Bear Hugs for Christmas has become my new Christmas Tradition!
Every year for the last 20 years the Utah Jazz Bear has taken well
deserving children to a Walmart to shop. As the years have gone
by the number of kids have grown which means the number of
volunteers have grown as well. Last year there was one volunteer
per child, this year there were two volunteers per child. I got to the
location at 6:20 and ran into many of my friends from my single's
wards. While we were standing in line to be paired with our child I
turned to see Mark Eaten walk in. I knew that if I didn't get a picture
with him mom would never let me live it down. So I walked up to him,
kinked my neck back and said " Hi I don't mean to bother you but
my mom is a huge fan and it would be so great if I could have my
picture with you, would that be OK?" Of course he said yes and I
now have the picture as proof! We had breakfast in the gym with a
little performance from some of the dancers from High School
Musical and then loaded our large buses (8 total). The Bear gets on
top of a firetruck and leads the buses down the streets with a
police escort all the way to the Walmart. The police escort makes
it so we have a straight drive right to the Walmart, and the kids all
feel pretty special by it. I have to admit I felt pretty warm and tingly
as well! Last year we drove in a blizzard, but this year we were lucky
enough that the big snow storm had not started yet. I was paired up
with Carter who I had never met and we had a little guy named Danecio
who had received a robot jacket the day before from Santa and wore
the hood (which covers his face completely ) most of the day. To
watch his face and see him hiding his excitement was precious.
He couldn't believe that he actually got to get toys that he wanted and
someone else was paying for it. As we were walking out the door to
return to our bus we were able to get a picture with the Jazz Bear.
When we were leaving the Walmart the storm had finally started but
it didn't matter for me or the kids! What a day of such fun, and Christmas
spirit. Each year I feel something that brings me back the next year, even
at 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday!
Every year for the last 20 years the Utah Jazz Bear has taken well
deserving children to a Walmart to shop. As the years have gone
by the number of kids have grown which means the number of
volunteers have grown as well. Last year there was one volunteer
per child, this year there were two volunteers per child. I got to the
location at 6:20 and ran into many of my friends from my single's
wards. While we were standing in line to be paired with our child I
turned to see Mark Eaten walk in. I knew that if I didn't get a picture
with him mom would never let me live it down. So I walked up to him,
kinked my neck back and said " Hi I don't mean to bother you but
my mom is a huge fan and it would be so great if I could have my
picture with you, would that be OK?" Of course he said yes and I
now have the picture as proof! We had breakfast in the gym with a
little performance from some of the dancers from High School
Musical and then loaded our large buses (8 total). The Bear gets on
top of a firetruck and leads the buses down the streets with a
police escort all the way to the Walmart. The police escort makes
it so we have a straight drive right to the Walmart, and the kids all
feel pretty special by it. I have to admit I felt pretty warm and tingly
as well! Last year we drove in a blizzard, but this year we were lucky
enough that the big snow storm had not started yet. I was paired up
with Carter who I had never met and we had a little guy named Danecio
who had received a robot jacket the day before from Santa and wore
the hood (which covers his face completely ) most of the day. To
watch his face and see him hiding his excitement was precious.
He couldn't believe that he actually got to get toys that he wanted and
someone else was paying for it. As we were walking out the door to
return to our bus we were able to get a picture with the Jazz Bear.
When we were leaving the Walmart the storm had finally started but
it didn't matter for me or the kids! What a day of such fun, and Christmas
spirit. Each year I feel something that brings me back the next year, even
at 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday!
Me and Mark Eaten 
Me, the Bear, Carter and Danecio trying to get his hood on
Me, Bear, Danecio (at the bottom) and Carter
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