Many of you older Treepers remember praying for my grandson Conner five years ago last fall when he was a baby undergoing open heart surgery at Vanderbilt. The two holes in Conner’s heart were easily repaired and he is now a healthy little boy.
He and his older brother are autistic. Last year I posted The Christmas Pumpkin, the story of my first adventure making a special gift for Conner. Copying part from that post last year, here is the story behind the Christmas Pumpkin. Incidentally, if I remember correctly, the original story was my most popular post ever according to the WordPress stats.
Conner’s great love is pumpkins, all year round. He loves every single pumpkin, big or small, real or artificial. A few months ago he told me that all pumpkins are his, every one of them. So, if you had a pumpkin on your porch or decorating your Thanksgiving table, say a prayer of gratitude that Conner let you borrow it!
Fall has always been my favorite time of the year, and the last two years I’ve had a new reason to love it. Last fall Conner had only been in school for a few months, and he was mostly still non verbal then. His inability to communicate, along with the many issues associated with autism, sensory issues especially, made life very difficult for him, and it was not usually a good idea to take him out in public.
However, he had just found pumpkins, and his enthusiasm captivated me, so I bought him a pumpkin, a real one, at the grocery store. His love for it, and desire to take it everywhere he went, and even to sleep with it, made me think he needed an artificial one to play with.
So, I took him to Hobby Lobby because I wanted him to experience the wall of pumpkins in the front of the store, and the aisles full of all sizes and color pumpkins. He wasn’t too sure about the store at first, and I still remember his little thin (at that time he wasn’t eating well) body trembling.
Oh, but he loved those pumpkins and it isn’t an exaggeration at all to tell you that he carefully looked at each offering before he chose his pumpkin. There were a few aisles of Christmas decor, of course, so I thought maybe he would be interested in a Santa or a tree, and I just wanted to get him things he would love.
He seemed to think that he had to choose one thing, even though I kept reassuring him that he could pick another present or two. He adamantly shook his head and refused my every suggestion, but finally reached his little hand toward an old pickup truck with two blocks in the bed that had numbers on each surface. It was a little Advent calendar.
He snatched his hand back before he touched it, but I bought it for him anyhow. It’s now a part of his family’s Christmas decor, but it never got to pumpkin status in his love.
This year when I took him to Hobby Lobby he was a different little boy. In his second year of attending a wonderful school where he has learned so many things, including language skills, he’s able to express himself like any other excited four year old, and many things have changed for Conner.
He wanted each and every pumpkin, and tried to put dozens in the buggy. As I said, he considered all of them his, and just wanted to bring them home.
After a lot of haggling and laughter, I finally negotiated the purchase of three pumpkins. I told him he could have any three small medium and large pumpkins he wanted. He put a lot of thought and exploration into his choices, and in the end, it was quite clear that each one was chosen to meet mostly sensory pleasures.
The largest was a regular orange pumpkin that looked very real. The next was a velvet pumpkin, brightly colored and so soft and wonderful to stroke. The little one was a different color, and one he could easily carry around with him. He insisted on taking them all with him to therapy appointments, and he would arrange them in display on the tables or shelves.
A few weeks ago he began to ask for a Christmas pumpkin. Of course, pumpkins are long gone from roadside stands and even Hobby Lobby. And who has ever heard of Christmas pumpkins? Conner is nothing if not persistent, and he kept asking.
So, I ordered a white pumpkin and went searching for some Christmas decorations I could stick on it. This is what I came up with, and it won’t win any art awards or set any decor trends. But the bright colors and flashy stars are right down his alley, and his smile was absolutely ample reward for the little bit of trouble it was to make what is our first Christmas pumpkin.
Unfortunately, the pumpkin did not survive. So this year I upgraded to a metal pumpkin. I found little battery lights and wound them through the metal ribs, and finished it off with bright red bows. It’s just as absolutely ugly as last year’s pumpkin, and he loves it just as much. He called it his pumpkin lamp and hugged it close when I gave it to him.
This is a picture of him in the pumpkin hat I made him for Halloween.
Thank you God, for giving us Conner, and thank you to all Treepers out there who fell for Conner as they prayed for him during surgery, and who have continued to ask for updates and Conner news.
I hope you have your own special gift story to share with us. Merry Christmas!
This is truly a Christmas story for the ages!
