It’s impossible not to be moved by the wonderful spirit of giving and generosity for a hundred local youngsters and their families during the annual Holidays and Heroes event. Often at the holidays we all get so busy and frazzled it’s easy to lose sight of the important things. For the last several years Bert and I have participated with the Post Falls Police Department to be secret shoppers and it is absolutely a true gift to us.

On Sunday I was assigned to team up with District Manager Steve Veare and Agent Becky Thompson from the Idaho Department of Correction while Bert secret shopped for a little boy who was with a Life Flight EMT. As the children and their men and women in uniform shopped for their families, we covertly shadowed with a list of sizes and wishes from the child. You could hear the excitement of the children as they selected a gift for their mom and dad, brothers and sisters. To be able to give a gift is a magical thing in and of itself.

When everyone returned to the Greyhound Park, hundreds of volunteers were as busy as Santa’s workshop elves. Young people from the Explorer Scouts, Young Marines and even the Post Falls Trojan boys varsity basketball players were assisting with the transfer of gifts and food baskets to and from the patrol cars, ambulances and fire trucks.

“Elves” in festive garb joyfully wrapped about 1,000 gifts large and small. The women from Trinity Lutheran Church had tables laden with beautiful hand-made quilts where every year a special kind of magic happens. Each child selects a quilt to keep and sometimes ask if they can have one for a sibling. To see these children walk out the door, holding their quilt tight, without fail gives a lump in my throat. Simple things sometimes mean the most.

Thanks to all of the law enforcement and first responders and their families who donate their day off to make a very special memory for the children and to the generous donors who make it possible. Most of these children have so little but the memory of the day and all of the people, especially the heroes in uniform, who showed them kindness and a most special adventure will last far beyond the Christmas season.

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Shhh, don’t tell Sheriff Ben Wolfinger but one child had a really exciting bit of fun as a county deputy was heading out of the Greyhound Park parking lot to take the child home from Holidays and Heroes. As we walked to our car we saw a county patrol car spinning brodies in the snow on the far side of the lot with lights ablaze and a burst of the siren. Tell me that that child won’t be telling the story for a long time to come!

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After working late Friday night we awoke to a winter wonderland. While I love fluffy white snow, Bert says it's because I don't shovel, plow or have to drive much in it. On Saturday morning he fired up the snow blower to clear the driveway, shoveled our walk and then came back down to the Jacklin Center with me to shovel the walk there and help clean up from the previous night's event and set things up for an afternoon event. We went to breakfast and then came home to find the city snow plows had come down our street while we were gone. So back out he went to remove the driveway berm and clear the mailbox and newspaper box. I guess that explains why never in 30 years of marriage have I ever heard him say, "Isn't the snow pretty!"

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My two cents based on personal experience with extreme cold weather via time spent in Bert's homeland of North Dakota: Weather is serious. Frostbite and hypothermia are real, even in North Idaho where we're accustomed to average winter temps of about 25 degrees. As overnight temps will be plunging to the single digits, be smart. And be aware that some people struggle to heat their homes and some people have no homes. Your donations of warm outerwear etc. to the agencies who serve the vulnerable can be as lifesaving as a blood donation when temperatures plummet. I'm aware that I'm typing this in the comfort of my warm home for which I'm grateful but I'm also aware there are many for whom that's simply not the case. Look around and see if, in any small or large way, you can provide warmth to a fellow human this coming week.

And for heaven’s sake bundle up, top off your car’s gas tank and keep extra blankets in the car.

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When the Arctic Express hands us sub-freezing temps, make ice balls! One of my favorite projects this time of year involves filling regular-size balloons with water and several drops of food coloring. Place outside for at least 24 hours until frozen solid, then cut off the balloon for some bright pops of color in this winter white landscape.

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On Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Manuel Schneidmiller American Legion Post 154 will meet at Pinegrove Cemetery on Highway 53 in Rathdrum to place 200 wreaths on veterans’ gravesites. This is part of National Wreaths Across America Day. The public is invited to come and assist with wreath placement, families welcome.

First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d’Alene presents Tapestry of Light community celebration on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College. The event is free and open to the public and features a combined community choir and community orchestra, and a special performance by combined handbell choirs.

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Happy birthday today to Jeannette Conroy (50!), Eve Knudtsen, Sybil McCormack, Angie Hatch, Sandy Clemons, Amber Briles, John Medlock, Vicki Peoples, Karen Kastning, Tammy VanBrunt and James Forster.

Tomorrow Nellie Armstrong, Kerri Wilfong, Susan Schneidmiller, Cat Troy, Brenda Young, Anne Marie Toothaker, Travis Gardner and Austin Wuest are celebrating.

Happy Friday birthdays to Marci Clark, Mimi Eismann, Lori Dawson, Harmony Taylor, Dot Neirinckx and Tim Kastning.

On Saturday Holly Kincaid, Lori Stanea, Dick Halliday and Cheyenne Peugh take another trip around the sun.

Opening birthday gifts on Sunday are Brenda Young, Randy Shaver, Tami Banker, Catherine Witham, Laura Harvey, Kris Wold, Krista Vandermark, Mike McDowell and our grandson Jared Gonzalez, who’s turning 20.

On Monday Celeste Mitten, Terry Cooper, Carol Prosser, Rene Darby, Ray Potter, Judy Cronin and Rick Monroe will start the week and another year.

Will Kennedy, Jim Sharp, Jayson Frank, Dean Swanson, Holly Miller, Lisa Turpin and Rick Blaski celebrate Dec. 20 birthdays.

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“When it seems that we have lost our way... we find ourselves again on Christmas Day. If you just believe.”

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.