Family,  Holidays

Mike’s Heart

Each year, for as far back as I can remember, Mike has participated in the police department's "Shop with a Cop" night. This is an annual event that is sponsored  by the OPD, and its purpose is to help children in shelters have a better Christmas – any Christmas at all, actually.

The police officers who volunteer to participate are each paired with one or two children, and after a fun evening of pizza at the union hall, they're all off to go Christmas shopping at Wal-Mart. The Omaha Police Foundation gave each of the officers a $100 gift card per child, and the officers did their best to help their kids find the right balance of toys and clothing.

Not an easy task when you have two 6-year-olds named Jacob and Samantha, paired with the Biggest Kid of the Universe, Mike Stewart.

Mike said that although little Jake looked sleep-deprived and pale, his energy was boundless. And Mike's cell phone camera proves it…

Mike and Jacob 3

Joining Mike and Jake was little Samantha, whose smile could melt a snowman.. Even when Jake kept trying to kiss her coat in the police cruiser – despite her explaining to him that she did NOT want to be his girlfriend – she kept laughing and smiling, and learning at an early age that boys will be boys.  Especially when Jake insisted that she did, in fact, want to be his girlfriend…

Mike and Samantha 2

In the past, Mike has had kids whose main concern was to shop for their siblings or mother, which is always a mixture of love and heartbreak. With those children, Mike has made sure they get what they need – a coat, some underclothes (and of course a few toys!) – and then he helps them choose something for their loved ones. Mike is extremely tender-hearted toward children and those who aren't so fortunate as he has enabled his family to be.

This year, however, all Mike had to do to please his little buddies was to find the perfect radio-controlled helicopter for Jake and a Dora the Explorer doll for Samantha. Add to that a Nerf gun, another baby doll, some Transformers gear and lots of underclothes and outerwear, and those kids finished the night with bigger smiles than they started with.

Speaking of smiles, I had to show you this picture that Mike took, even though I'm sure he didn't mean to just photograph the bottom half of their faces… I thought it was adorable bc they have matching cheeks and chins!

Mike and Jacob 2

Mike always feels very blessed to be able to share a small part of Christmas with these kids. And I know he's one police man they'll never forget.

Mike and Jacob

What wonderful, kind people the police volunteers are. And a huge thank-you to the Omaha Police Foundation!

Merry Christmas, Jake and Samantha.

Merry Christmas, hon.

20 Comments

  • joann tx

    what two cuties jake and samantha are!
    and what a big heart mike and his fellow officers have! 🙂 i bet they all had a great time at “shop with a cop” night!
    did either of the two kids come away with any “board” games they could play w/their siblings? 🙂
    LLLLLY!!!

  • Lili

    How great and touching.
    Mike is an amazing dad and man, and so are you (I mean mum and woman lol!).
    You and your family are all amazing. I haven’t much commented lately, with my gran’s passing, I had no inspiration; but today, I wanted to say how comforting your posts have been for me lately. Seeing the love and beauty of family, your lovely children, the warmth of your posts, they have helped me through difficult times. Thank you for this blog and your amazing designs that I can now find in France very easily. Yoohoo!
    Enjoy the season.
    Hugs,
    Lili

  • Sherre

    I have tears in my eyes reading this sweet story, Paulette. Your Mike is a special man indeed! I have a tender heart for police officers of Mike’s caliber because my Dad was a police man when I was a little girl. He was a man of integrity and honor, like your Mike. Thank you for sharing this with us.

  • Breanna

    always love hearing dad’s shop with a cop stories! they are always sooo cute and funny, can’t wait to come home to hear them! love and miss you!

  • Linda Klinedinst

    My area that I live in does the same thing every year for the Children. I think it is a great that Mike participates in this and he had two cute little kids to shop for too.
    What a truly Blessing he is to the children and to his Police Department. Way to go Mike. You are a great person and thank you for your protection in your state/town. You are in my daily prayers.
    What a story and it brought tears to my eyes –
    Mike – Stay Safe and tell your Police Department that I said Thank You for everything that they do for the Children. What a truly Blessing to these Children.
    Take care & Happy Stitching/Designing
    Hugs to you and to Mike
    Linda K, Railroad

  • Littlebit

    Needy kids always melt Mike’s butter. I wish every child could have a game night and shopping with him at this time of year, because I know when these kids are with him, they think they are the most important child, for a while, which is how every child should feel. Love you, Mike. Yfmil

  • DJ

    Awww….this brought tears to my eyes to think of these policemen and what a huge impact they have made on the lives of children. You have a sweetheart there! I am married to a retired Army guy and he’s another man in uniform that really understands and loves kids (DH works with the children’s program in our church and they constantly run after him calling him Mr. Mike). There is something special about these men!!

  • Margaret

    That is soooo wonderful! I bet Mike is the best policeman in the group with the kids too, being such a kid himself. What a sweetheart you have! (Don’t let him get a big head. lol!)

  • Cathryn

    That is a wonderful event and they couldn’t find a better volunteer than Mike. Wonderful big-hearted people the Stewart family is. God bless you all. 🙂 Cathryn

  • CAY

    Now this is the true spirit of Christmas. Thank you for sharing. And thank you for helping those less fortunate. Mike is wonderful. God Bless!

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