Thank you for this update and thank you for sharing Conner with us! This was beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful blessing for you and that you are for your grandson. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Thank you for this wonderful story! Merry Christmas, Connor! You are a fellow pumpkin lover!
A HUGE blessing !!
A beautiful Christmas story! Thank you
Thank you so much for your touching story.It seems as though I’ve been reading here for years, but I must have found the Treehouse after you had written about Conner’s surgery. He’s a beautiful little boy and you are so lucky to have each other. In the midst of so much worry and turmoil, thank you for reminding us of the goodness and love in the world. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Managerie & Conner, the gift that keeps giving.
Thank you for ll you do.
Love this story so much…thanks for sharing. I have two sons with sensory processing disorder and I so identify with much of your story!
Thank you so much for sharing this story…..what a gift you shared
I just love it. How absolutely touching and such a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing this. Warms the heart.
Merry Christmas and Happy Pumpkiss to you all 😉
We want to see the metal pumpkin.
First picture on the post.
Such is the kingdom of heaven and the love of our Lord. Amen, and thank you for sharing this reminder of how much we are loved, and are to love another. Joyful Christmas blessings to you all.
Wow – what a great story!! These special children are bestowed to the most special people. May you continue to receive these blessings as you continue to bless your grandchildren (and their parents)!
May every CTH reader experience something as meaningful as this in their life in this season!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Conner!??
Menagerie
Connor looks happy and healthy in his Pumpkin hat. Our prayers were answered when Connor had his Heart Surgery for a quick recovery Connor is Blessed to have You as his Grandmother. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family.
Tea
Must have brought out my inner Conner as I read and enjoyed every word of this beautiful story.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful story. I have been lacking Christmas spirit until now and you and Connor have instilled it in me. Sincere thanks for that and a Merry Christmas right back at you!
Have a Very Merry Merry Blessed Christmas!!!!
It’s hard to read early in the morning through tears. I too have an autistic son and yes it is a blessing. May everyone here at CTH have a blessed Christmas.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story and Conner with us. I hope you and your entire family have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year !,
May God bless Conner richly. What a beautiful soul!
Thank you Menagerie for sharing this story of love. Merry Christmas to you and your family and to all treepers here.
Thank you! All things work together for good to those that love the Lord.
I do remember Connor! I’m delighted to hear that he is doing well. He’s a lucky boy; not every gram could make a Christmas pumpkin!
Sych an awesome story. Thank you for sharing
Our grandchildren are the icing on the cake! Our special blessings from God. He knows our hearts and the best blessings come from life. My granddaughter had our 1st great this past summer. All our prayers were answered with a healthy Mom Dad and baby girl, Charlotte. Let me tell you my grands got the best of me 20 years ago, but this little angel lights up our day! We are obsessed with our baby girl. I am praying, writing all Senators to stop the steal and socialism for her and my precious family. In God We Trust through Jesus alwaysa.
Merry Christmas ? q
Please take Connor to Circleville, Ohio Pumpkin Show Oct.20-23,2021. He will love it, & so will you.
I just looked at the website, and messaged his mom and dad. If we can get him in a car for a 7 hour trip I’d love to do it!
YAY!! I came in to make the same encouragement. Mary Ann is correct.
If he’s up for it, the Circleville Pumpkin Festival is a one-of-a-kind event. Great for the whole family.
I don’t know if they still do it, but they also used to have a pumpkin festival pet parade on the second day.
Beautiful story! Beautiful Love! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Menagerie for starting my day with a big smile! Such a wonderful story filled with love ❤️.
God bless you, Conner and the whole family.
God bless all pumpkins, and a Merry Christmas to you, and your family!
Beautiful. Merry Christmas Connor
P. S. …and thanks for the pumpkins this year
? Conner begrudgingly shares! You’re welcome!
For many years I connected with children like Conner, when I worked as an aide at a school for special needs students. When the therapists constructed a new “sensory” classroom with blackout curtains, soft music, shimmering lights, textures and sensory pillows, it was absolute heaven for these children.
The staff enjoyed it almost as much as the children. “Can I get a break in the sensory room now?” Lol! And the therapists jockeyed for time on the roster with their students.
