Reason for the season

SOAP LAKE — Terry and Janice Shaw left big city lights behind them 10 years ago, only to grow a yard of their own lights.

"It keeps getting bigger," Terry said of their Christmas display.

The couple started decorating their yard with Christmas lights the year they retired to Soap Lake from Seattle. Each year a few more strings of lights were added, along with decorations made from various materials such as plywood and plastic cups. A few are purchased from stores. Ten years since their arrival, more than 100 strings of lights illuminate their snow-covered backyard, said Terry.

It's a project getting the yard ready for Christmas.

"I started in the middle of September and got done by mid-October," said Terry Shaw. "It's tough to get started, but then it's not so bad."

Cutouts of Santa, reindeer, elves and an accident prone snowman are found about the yard. Terry said he enjoys making decorations. Some are from pictures he's found, others come from ideas given him by family and friends.

"When I make them, I need a big eraser with me all the time," joked Terry.

The idea and driving force behind the yard of Christmas cheer is Janice. Her husband places all the credit with her.

"She talked me into it," Terry said with a smile.

"I'm like a kid. I love it all," Janice said.

The yard pleases the Shaws, as well as their children and grandchildren. It also pleases the neighbors and community, Janice said. Over the years they have received numerous compliments about the ever growing field of lights and decorations. People often ask at the beginning of winter when the yard will be decorated.

The Shaws' children and grandchildren love the display too. Janice said their son, his wife and children are planning a visit after Christmas.

"My grandson just turned 11 and he loves it," said Janice Shaw.

Janice is happy to recount local support the year some lights went out. She said many people called, informing them of burned out bulbs in a sign saying, "Merry Christmas, The Shaws." The sign faces Highway 17, at the corner of First Ave. N.E. and Daisy Street. She said it has been the worst mishap to date.

"So far, so good," said Janice. "The people (of Soap Lake) are great."

The greatest challenge with having a yard of Christmas lights is maintenance of the bulbs, Janice said. It is a challenge to keep up with one burning out and reaching strings placed along the roof of their home or in the backyard trees. Several strings of lights wrap around decorations of wire mesh and wood hanging in the trees. There is a cutout of Santa heading down the chimney with some help. It, too, is lit. Janice said the trouble is reaching them, rather than the cost of replacement.

The price for powering all of the lights is something the Shaws do not worry about. Janice said it is a reasonable price when compared to the amount of enjoyment it gives them and the people driving by.

"The electricity is a gift to ourselves," Janice said.

The Shaws' Christmas spirit extends beyond the lights outside. Inside their home, more lights and decorations cover the walls, tables and a sizable portion of the living room floor in the form of a Christmas tree. Janice said she began collecting pieces for her pair of lit Christmas villages when they began lighting the yard. She is happy with her Santa collection and music boxes too. Terry said she buys a new Santa figurine each year.

The Christmas decorations are always expanding, said Janice. She said they are aimed at helping her family and others to remember the "reason for the season." The current project is working on pieces for the manger near the garage.

"It keeps getting bigger," Janice said of the decoration collection, echoing her husband. "We're really just kids at heart."