Seattle, WA

One of the greatest things about being a writer is the opportunities it provides to meet people you might otherwise never meet. While conducting research on local Christmas tree farms I wrote to Donna of Donna’s Trees to confirm information about her tree farm. Donna provided me with updated information and one day, when she had a bit of time on her hands, she wrote me a more personal note and suddenly there was a connection. Here was someone that had taken the time to tell me the story behind her trees and that, my friends, is a gift in and of itself.

The story Donna had to tell was about a family who got away from the rat race by purchasing land and planting Christmas trees. It’s a story about a family who raised a fine young man who would go on to attend the University of Washington and later become a Chaplain in the Army, serving all over the world, including Iraq. This is a story of a family who built a business and still manages to give back to their community.

Donna’s husband, Ray, worked in real estate and although he was good at his job, it was stressful and he dreamed of a job working in the great outdoors. They began by purchasing land. Three lots adjacent to their home and two lots on Lake Geneva. Together, Donna and Ray cleared the land and began planting seedlings. “Little did we know the time it takes to grow a Christmas Tree.” Sometimes it’s better not to know what you’ll be facing, though, else you might give up before you reach your dreams. Donna and Ray pressed on and bought more land off Highway 18 on the mountain side near I-90 and planted more seedlings. Some years successful and “some not so much”. There are bugs to contend with and snow and deer and elk and wind and the list goes on and on. Their son worked on the farm for many years and misses it enough that last Christmas he flew home just to help out. “Some of our customers think, and say, `Oh, this must be fun.’ Well yes, in a sense but in order to make it fun for them, we have a lot to do.”

“This is a great year for the trees”, she wrote me. Donna hires local boys and girls to work for them and it’s often their first job, many of them going on to college and specialty training. I can feel the pride in her words as she tells me, “Two are electrical engineers, and one is training to be a Chef, and another is a football player in one of our colleges over the mountains.” This year, she tells me, “we have a darling girl, MacKensie, who is back with us for the second year.”

As it turns out, Donna’s son, the Chaplain, is stationed near me here in Texas. What an incredible coincidence! If Donna hadn’t taken the time to tell me about her life and her son, I’d never have known that he’s stationed right here at Ft. Hood! Little did Donna know that at the same time she was writing me, I was in my kitchen baking up a plethora of cookies to send to the troops in Iraq. Meanwhile the Chaplain is taking classes that will enable him to give greater assistance to soldiers returning from the war and my friend, Ingrid, is working with another friend to establish a non-profit group working to do the very same thing!

It’s stories like these that make the world seems smaller and make us all feel more connected. I believe that is the spirit of Christmas working up a little holiday magic.

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DONNA’S TREES
4421 - S. 348th Place, Just Off Military Road Located in Lake Geneva Estates, Auburn, WA 98001.
Phone: 253-927-1911
Email: Donna1952_1@Juno.com
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays only in December, from 9:30 to 4 PM until sold out.

An approximate acre of nice trees to choose from - various heights. Not sold by the foot and tax included in the price. Some trees tagged higher or lower in price. Arrangements can be made by calling for an appointment on other days: 253-927-1911. Payment: Cash, Check. Please No Dogs or chain saws. We provide your tie and hand saws. Head-in parking. Easy access to all trees. Free holly and bay leaf branches with purchase of your tree. Nice view of Lake Geneva. Warm cider and candy canes free. Children cannot carry or use saws. Sorry, no public restroom facilities. Our prices include the tax! Donna recommends you bring an umbrella in case it rains!

DIRECTIONS:
Just off Military Road, between Federal Way and Auburn. Take South 352nd and follow signs through Lake Geneva Estates to cul-de-sac street end.

TYPES OF TREES:
Nobles, Fraziers, Grands, Douglas and Turkish Firs.

Donna, Trees, Seattle, Auburn, Lake Geneva, Washington, Tree Farms, Family, Christmas, Holiday, Magic, Small World