It is so powerful to find a way to connect with an autistic child (or anyone with a special need for that matter). I will never forget the day a student with autism responded to a puppy brought into the school for a “reading circle.” It was the very first time that this child ever stopped moving and relaxed. He focused intently on the puppy, petted him smiling, and looked directly into our eyes.
He was experiencing US for the very first time. It still moves me to tears when I remember that moment. A real connection. Heartwarming story, Menagerie! You are blessed to have Conner in your life. He is one of God’s special little ambassadors, teaching us what life is all about.
Have a blessed Christmas with your family. ??
PS: I can relate to the pumpkin tree. My daughter once brought home a bright blue menorah ornament from the secret Santa’s workshop event at her school. It was painted on cardboard, about two feet in length with streamers.
We saw it for the first time when she proudly presented it to her grandparents on Christmas Day. The Jewish dradel ornament now holds a prominent spot on their Christmas tree, and we all laugh about it.
You made me Happy ❤️❤️
God has truly blessed you Menagerie!
Thank you for all your wonderful post over the years.
Have a blessed Christmas and the best New Year ever!! ??
Conner’s Christmas Pumpkin!
Good to read about Conner today. May he and his brother have the nicest Christmas ever!!
Thank you Menagerie.
You and your whole family have a great time. Hope you can be together.
With live and gratitude??❤️
This story had such an impact the first time I read it 5 years ago. Reading it again is like a vitamin booster shot. Merry Christmas!
This is pure love in action! Thank you for sharing – I hadn’t seen the original post. God bless you and your family!
Thank you for sharing this story again. May the Lord bless and keep this precious child.
My little grandson, being a very active and curious little guy, just barely 3 years old was kicked by a horse a few weeks ago. The family was at a gathering and he saw a “baby horse” in the field near by. He ran as fast as he could, mom watching over 3 Littles saw him just as he slipped through the fence as she started after him. She watched in horror as he ran up behind the horse and was promptly kicked. We are praising the Lord that his injuries are not serious and he is recovering well. I just got back from a trip to see him. He said, “Gramma, a horse kicked my belly!” There are angels watching over all my grandchildren. He could’ve been kicked in the head, or the shoulder, but no, he was kicked in his middle, and not even a rib was broken, just a very small laceration to the liver, which can heal itself. He was such a good little boy in the hospital and is trying very hard not to roughhouse now. May the Lord bless all the little children. Amen.
He never gives you more than He knows you can handle, and He will always give you what you need (even if it isn’t what you wanted or thought you needed). That is one of His mysterious ways.
Merry Christmas to you and your entire family.
? ❤️ Wonderful. Merry Christmas, Menagerie
Thank you so much, Menagerie! What an indescribable blessing Connor is! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Merry Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Each and every child is a gift from our Creator. Nurture and love every one of them.
Love this, Menagerie! It is one of those stories that always bears repeating!
No finer pumpkin, than a pumpkin made with love. Thanks Menagerie for sharing this beautiful story. Wishing you and Conner a wonderful Christmas. A Grandchild is a blessing, a gift from Heaven above. A precious little soul to cherish and love.
A wonderful blessing and a truly gorgeous pumpkin! Merry Christmas everyone….let’s remember all the blessings we have in our life.
As a dad to an autistic child, I can only say thank you for posting this, Menagerie. While mine is in his early 20’s now, I still remember like yesterday the trepidation of taking him places when he was younger for fear of sensory overload, the tears of joy and sadness over the various successes he has achieved and trials he has endured. He has been an absolute blessing and we are so very thankful he is a part of our lives.
In a time of such bone-chilling goings on… a much needed story to warm the soul!
Merry Christmas Conner and family!
Blessings to all!
Love, love, love this story! Thanks for reposting it and God bless you and your family and all the love you share! This is what makes life worth living.
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Thank you for this wonderful story of Conner and the amazing Christmas pumpkin.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I remember.
Thank you Menagerie for sharing Conner and his love of pumpkins with us.
Merry Christmas, xo
Life is good. I share some of Conner’s love for pumpkins. I [heart] homebaked pumpkin seeds. Don’t rinse them too much, and bake them with Kosher salt.
Addictive, and keeps me out of the halloween candy stash.
Merry Christmas to you and your entire family.
Pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite parts of Halloween. I know what you mean about not rinsing too much, the “goo” of the pumpkin makes them taste extra good when you bake them.