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Man Connects Children With Santa

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2007

LITHIA - One Christmas long ago, young Paul Barber wished with all his might for a train set with an engine that puffed real smoke. The boy rejoiced when he spied the toy underneath the tree Christmas morning.

"My dad called all his friends over to put it together. I had a lot of fun watching them all play with it. It is such a good memory," Barber said.

Now a grandfather, the FishHawk Ranch resident extols the importance of cherishing and preserving family memories. He built his home-based business, Your Precious Memories, around that philosophy.

Barber uses a tabletop kiln to fire and glaze family photos onto porcelain plates, Christmas ornaments, key chains and other keepsake items. He creates the customized mementos for wedding and baby shower gifts and fundraisers. His favorite gig is at PetSmart, where he photographs people with their pets and takes orders for plates and ornaments personalized with the images.

"I like to interact with everyone, but I especially like kids and dogs," Barber said.

He is offering a special service geared toward children this Christmas - personalized letters to children from Santa Claus.

"It's a neat thing for a kid to get a letter from Santa. It reinforces the belief that there really is a Santa Claus," he said.

Parents can choose from eight letter templates Barber created. He sprinkles the letters with personal details that would charm a child, such as the names of pets, siblings and best friends or items on their Christmas wish list. Each letter contains a surprise, such as a balloon, a bookmark or a coupon for ice cream.

Orders received by Friday will be sent to a post office in Alaska and mailed to children with an authentic "North Pole, Alaska" postmark.

Barber owned a food brokerage company in Minnesota for 22 years before moving to Lithia five years ago. Before he started his home business in 2006, he took three years off.

"I wanted to stop and smell the roses," he said.

PERSONALIZED LETTERS FROM SANTA

WHO: Paul Barber, Your Precious Memories
WHERE: 5814 Hawkwood Court, Lithia

WHAT: Parents select one of eight letter templates; Barber then customizes and mails to the child's home. Orders received by Dec. 7 will be mailed and postmarked from North Pole, Alaska.

COST: $5.95 including postage

INFO: (813) 760-3930

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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