The Spark

One of the greatest joys in life is receiving gifts, especially from those we admire and respect. A surprise visit on a special occasion, wrapped presents under the tree, and seeing the whole family gathered together—these are just a few reasons why winter feels so magical.

This Winterfest, Dad had something even more special planned for us.

Mom was at the computer, looking for a new garden tool on the marketplace. Jenna and I were sitting next to her, watching as she scrolled through the listings. Suddenly, something caught my eye. It was an excavation craft kit, and I was completely taken aback.

As I leaned closer to the screen, my heart raced in a way I didn’t quite understand. It wasn’t just excitement — it was something deeper, something pulling at me, like a half-remembered dream I couldn’t place.

I leaned in closer, barely able to contain my excitement. “Mom, is this for archaeology? It looks just like the stuff Grandma talks about in her stories!”

Mom smiled at me. “It sure is. I take it you’re interested in archaeology, Sarah?”

“It looks so fun! Mom, can I have it?” I asked eagerly.

Mom gave me a kind but firm smile. “Maybe in the future, sweetheart. Your Winterfest gift has already been chosen this year.”

I couldn’t hide my disappointment, but Mom reassured me. “Don’t worry, Sarah. You’ll get the kit in due time.”

My dad drives a blue sedan, and he makes it super comfy.

I could easily sleep in the car all day because it’s so cozy.

He has the softest cushions; it’s so comfortable that it’s hard to get out when we reach our destination. Mom and Dad seemed to have everything planned out because Dad drove straight to the cabin.

When we arrived, I was amazed.

The cabin looked like something out of a dream, but as we stepped closer, the world around us seemed unusually quiet—the kind of quiet that feels like it’s listening.

My eyes were glued to the cabin, and my mouth dropped open.

The roof sparkled under the snow, and colorful string lights framed every window. Stephan noticed my open mouth and teased, “Close your mouth, would you? Something might fly in there.”

Haha, he can be so annoying sometimes. I wasn’t the only one surprised; when I looked to my left, Jenna looked like she was in a daze.

We all went inside to shower and eat. We ended the day with a story around the fireplace.

The warmth of the fire filled the room, and the sound of crackling logs made it feel like we were inside a Winterfest card.

Back to summary: Winterfest Joy: Memory of Home

The News

As the days passed and Winterfest drew nearer, my excitement grew. Life as a six-year-old was already pretty great—no responsibilities and endless wonder—but it was about to get even better.

One afternoon, while I was watching TV in the living room, Dad walked in with a big grin.

“Hey, kids,” he said to me, Jenna, and Stefan. “Grandma is going to be joining us for a special Winterfest vacation.”

I froze for a moment, wide-eyed. “Really? Grandma is coming to visit us?”

Dad nodded. “Yep, your mom and I just got off the phone with her. She’s excited to spend the holidays with us.”

To me, this was the best news ever. Grandma wasn’t just family—she is my role model, my hero. The thought of her being with us filled me with so much joy that I thought my little heart might burst.

Winterfest was already magical, but this made it even more special.

The Journey

Today is Monday, the 22nd, and we had half a day at school. It was such a blast!

The teachers really went all out to make it special for us.

I got a ton of candies in my goody bag—I can practically feel the cavities forming already.

Some of us were so happy that we didn’t even look like we were walking; we looked like we were floating.

Floating with joy.

As the day wrapped up, I said goodbye to Ms. Laura.

“Bye, Ms. Laura! Happy Winterfest! I hope you have a great time with your family.”

Ms. Laura gave me the biggest hug ever. In my opinion, she’s the best teacher.

I really hope that when I leave third grade, I can come back and visit her.

My mom and dad came to pick us up from school.

“Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!”

They both replied at the same time, “Hi, Sarah! How was school?”

Me, Jenna, and Stephan all jumped into the back of the car.

Winterfest Eve

Winterfest Eve arrived, and the excitement in the air was unmistakable.

I could feel the joy surrounding me.

This year, we were enjoying a white Winterfest since it had been snowing heavily.

Stephan, Jenna, and I spent some time playing outside in the snow.

The snowflakes drifted down gently, almost as if they were dancing, while the trees stood tall, their branches weighed down by the snow.

The world felt wrapped in magic.

But once or twice, as I twirled around laughing, I thought I saw something move between the trees at the edge of the clearing — there, and then gone.

After we wore ourselves out, we headed back inside to lend a hand to Mom with dinner.

She was preparing a feast: roasted turkey, glazed ham, garlic mashed potatoes, creamy mac and cheese, and buttery dinner rolls.

The kitchen was filled with the delightful aromas of roasted herbs and melted butter.

While Mom was busy cooking, Dad took the opportunity to tidy up the cabin, ensuring it looked welcoming for our guests.

He vacuumed, fluffed the couch pillows, and even spritzed some pine-scented air freshener to complement the Winterfest tree.

I caught a glimpse of Dad carefully straightening a family photo on the mantel, the frame slightly tilted — and for a moment, the old scar on his face caught the light, a reminder of things unspoken but never fully forgotten.

Gradually, everyone began to arrive.

Grandma was the first to come, and I hadn’t seen her in quite some time.

That alone felt like receiving a Winterfest gift.

All three of us rushed to her as she entered and gave her the biggest hug.

Grandma exclaimed, “Stephan, Sarah, Jenna, you all have more energy than ever!”

Grandma hugged us tightly, but for a fleeting moment, I thought I caught a tired sadness in her eyes — the kind that slips in when you think no one is looking.

She even joined Mom in the kitchen, helping with dinner.

She baked a cake and an apple pie to add some variety to the meal.

Dinner was served quite late in the evening, but that was because Mom had prepared an elaborate spread.

Dad had already set the table, adorned with red and green placemats, sparkling silverware, and flickering candles that cast a warm glow.

Once everyone had arrived, we all gathered around, marveling at how delicious the food looked.

Dad broke the spell by saying, “Believe it or not, I cooked this meal all by myself.”

Mom chimed in, “Yeah, honey, you really are the best chef.” Stephan and I shouted, “No, he’s not!” I added, “The stuff he cooks is way too salty!”

Stephan said, “He made me some salty, burnt eggs once, and I thought I was going to die.” Everyone burst into laughter.

We all enjoyed our meal and wrapped up the day by the campfire, roasting marshmallows.

The firelight danced on our faces, and the stars above shone brighter than ever. For a moment, as I gazed into the flames, I thought I saw something shift in the reflection on the cabin windows — a flicker too tall, too still to be just us.

Winterfest Morning

Winterfest Day arrived, and I woke up to the delicious smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and the soft sound of Winterfest music playing in the background.

My aunt and I were the first ones up, sneaking into the living room to find the tree softly glowing with lights and surrounded by a mountain of gifts.

The living room looked enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale.

The gentle glow of the tree reflected on the frosted windows, and the ornaments sparkled with every flicker of light.

The stockings hung by the fireplace, overflowing with little treats.

But as I crossed into the room, a strange chill brushed the back of my neck — gone before I could turn around.

The cabin was silent for a moment longer than seemed natural, like it, too, was remembering.

When everyone finally got out of bed, the gift frenzy kicked off!

I received that beautiful journal with my name engraved on the cover from Dad, a pair of cozy snow boots from Grandma, and the DIY excavation craft kit I had been wanting.

Honestly, I have the best family ever.

Jenna got the art set she had been dreaming about, and Stephan unwrapped a brand-new sled.

They had other gifts too, but I was so focused on mine that I didn’t even notice what they were.