The Story of Merv: The Snowman Ornament

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Meet Merv. a snowman ornament who now is warming the heart of one kind, elderly resident of the Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames, Iowa. The story of Merv's journey to Green Hills is short, but very heartwarming. 

Merv was born at 10:50 a.m. on Monday, December 3, 2012 with a solitary purpose; to bring unexpected joy to someone endowed with the Christmas spirit. His inception came from a company retreat where embracing change, cultivating a positive mind-set and "Positive Intelligence" were the topic du jour. Before Merv came to be, attendees of the retreat were tasked with finding a partner they don't normally work with, and partaking in an act of kindness exercise; making ornaments. Here is a silly little poem to commemorate Merv.

As partnerships were formed and teams descended on the crafting supplies, one duo waited patiently for the ruckus to die. After a 10 minute delay, the partners approached the craft table and set about making an ornament depicting a holiday staple. With a squirt of hot glue, three stickers and pipe cleaners, Merv was born and the employees interest in the project was keener.

So off went Merv, carried by his one of his makers, to cheer up the first soul who felt like a taker. On his way to Green Hills Merv inspired many a smile, and yet his journey was much less than a mile. So with 50 odd cousins to help deck the halls, not one retiree knew what soon would be donning to their walls.


After a heartfelt hello and quick look around, the first room Merv visited was where he was bound. With two dozen keepsakes from which to choose, an nice green hills resident wasted no time with her point of view. She pointed to Merv and said "Oh how cute," and now the cheer spread from her tree no one can refute.

As the visitors continued to spread the joy of the season, a small bit of sorrow washed over Merv's maker for some silly reason. Though their time together had been oh so slight, Merv was a doodad who brought such delight. While his maker will miss him come Christmas morn, he's proud to know Merv's bringing joy to the tree he adorns.

Okay, that may have been the cheesiest thing I've ever written, but Merv was a funny little ornament and everyone seemed to love him. I hope he brings as much joy to the woman who owns him now as he did for me.

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