A true story written by Judi Strait
Many years ago, in the small town of Newberg, Oregon, lived a very kind woman named Judi. Judi loved to sew, and one day she decided to make a teddy bear.
Judi chose the finest blue and brown wool from a nearby mill and carefully worked, with love in her heart, adding very special bells in each ear of the teddy bear. Judy wrapped the bear in a cozy blue scarf and called him Jingle Bear.
Jingle Bear was so special that Judi sewed many more bears like Jingle Bear. They had all different colors of soft, warm wool and different colored cozy scarves. Judi sewed bells in each of the new bears’ ears. They were all very special.
As the weeks passed, Jingle Bear noticed that things were different. The days were shorter and much colder. There were other changes, too. There seemed to be more joy and laughter and wonderful smells of ginger and cinnamon. He found out that it would soon be Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.
One day, Judi put all of the bears in her car and took them to the most wonderful place – Sleighbells Christmas Store. It was full of beautiful Christmas decorations and gifts of all kinds. Jingle Bear and his friends got to stay in this delightful place.
One day a very nice lady came to the store. She saw little Jingle Bear and fell in love with him. She took him home with her and he became her very special Christmas bear.
Some 30 years later, Jingle Bear was taken to another store. This was not a fun store, but a crowded one. Jingle Bear was not happy in this new store until one day when a nice lady saw him and took him home.
Judi met this kind woman for lunch, for they were good friends. They visited and laughed, and as they left the restaurant and walked to their cars, Judi’s kind friend said she had a gift for Judi. Judi’s friend reached into her car and handed Judi her gift. Judi could not believe her eyes as she joyfully declared, “That’s one of my bears! That is Jingle Bear!” Judy never dreamed that she would see any of her bears again.
Jingle Bear looked brand new. His wool was still soft and its colors had not faded. His scarf was still cozy and best of all his ears still jingled with joy. Jingle Bear and Judi hugged and were very happy to be together again.
Judi brought Jingle Bear home to High Prairie, where she lived now. She carefully placed him in her living room and he continued to spread joy to all of Judi’s friends and family.
Jingle Bear had come home!