Holiday Greetings God’s timing is always perfect, even at Christmas By Elizabeth Vrudny Menahga I was a happy child growing up, but especially at Christmas. I loved the special music, the smell of almond extract in my mother’s cookies, cutting the tree, the snow and ice skating and the time off school. One year, about age 10, my mother said to me, “Don’t forget to pray for those at Christmas who might be sad.” “Who could be sad at Christmas?” I asked her. “Those who have lost loved one or those without families. Christmas can be a tough time,” she said. I thought about her words a long time. I think back and write this true story, for those my mother taught me to pray for. Dec.1984 Bunding up my infant son on a snowy December day, we were going to check the mail, as both of us needed some fresh air and exercise. Our mailbox was about a half-mile down a country road. I tucked him into my front carrier and set off.
Opening the box, I was thrilled to see a stack of Christmas cards! I loved Christmas cards! As I casually slipped them into a small bag, a postcard floated away and landed in a snowdrift. I bent down, blew the snow off the card and saw a picture of a new baby! As I turned the card over, I read three short words, and my thoughts drifted back to the previous year. Dec.1983 I had gone to work, as a nurse, and accepted my assignment that evening on the post-partum (new mommies and babies) unit. Getting a report from my supervisor, I found I had three patients. Two second-time moms going home the next day and one special mom who needed extra care, as I found out her baby had been stillborn. I decided, after saying a prayer along the way, to see the grieving mommy first. Her name was Amy. Entering her room, I saw the dad by her side and Amy sobbing.
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Editor’s note: Storytelling by Enterprise readers is one of our favorite holiday traditions. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and snuggle under a warm blanket to enjoy poems, memoirs and short fiction by your friends and neighbors. There are tales to make you feel grateful, to remember and to be hopeful. Thank you to our contributors!
Perfect gifts are sent from above By Bob, Sharon and Annie Schinnert Nevis
It has been a year since they put me away in my special box in my place of honor in the dark corner of the shed. Once again, I’m naked as the I knew it must be getting day I was brought home! I will close to the time for me to soon look very different. Dress make another appearance me up a bit, add a touch of because I could hear Bob and bling and I just may be a sight Sharon loudly discussing who to behold! put what away last year and I guess I should explain. where did they put it. I’m Bob and Sharon’s Christmas tree. GIFTS: Page B7
Do you still believe? homestead cabin, which later turned into one of the first My two oldest children were resorts in our area. They had wonderful memgetting to the age where Santa Claus was a “maybe?” in their ories of Christmas, as did my mother, and they got to remiminds. I hated to see that wonderful niscing as we all sat around the belief disappear, as it meant my table after eating our lunch. They spoke of how beautiful babies were growing up. Santa Claus always made his visit and the Christmas tree looked on Christmas morning when they still does for that matter! But this is a recollection I will came down from upstairs. It always hold close to my heart. was always so tall that it went That same Christmastime, up into the stairwell, and they my mother’s two oldest sisters would see it as soon as they got to the stairs. came for a visit. They were born in 1900 and 1901, and grew up in a log BELIEVE: Page B6 By Teresa Avenson Conway Dorset
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Do you hear what I hear? By Kim Villalva Dayton, Ohio Sam straightened his black bow tie and took a final glance in the mirror of the dressing room. He lightly tousled his hair to get the look he was going for then grinned at his reflection. “This is it, man. You’re ready.” He turned to hang out with the rest of his group before they went on. “Listen up! I want to remind you to really listen out there, okay? We are in a historic building and that rotunda is 70-feet high so your sound can get lost. Focus on staying in key and you will be just fine!” Mrs. Patterson beamed at the high school a capella choir before her. Sam led the group to the stage. This was his senior year, and it had been his dream to perform at The Dome. The Dome was a beautiful performance area that connected shops and businesses that drew many people in at this time of year. With the twinkling Christmas lights strung all around, Sam felt every ounce of Christmas spirit in the place. Especially from his family seated in the front row. Even Sam’s grandfather, who had lost his eyesight before Sam was born, sat