MILLIGAN — Dan and Trish Gartner hope passersby enjoy their home's Christmas lights display.
The couple's front yard — which includes a nativity scene, The Nutcracker, Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas trees and Disney characters, among other cheerful sights — is lit 5-10 p.m. seven days a week at 5206 Ray St., Milligan.
Setting up the lawn decorations and stringing all the lights are no easy feats — "Our display takes three weeks to create," Trish Gartner said. "My husband puts the decorations up, although we both design it." But that's beside the point.
The hard work is worth it, she said.
"We have lived here for three years and have always loved the joy we bring," Gartner said. "We decorate to bring joy to everyone who sees it. Bringing joy to others is a blessing to us."
Other rewards sometimes follow.
"One night, we had a family visit the lights," Gartner said. "A 3-year-old said to my husband she wanted to help pay the 'lectric' bill.
"She gave him a penny, which will be a forever part of our display."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We decorate to bring joy': Milligan couple shares Christmas lights display