ROCKFORD SMILES: CHRISTMAS CHEER
Welcome to Rockford Smiles! In honor of the holiday season, let me tell you a Christmas story that happened to me a long time ago. It remains in my memory as a bright, shining star among the dark silhouette back ground of the evening sky. I grew up in a home that celebrates Christmas. Steep in tradition, with Christmas carols, and the family gathering as most families do. Exchanging gifts, music a flow, cheerful smiles, around the glow… of Christmas. But one Christmas stands out among them all, a Christmas none, no, none at all. My Mother went shopping before Christmas day, to gather gifts for us that day. Smiling and excited to watch her children on Christmas day,… glad. Before going home, she had one more errand to run. Only to find, when she came back, that someone had taken all of the Christmas gifts that she had. Driving home with a heavy heart, knowing that she had to tell us, her children, my brothers and I, that we wouldn’t have gifts this Ch...