in his wheelchair, with a Christmas blanket tucked around his lap. Finally, it was time. For a bass to have the lead was a bit unusual for a group that relied heavily on their bass to round out the rhythm section. But “Nothing But Love at Christmas” was a song Sam had not only written, but had also arranged. And he had earned the solo. Sam’s voice rang out as he held out each note of the opening verse. He closed his eyes just like he had a million times before in practice, trying to feel the words. But something wasn’t right. He opened his eyes in anticipation of everyone joining him for the chorus. The sopranos and altos stared at him, eyes wide with confusion. The tenors and baritones shifted uneasily. That’s when Sam realized what had happened. What he had done. He was singing in the wrong key. No wonder the song didn’t feel right. And no wonder the group was exchanging nervous glances. As the group sang the chorus, Sam quickly hid
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behind everyone else. When the performance was over, he sat with his head buried in his hands. “Sam, you did fine!” “No one caught the mistake but us, really!” The support kept coming as his friends rallied around him. But Sam would hear none of it. “Just leave me alone. I let everyone down.” The group eventually moved on to dinner and Sam returned to his misery. “Sam, everyone’s waiting on you for dinner. Time to celebrate!” “I’m not coming, Grandpa. There’s nothing to celebrate after my performance.” “What are you talking about?” “Didn’t you hear? The notes were off, and it was my fault.” “Sam, why did you write that song? What does it mean?” Sam sighed. “Christmas is about love. Nothing matters but the love we give to others.” “So why would you write a song that you don’t believe in?” “Don’t make fun of me, Grandpa.” “I’m not, Sam,” he said gently. “You heard only
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your mistake. But let me tell you what I heard. I heard the smiles of your friends as they supported you when they realized the error. I heard the vocal percussionist hold the rhythm together, so the group stayed on tempo. I heard those two baritone buddies of yours match your pitch and then hold it so everyone else could find their notes.” “Mom always said your hearing was awesome,” Sam smiled. “Sam, I heard so much more than words tonight. And I thought that was the point of your song. Reminding people of the love we have for each other. Love gets us through all the troubles in our lives. What I heard tonight is that your friends love you and weren’t about to leave you stranded.” Sam thought about all his grandfather had said. Every bit of it was true. His friends saved him on stage. “Thanks, Grandpa. I guess I forgot what I was truly singing about.” “I’m so proud of you, son. Remember you don’t have to be blind to hear more than the words people say…or sing…listen with your heart and you will hear where we can share the love we all need to hear – especially at Christmas.”
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27 Christmas gift ideas to help celebrate Christ’s birthday ► Give an old friend a “catch-up” call. ► Smile a lot! ► Take a walk when you need a break. ► Consider putting up a manger scene in your ► Let go of old grudges and bad/sad memories. front yard. ► Say “I love you”...often! ► Let your Christmas tree lights shine through ► Play games and put puzzles together. your front window. ► Be positive in all your conversations. ► Play Christmas music in your home. ► Call the grandparents so they can talk with their ► Be a bell ringer for a Christmas charity. grandchildren. ► Donate to “Toys for Tots” and other similar ► Send pictures of your children to their grandprograms. parents. ► Thank store clerks for their help and share a ► Build a campfire and make s’mores. Christmas greeting. ► Tour your town and look at the Christmas dec► Shovel a shut-in neighbor’s sidewalk and porch orations. for them. ► Pick a special gift for someone you’re pretty sure ► Donate generously to your local food shelf. might not receive any gifts this year. ► Send personal Christmas cards to family and ► Attend the Christmas services at your church or friends. churches of choice in your area. By David Dwyer Park Rapids
► Read the Gospel story of the birth of Christ, found in Matthew 1:18-25, and the visit of the Wise Men in Matthew 2:1-12. ► Read the Gospel of Luke 2:1-20 about Jesus’ birth and the story of the shepherds and the angels. ► Watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special on TV. ► Also, consider scaling back on the number of gifts to invest in a family event that could make some lifetime memories. ► Most importantly of all, remember the “reason for the season – the greatest gift ever given, the birth of Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) May God richly bless each one. Keep looking up!
