Christmas wishes do come true thanks to Canyon Lake

BY Dawn Rankins

Happy Friday readers, I do hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Are you looking forward to the New Year? I am. I’m excited to see what new adventures await. I was blessed to be able to ring in the New Year with some dear friends and family.

I wanted to share with you a little bit about my Christmas in Canyon Lake and how my wishes came true.

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned how I got to dress up as Mrs. Claus. Well, a few days later, I also was given the chance to dress up as an elf.  I’ve always wanted to do both and thanks to my amazing friends here in Canyon Lake, my wish came true.

My friend Brian came up to me at the last party I went to and hugged me.

“I’m so happy for you,” he said. “I’m so happy you are finally able to celebrate Christmas and I’m happy you‘re celebrating here in Canyon Lake with us.”

Brian‘s wife Kathy then said to me, “You are finally getting your very own Christmas and celebrating the way you always wanted to.” She gave me the best hug ever. It was a hug of true friendship and sincerity.

Wishes do come true. Since moving to Canyon Lake so many incredible things have happened to me. I became a reporter. I write a blog that is now in 90 countries. I finished my first book and now it’s in its final stages of editing. I’ve made friends who are family, too, and I am so thankful that they love me for being me and not for how much time I give to a certain religion.

John in his ugly sweater and me as an elf. Photo by Calista Grande

During this Christmas season, I even crossed one thing off my bucket list. I got to do a short ride along with our fire department.

I realized during the three days I spent with the A, B and C shifts, that they are living their dream being firemen. And I’m living mine. I have always wished for a Christmas like the one I just had and my wish has been granted. It came true.

It’s funny, for the last couple of years I’ve done a lot of listening to positive affirmations and different podcasts on the Law of Attraction. I can tell you honestly that the things I’ve been blessed to be a part of this holiday season is everything, and a little more than I manifested in my thoughts. I didn‘t even realize that until I left the fire station after my final interview with the C shift.

I wrote an article for last week’s edition of The Friday Flyer about the firefighters of Station 1 here in Canyon Lake and I know I didn’t do it justice. I couldn’t even begin to express to you readers the passion that each and every one of the members of the Canyon Lake Fire department has and the sacrifices they all make in service to this amazing community. I encourage you all, to make an appointment  to go and talk to them yourself to see what I mean. I was honored to be able to attempt to tell their stories.

I am so blessed this holiday season. There are so many wishes and dreams I’ve made in my life. To have most of them happen in just one year and one Christmas in the Lake, it’s overwhelming in the most humble way possible.

I got to decorate my home with Christmas spirit. I attended a couple of parties. I was able to be a part of the golf cart parade and all the festivities that went along with it. I got to have my sons share the holiday season with me. John and I started our first Christmas village together and we were able to wish our family, friends and neighbors the Merriest Christmas.

I have but one more wish I’d like to have come true and I hope it comes true soon so I can write about it and share it with all of you. But for now, I’ll give you this one little hint. I never want to leave Canyon Lake. I want this to be my forever home.

Wishes do come true, for I found you. I found a community that has accepted me and my family as their own.

From my heart and home to yours, Canyon Lake, I do wish you all the best and happiest New Year yet.

Please reach out to me with any stories you would like me to share. I would love to write your story too and submit it for consideration for upcoming The Friday Flyer editions.