Marci Beaver almost lost her life earlier this year. Now her children want to create an annual event to express gratitude that their mother was spared that day. In May, two women driving a stolen Audi Q7 filled up at Ghost Station, then hurriedly drove away onto the highway without paying. Beaver was in an oncoming sedan and before she could hit the brakes she T-boned the Audi. “My two younger girls have told me so many times ‘I’m glad you didn’t leave us mommy,’ ‘I love you,’ every day when they wake up they give me a kiss,” Beaver said. “I asked my girls what they wanted for Christmas (and) they said ‘just you here.’ Not only did (the accident) change my life, it changed their life as well.” Beaver said it’s been their family Christmas tradition each year to help a family in need, but this year her daughters wanted it to be extra special. “Every year we go all out on our lights,” Beaver said, which gave the family the idea to hold a Christmas light contest in their Morley community. Beaver put out an announcement and then for a month gathered all the funds she could spare from her tips for a first prize pot of $750. The manager from the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino (where Beaver works) also sponsored the event and added a one night stay at the hotel as one of the prizes. One of her regular customers, Gordon Heisler donated $100 US, her co-worker Genevieve Holloway Rider donated $250 and Harry and Larrisa Abraham donated $25 to the event. “This year, 2018, has been a very hard year for my family. We lost loved ones; my two nephews – one who has battled cancer all his life. It’s going to be a very hard Christmas for my older sisters,” Beaver said. The light contest is her way of giving back to the community. Judging for the event, conducted by her family and some elders in the community, took place Dec. 19. First prize went to Amelia Rollingmud ($750 plus a gift basket), second prize to Edwin Goodstoney ($250 plus romance package at Stoney Nakoda Resort) and the third prize went to Jason Twoyoungmen ($100 US plus $100 Walmart gift certificate, and a stay and play package at Stoney Nakoda Resort).