100 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH The month of December has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in Dec. 1923. ► The Gleno Dam bursts in the Province of Bergamo in the Lombardy region of Italy on Dec. 1. More than 350 people are swept away and killed in the villages of Bueggio, Corna and Dezzo. ► Universal Pictures releases the film “The Darling of New York” on Dec. 3. The film is the first to feature fiveyear-old Peggy-Jean Montgomery, also known as “Baby Peggy,” who would soon be earning an annual salary of $1.5 million. ► Charles Keating is born on Dec. 4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Keating would ultimately become one of the more infamous figures in American finance when he plays a prominent role in the savings and loan crisis of 1989. ► Kentucky Governor Edwin P. Murrow commutes the death sentence of convicted murderer Steve McQueen on
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Dec. 5. McQueen was a juvenile at the time of the crime and Governor Murrow had received numerous requests to commute the sentence, which he did just days before his term as governor was due to end. ► On Dec. 6, Winston Churchill is defeated in his attempt to be elected representative of Leicester West in a general election. ► The Reichstag of the Weimar Republic votes to pass an enabling act on Dec. 8. The act, which garners 313 votes to just 18 dissents, gives Chancellor Wilhelm Marx the power to implement emergency economic and welfare measures. The act lasted until the dissolution of the Reichstag in March 1924. ► The National Dairy Products Corporation, which would ultimately become a conglomerate now known as Kraft Heinz, is founded on Dec. 10. ► A 5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes near the Colombia-Ecuador border on Dec. 14. More than 300 people are killed
and the Colombian village of Cumbal is destroyed. ► The Liberal Party of Greek Prime Minister Stylianos Gonatas wins control of the parliament on Dec. 16. GonatasÕ party ran on a platform of abolishing the monarchy. ► James D. Cummings and J. Earl McLeod of Washington, Kansas, file a patent application for their invention, the bulldozer, on Dec. 18. The patent is granted on Jan. 6, 1925. ► On Dec. 18, American congressman Andrew Volstead tells a law enforcement conference in Minnesota that the American people were giving up their opposition to the Volstead Act, which established the prohibition of alcoholic beverages. In his remarks, Volstead predicts the act will never be repealed. ► King George II of Greece and Queen Consort Elisabeth leave the country on Dec. 19. Their departure is in compliance with the Greek government, which abolishes the monarchy three months later.
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► Nine farms in Goodhue County, Minn., receive electricity for the first time on Dec. 24. The delivery of electricity is part of a project to demonstrate the economic feasibility of rural electrification in the U.S. ► On Dec. 24 in Washington, D.C., President Calvin Coolidge presses a button and turns on 2,500 electric bulbs, thus beginning the tradition of the National Christmas Tree. ► Prince Regent Hirohito of Japan survives an assassination attempt on Dec. 27. The perpetrator, 24-year-old student Daisuke Namba, is the son of parliament member Sakunoshin Nanda. Namba is hanged on Nov. 15, 1924. ► The first patent application for Russian-born American inventor Vladimir Zworkin’s “television system” is filed on Dec. 29. The patent is eventually granted on Dec. 20, 1938.
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A bah humbug Christmas By B. Craig Grafton Canyon Lake, Texas There once was a man named Mr. Grichwald, and each Christmas season he would ring a bell and collect for a charitable organization. But each year he seemed to collect less and less money, and this year he had become disenchanted, disheartened and disgusted with the whole Christmas thing itself. Now on this chilly, wintery, bitter-cold night, he stood outside a drugstore in a mini mall as a young mother and her young son approached. He rang his bell and smiled at the mother and she smiled back. She opened her pocket book to make a donation when Mr. Grichwald, and it was never known whether it was the hours in the cold or the lack of contributions that caused him to do what he did next, but Mr. Grichwald suddenly cracked and broke and blurted out, “Christmas. Bah. Humbug!” “Pardon me,” said the startled young mother. “Did you say, “Christmas bah humbug?” “Yah, lady. Christmas. Bah. Humbug. What’s it to ya?” “Well I never,” she said, appalled. To which Mr. Grinchwald replied, “Well it’s about time you did.” He didn’t know what he meant by that but he thought it sounded clever. “Is that man the Grinch?” asked her son. “Yes, I am Tiny Timmy, or whatever your name is. I’m the Evil Grinch. Bah humbug for now.
