As I sit, dreaming about the new year (mainly the next few weeks), and reflecting over the passed holiday season, I feel a level of love and blessing that I never knew possible. I live with my parents; raise your had if you’re a millennial! Over two months ago they bought a house on the Candy Cane Lane of our town. At 27 years old, I opened my first Hot Chocolate Stand at the end of my parents’ driveway. I felt like I was five again, but instead of pouring lemonade into Dixie cups I served Swiss Miss with 2% milk because that’s how I roll. So, as I sat in the California Cold with hundreds of cars, adults, and children passing by my driveway I smiled. Daily I live in my own personal Disneyland, bring on the woodland creatures, and now the world surrounding my home reflected that.
My parents were gifted their lawn decorations by the previous owners and we proudly dubbed ourselves the Spongebob Squarepants House. The hedge separating the lawn and the driveway gave me the sweetest vantage point to hear small children, and several excited adults yell, “SPONGEBOB! Mom, look, it’s Spongebob.” They would then walk into my line of sight get even more amped over the prospect of cookies and hot chocolate. It’s so cheesy to say, but even though I was unreasonably cold, my heart was warm for days.
While this was a fundraiser, the best part of my hot chocolate stand was the people. They were enthralled by the lights, not a single soul was rude, and it gave me an amazing opportunity to meet my neighbors. I’m in love. Kids’ faces lit up at the sight of candy canes and marshmallows. They didn’t even notice my dollar tree table cloth or that my hand written sign, also from the dollar store, was taped to an old aluminum latter. There’s magic in the cookies I carefully chose from VONS because I wanted to be safe with that. Everyone smiled as they walked by. Some left a ‘Merry Christmas’ in their wake and other apologized for not bringing cash. Several people said they would be back, but I’m not worried. Where is the heart in a fundraiser if you berate those unable to give.
The first night, my father told me not to spend too much money just in case it didn’t work well as a fundraiser. I bought a half gallon of milk, one box of cookies, one box of candy canes, and $5 in supplies from the dollar tree. So I took my mothers 30+ old Christmas carafe that may hold a liter of liquid, filled it with maybe a few cups of hot cocoa, took a small plate with 10 cookies on it, and a handful of candy canes to set out on a short table out at the end of my driveway. after refilling the carafe twice, I sat there casually serving my neighbors when my dad, the sweet soul that he is, informed me that my mother, who I swear is a saint, was already making more hot chocolate and he was running to the store because he was afraid I would run out of cookies and milk. I did run out. I sold every cookie and every last bit of cocoa my mother made. I made $100 my first night. That was December 3rd.
It would be silly to not admit that I am selling hot chocolate for the money, because obviously I have to raise funds somehow and my beautiful sQuad mate gave me this idea, Thank you, Kalie ? ! God found me in the most spectacular ways during the 3 weeks I sat outside of my house and sold hot chocolate.
I want to thank everyone that bought something or even just donated the change they had in their pocket and the friends that donated their time to help me, but more than once, I met someone who said or did something that had me asking “How is this my life?”
- I met sweetest young boy who didn’t have any money, but he stopped to ask about my trip. He wished me ‘All the blessings and safety while you travel the world and help people’. His older sister shooed him along as I thanked him and we shared a silent, watery smile; I tried not to cry.
- A little girl, Bella, and her family bought everyone a cookie and a cup of hot chocolate while I told them where I was going. Before they left to walk through the Christmas Lights, she asked if she could give me a ‘huggies’. I will always say yes, Bella. My insides are permanently melted.
- A couple weeks in, I was in the middle of trying to serve 15+ people and a young girl, maybe 13, walked up handed me a business card. She explained the her mom was touched by my efforts and loved my story. There was money folded up under the card. It was a $100 dollar bill and an email address. Generosity has completely been redefined in my life.
- One afternoon while my dad was working in the garage, someone was able to sneak up and leave a christmas card on the table just outside the open door. It was signed to me, written by a lady who saw my World Race post while she was looking for directions to the Christmas lights. Inside she explained that she always kept a few Christmas Cards to give out to strangers that she meets during the holiday season and she knew God meant for her to help me fund my trip. Thank you, my sweet, anonymous angel.
- My dad’s friend came over one night while I was selling hot chocolate, he’s already pledged to tie my to a lamppost so I can’t leave the country, was so impressed with my hot chocolate stand, that the following week he dropped off two arm fulls of baked goods for me to sell. Thank you so much, Paul.
- The last night I sold chocolate was the Thursday before Christmas. I was cold, feeling really bored, out of nearly anything to sell, and ready to go inside, but God seemed to be telling me to just hold out for a few more minutes. I saw an older couple two houses away and thought, after they pass, I’ll put everything away. They saw my sign, asked a few questions, and continued on their way. I began breaking down my set-up and as I returned down the driveway to pick up more stuff, the little older lady was standing there with a $20. I see you God, and I’m listening.
My Elves (read parents) get their own Thank you section, because I literally couldn’t have done any of this with out my Dad constantly refilling my merchandise, and my mom slaving over a hot stove every weekend in December making hot chocolate and plating up cookies. I won the lottery when it comes to parents.
I’ll never be able to repay these sweet gestures, but know that they didn’t go unnoticed. You helped me raise over $1,200 selling hot chocolate. Cue the astonished laughter, because I still can’t believe it. It’s been my most successfull fundraiser to date. I will forever remember you.
God’s providing. I met my December deadline way in advance. Because of this hot chocolate stand, I have already surpassed my February Deadline. God. Is. Good.
