds to pass. Or fail this girl. I suddenly knew multitudes. This was not your typical family. For whatever reason this girl was not in her own parents home, and, by the way she spoke, was not unhappy where she was but desired something better. Can I help her? Can I keep her from just walking away? “Why Shelton?”, I blurted before she had taken another step. Where had that come from? I was still reeling from the complexity of her simple comment. I don’t know how, but I had to stop her. It worked. Half turning, “Because that’s where I grew up.” she calmly replied. Relief was fast. In just those few seconds, she had conveyed to me a lifetime. She was not running from something. She was not expressing displeasure with her current foster home, she was not disgruntled with her circumstances. She wanted to be closer to her friends and school. Once I had her, how do I help her? “Who are you working with? I mean, which agency? Do they know you want to move? “ Yes, they were aware and they were trying to place her but that all the foster homes in Shelton were already full. Now I knew I could help her. Another wave of relief came over me. Not guarantee a placement, but really help her. I could give her what she wanted. “I will pray for it,” I said. “I will pray that things work out and a space becomes open for you to move. Is that okay?” She said “thank you, yes, I would like that”. Then with a “Merry Christmas” she was gone. The entire interaction lasted less than 15 seconds. I had given her the only thing I had, and maybe the only thing she needed from Santa. Hope.