Bah humbug in spades. Bah humbug forever. Bah humbug,” he brayed. The mother drug her son into the drug store and Mr. Grichwald felt better for having gotten all that off his chest. And when the next person approached he did likewise. Again, he felt good having cursed Christmas with another “Bah Humbug.” So he did it again and again until the store manager came out and had a brief, unpleasant, heated conversation with him informing him that his customers were complaining about him. Bottom line, he was ordered to take his act somewhere else or the police would be called. That was fine with Mr. Grichwald, but for the fact that he had three more hours left on his shift. So he moved just two doors down to the liquor store, so that his relief would see him when he got there. He set up his donation kettle and began ringing his bell when a middle-aged man approached. “Spare me the speech, fella,” he said. “I ain’t giving you no money.” To which Mr. Grichwald replied, “I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t either. Christmas. Bah. Humbug.” The man was taken back momentarily, then smiled and said, “You know I’m kind of glad to hear that for a change. Those are my feelings exactly. Christmas, bah humbug. Ya know if it wasn’t for booze I’d never get through Christmas. I need it to put up with my wife’s sisters and those bratty kids of hers. Every year, it’s the same old thing. She invites them over to our house, at our expense, they eat all our
food, they never bring any of their own, and their kids. Well, their kids just keep yelling, screaming and fighting with each other the whole time and hog the TV, watching that stupid Charlie Brown Christmas special that they’ve seen a hundred times. I can’t even watch football on my own TV in my own house. Yah, Christmas. Bah. Humbug! Amen, brother. I’m with you on that.” And with that said the man stuffed a couple of bills into his kettle. Then it dawned on Mr. Grichwald that he had found the perfect place to collect Christmas donations. He then “Bah Humbugged” every individual going into the store and made a point to engage that person in a conversation as to why he and they cared not for Christmas. And when these people had gotten it all off their chest, they invariably felt better and made a donation. Mr. Grichwald had his best day ever, and so did the store owner, for he came out, slipped Mr. Grichwald a pint of brandy and said, “Keep up the good work.” Mr. Grichwald thought he meant good work for charity but the store owner meant something else. The time passed quickly and Mr. Grichwald never felt the cold, thanks to the brandy. He reluctantly gave up his post when his relief arrived and made a point of telling him to tell them to do exactly as he had done. And as he left, he smiled, and said with delight, “Bah humbug to all. And to all a good night.”
7 ways to organize and store holiday decorations Decorating a home for holidays is quite popular. Lombardo Homes polled 1,000 Americans in 2021 and 94% said they celebrate Christmas in at least some way, and 84% said they decorate. With so many avid holiday decorators, individuals will need to find ways to organize and store their seasonal items. Holiday decor comes in many different sizes – from the smallest tree ornaments to illuminated statues for the yard or inflatable items. Figuring out a storage plan can take a little effort. These seven tips can help. 1. Purchase clear, similarly sized storage bins and shelving racks, hanging them where you plan to keep the
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decorations. Most people prefer an outof-the-way spot, such as in the garage, attic or basement. Label each bin by holiday and put the bins in chronological order to make finding items more convenient. Uniform bin sizes make it easier to stack and store. 2. Store smaller items inside larger decor items. Decorative baskets or wrapped boxes brought out for Christmas or Chanukah are ideal places to keep smaller tchotchkes like ceramics, dreidels, candlestick holders, or mantel hooks. Delicate items can be tucked into Christmas stockings or wrapped and stored in a fluffy tree skirt. Egg cartons can be used to keep small items safe as well. 3. Label everything so you will not
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need to dig through boxes or bins to know what is inside. This might be a good year to ask for a label maker for the holidays! 4. Use overhead or wall storage for holiday decor. Overhead spaces in the garage or basement walls can be good spaces to keep holiday decorations. Always keep bins and boxes off the floor so they are not vulnerable to damage related to leaks or floods. 5. Garment bags can protect larger decorations, such as wreaths, artificial trees or signs. If you have a large number of mechanical, illuminated or inflatable lawn ornaments, consider investing in a small shed where these items can be safely kept. Wrap the extension cords and any bracing stakes
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or strings used with the decorations so it’s easy to find. 6. Utilize pieces of cardboard as well as toilet paper or paper towel tubes to keep lights and wires tidy. Tuck cords into the toilet paper tubes, and wrap lights around the cardboard to avoid tangles. 7. Each year, take inventory of your decoration collection and toss out anything that is damaged or has seen better days. Storing holiday decorations will take some time, but once you establish a system, things will be simple year after year. Information provided by Metro Creative Connection.
