My Father and the Dollhouse
One of my favorite gifts that I received at
Christmastime as a child was a handcrafted, mustard-yellow dollhouse with
brown trim, made by my father when I
was 9 years old. It had a blue master
bedroom upstairs with a mixed green and y ellow bathroom across
the hall.
Downstairs was a simple living room area with a cream-colored paint job and dark brown carpet, and the kitchen area was
adjacent with orange accents. In the middle of the dollhouse was
a central staircase complete with a miniature grandfather clock.
All rooms were carpeted with different textures, and most of
them had a unique 70s print wallpaper design. I look at the colors
today and nearly cringe at the designs, particularly all the swirls
and curly cues, but I remember the many hours I would spend
arranging furniture and playing out various home-life scenarios. I
think the deepest memory is how special that dollhouse was to me
because my dad had taken the time out of his busy pastor’s
schedule to cut, build, and design a small home that he knew I
would enjoy.
He invested his time and energy in it and handcrafted it out of
his love for me.
I grew out of that little-girl phase in a year or two and, to this
day, I have often wondered what happened to that special home.
Most likely, we passed it on to someone who could get better use
out of it. However, if I had known that my father was going to pass
away at Christmastime only a few years from then, I would have
kept my handcrafted home as a fond reminder of the kind of
person my dad was.
He was always thinking of others. He was very compassion ate,
sensitive, and attentive to details. He was a God-fearing man.
Each Christmas since then, I am reminded of how our time
together with others is so very precious, and I often reflect on
many missed loved ones. Each moment that we share with our
family is handcrafted by our Creator out of His love for us.
Treasure each one!
–Karen Walden
Marketing Assistant
