It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

WARREN — Visiting the home of Gina and Ron Jenkins during the Christmas season is like taking a trip to the North Pole.

Their property on Frazho Road, just west of Ryan Road, is a place where treetops glisten and sleigh bells ring. You would even say it glows.

Every year, the couple decks the halls with the 850 blow mold lawn decorations they own. Blow molds are hollow plastic lawn ornaments where melted plastic is blown into a mold and painted. The Jenkinses began decorating with just a few pieces nearly 40 years ago.

“Little did we know it would turn into all this. Over the past 10 years I’ve come to the realization that sometimes things in life find you,” Gina said. “The Christmas display kind of found us. It’s a happy obsession. It gives us such joy. We feel very blessed to be able to do it.”

Amid twinkling Christmas lights and music playing, the luminous blow molds are sectioned off by theme. There is something everywhere you look: Santa Claus and his reindeer, smiling wooden toy soldiers, nutcrackers lined up in unison, and a sweet “Candy Cane Lane.”

“We have a saying: ‘No blow molds left behind,’” Ron said. “There is a lot of infrastructure you don’t see.”

When standing in the front yard, a holy Nativity scene greets visitors. You can even see the Star of Bethlehem. There’s a spot for Santa’s workshop, Snowman Junction, the “Island of Misfit Toys” and much more. Woody Woodpecker makes an appearance up on the rooftop. Just watch out for the Grinch so he doesn’t steal your Christmas.

Letters to Santa can be dropped off in the mailbox, and there’s a group of penguins in the mix. And it wouldn’t be the holidays without a 76-piece singing choir. The lawn ornaments were purchased at various stores, including Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth and Kmart Blue Light Specials. Garage sales are also good finds. Gina and Ron’s three adult children — Jennifer, Cindy and Ron Jr. — have helped put up the display through the years. The couple also has two grandchildren.

“We also want to thank friends Adam and Mark for their ideas and help over the years,” Gina said. “We want to send a special Christmas blessing to Darlene and all the group.  Your kindness over these many years has truly warmed our hearts, thank you so much.”

It takes three weeks to get the decorations up, and 500 extension cords for all the LED lights. The goal is to have the exhibit ready by Thanksgiving. One year, the display won the mayor’s award and also an award for most wattage.

The Warren couple always meets people who stop by to view the winter wonderland. Some spectators stay in their cars and look, while others stroll the sidewalk taking photos and videos.

“We try to come out and talk to people,” Gina said.

One year, a little girl mistook Ron for Santa Claus.

“She said, ‘I want a yo-yo for Christmas,’” Ron recalled. “She had the brightest smile on her face. She said, ‘Thank you so much.’”

Onlookers seem to have their own favorite scenes.

“Sometimes people will go out by the choir. They’re crying. It becomes very emotional for those who lost a loved one and have memories of songs from the past,” Gina said. “Sometimes people want to be by the elves, or they love the Disney train.”

“I’ve had people come here and tell me you have stuff I’ve never seen before,” said Ron, who keeps inventory on the collection and said some pieces date back to the 1950s. “I know every piece that’s out there. I know the manufacturer, the year it was made and when we bought it.”

Although Gina and Ron don’t do social media, their holiday home has been featured on various posts.

“There was a man and lady that came from Chelsea,” Ron said. “He saw it on Facebook. He drove over here. He got Frazho confused with Fraser but somehow he found the house.”

Over the years, the couple has received a handful of Christmas cards from strangers who have thanked them for the display. People also leave gift cards, a gesture that makes Gina tear up.

“We’ve had people come and drop money in the mailbox for our electric bill,” she said. “We’ve gotten letters from kids. It’s really touching to us. It makes our holiday to know we’re bringing joy to someone else. It truly means a lot to us.”

Even though the temperature was quite cold the evening of Dec. 12, Warren resident Mary Vienneau brought her friend Judy Gradowski to check out festive Frazho Road.

“This is my second time this week. It brightens me up,” Vienneau said. “It just brings the spirit out. It’s wonderful to see, and I like the music.”

“It’s gorgeous. It takes my breath away,” said Gradowski, of Hazel Park. “It makes you feel happy inside. I love the manger scene, that’s my favorite. And the choir, that’s cool too.”

The Jenkinses usually keep the display up until Christmas Day. They start dismantling so soon after Christmas due to the weather and because it takes about two months to dry off everything and store it.