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Tasty tidbits about eggnog Eggnog is a rich and delicious beverage that has become synonymous with the most festive time of year. This milk- and egg-based concoction is tasty on its own, or it can be dressed up with other flavors and spiked with a favorite spirit when celebrating the holiday season with other adult partygoers. December is National Eggnog Month, and December 24 is National Eggnog Day. There is no more perfect time of year to learn everything you can about eggnog – all the while sipping a cup of this creamy concoction. Indulge in these festive facts about the beverage, courtesy of Mental Floss, The Fact Site and Tastemade. ► Eggnog likely originated in the medieval period and was known as “posset,” a hot, milk-based drink made of spices and wine. Even though posset could be a cocktail, it also was used as a remedy for colds and flu for its soothing properties. ► Milk, eggs and sherry used in the early recipes were difficult to come by, so when eggnog first appeared it was a drink only the wealthy could enjoy. That changed when eggnog was popularized in the American colonies, where dairy products and liquor were more readily available. ► Entymologists believe “eggnog” stems from the word “noggin,” which refers to small wooden mugs often used to serve strong ale, known by the slang word “nog.” ► In the medieval period, it was risky to drink milk straight because it wasn’t pasteurized. Eggnog contained alcohol so that it would kill off any harmful bacteria in the milk. ► A typical homemade version of eggnog has roughly one egg per serving. However, commercial eggnog is regulated by the FDA and can only contain 1% of the product’s final weight in egg yolk solids. That stems from fear of raw egg and salmonella. ► President George Washington
apparently enjoyed serving eggnog at Christmas, and even had his own special recipe, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. ► There is no right or wrong alcohol to use when preparing eggnog. Distilled spirits like rum, sherry, cognac and whiskey all have produced suitable eggnogs. ► Puerto Rican coquito is a traditional drink that is very similar to eggnog. ► Individuals concerned about eggs or milk in eggnog can enjoy a vegan recipe made from nut milk instead. Commercially produced vegan eggnog offerings are now more widely available. ► One of the more notable flavors in eggnog comes from the use of nutmeg. Nutmeg is a fragrant spice made from grinding the seed of the nutmeg tree. Now that you’ve learned about eggnog, whip up a batch of George Washington’s original recipe this holiday season. Eggnog (George Washington’s original interpretation) 1 quart cream 1 quart milk 1 dozen tablespoons sugar 1 pint brandy 1/2 pint rye whiskey 1/2 pint Jamaican rum 1/4 pint sherry Eggs (Washington forgot to include the number of eggs, so home chefs can improvise or use six, which seems to be the standard in traditional recipes.) Mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let sit in cool place for several days. Taste frequently. Tip: Today’s recipe makers may want to set the eggnog in the refrigerator as the “cool place” of choice. Information provided by Metro Creative Connection.
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Indulge in these festive facts about eggnog.
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Festive facts about oft-misunderstood fruitcake
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It’s time to see fruitcake in a new light. itary rations, as everyone from Roman soldiers to Crusaders found fruitcake provided a diverse array of nutrients and an energy boost in battle. Fruitcake also stores well, which can be beneficial for military personnel in battle. ► Fruitcake seemingly is indestructible. While it likely cannot last forever, Tastemade says if a fruitcake is kept in an airtight container and stored in a dark, cool place, it could be reheated years after being baked. Starch crystals
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Certain sights and sounds are ingrained in the holiday season, from twinkling lights to carols piping over retailers’ sound systems. Amid the shelves of holiday wares and delicacies, fruitcake makes its annual appearance. Fruitcake, sometimes referred to as plum cake or Christmas cake, can be prepared in various ways. However, a dense, bundt-type cake dotted with dried, candied fruit and often soaked in rum or brandy has become the standard. Loathed or loved, seldom anything in between, fruitcake is typically mocked as the ultimate regift. But just like Charlie Brown’s scant Christmas tree, which was initially mocked, it’s time to see fruitcake in a new light. Consider these fruitcake fun facts. ► The texture of fruitcake can vary from cake-like to more of a sweet bread, like brioche. Italians dig into panettone. Germans delight with stollen and Jamaicans serve black cake. ► The first fruitcakes weren’t eaten. According to historians, fruitcakes were initially made by ancient Egyptians, who tucked the desserts into the tombs with their dead so a sweet treat could be enjoyed in the afterlife. ► Fruitcake gained popularity as mil-
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and dried fruit in the cake will release stored water when warmed, rehydrating the cake. ► Historical accounts indicate Romans were among the first people to eat fruitcake, which they might have enjoyed as early as 100 A.D. A version called “satura” was made by mixing stale bread with pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and raisins, then soaking it in a barley mash and an alcoholic beverage brewed from honey. ► Fruitcake became a popular dish
BELIEVE From Page B1
It had been cut down not too far from the house. It would be beautifully decorated after being bare the night before. There was no electricity in the house yet, so they had special candles that would be on the tree. It was the most beautiful thing to see when those candles were lit, but you had to be so very, very careful with them on the tree. Always a bucket of water close by. They would go out to the barn at midnight on Christmas Eve and hear the animals talk. That is when and only when that would happen! By now, they had caught my children’s imaginations! They were listening so intently to these stories. They would look back and forth between Grandma and the aunties.
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From
to serve at British royals’ weddings. Queen Victoria, Princess Diana and Prince William served fruitcake at their receptions. ► The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. has a fruitcake on display. It traveled into space on Apollo 11 in 1969, but was never eaten. ► Seth Greenberg, who worked in his family’s New York City bakery, attests that fruitcake is delicious when made with the right ingredients. The neon-colored, dry and overly sweet fruit that many bakers use is the problem with poor cakes. But proper ingredients like brandy, glace cherries, apricots, figs and dates can make for a delicious fruitcake. ► The average fruitcake weighs between two and three pounds. However, the heaviest fruitcake on record, according to “The Guinness Book of World Records,” came in at 9,596 pounds. Despite the hefty weight of this cake, it’s only around 92 to 160 calories per serving. Regardless of its unfavorable reputation, fruitcake remains an unwavering holiday tradition. Serious Eats reports that more than two million fruitcakes are sold each year. Information provided by Metro Creative Connection.
Then the topic of Santa Claus came up. One of my kids asked if they believed in him. The two oldest sisters looked at each other, and the oldest one said, “Well, of course, we do!” Now the kids were hooked and reeled in! They recollected a couple of stories of Santa and would chuckle at the fun memories. By the end of the conversations, my children’s mouths were hanging open and even I, as an adult, was starting to believe again! We had one more Christmas with these two kids believing in Santa Claus. I will always remember this day with my mom and her two oldest sisters. They are all gone now, but this is most certainly a very special memory that I will always cherish.
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From Page B1
After addressing her physical needs, I took her hand and asked, “Amy, what can I do to help you through this pain and grief? She replied, “Only one thing will calm me. I must hold my baby.” I was shocked to hear this news, but after several minutes of conversation, I learned that Amy had never held or even seen her baby. I made a bold and rash decision. I told Amy, “By the end of tonight, you will hold your baby in your arms.” Learning her room, I talked with my supervisor and found out Amy’s story was true. Due to emergencies and some terrible miscommunications on the part of the hospital, the baby had been whisked off to the morgue without the mom ever seeing her. In my youthfulness and inexperience, I was all set to retrieve the child and bring her to her mother, but the supervisor said that anyone who dies and leaves the nursing unit cannot return to the unit. Over the next three hours, I talked with hospital administration, security, the funeral home, Amy’s physician and the family. It was decided that, if the baby couldn’t come to the mom, then the mom would go to the baby.
GIFTS From Page B1
I never quite know what to expect during my short season, but I remember one year. Tammy and Tracy were quite young and they wanted to decorate me in the worst way. According to Sharon, that’s exactly what they did! You have to know Sharon and how fussy she is when it comes to each ornament or piece of tinsel, so after the girls finished their masterpiece (you thought Charlie Brown’s tree looked bad), they stepped back to take a look. In their eyes, I was perfect! Sharon didn’t share in their enthusiasm, and after they went to bed, she changed me entirely to her liking. (There are no Mother of the Year Awards in her near future.) I remember the sad looks on those two little faces when they first saw me the
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next morning. They were full of questions as to why I was no longer pretty (so much for their mother’s decorating skills). Here enters the family dog (a sweet, little guy named Brutus) and an idea (OK, a little white lie) was born. Somehow, during the night, something must have startled the dog, and while running around, he knocked me over and I had to be redecorated. If the truth were told, I much prefer how I looked the first time. Having to look good is not my only responsibility. I’ve been given the duty of hovering over and guarding precious Christmas gifts until they’re much-anticipated unwrapping. Over the years, I’ve witnessed the unveiling of approximately 75 ties and tie tacks, 20 glue guns, six baby dolls that cry and wet, 100 irritating battery-operated toys, eight salad shooters, five as-seen-on-TV choppers and slicers, four George Foreman grills, three toaster ovens (all to the same person, the
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rosebud lips, into Amy’s arms. It was as if she was just sleeping. Tears ran freely from all involved, but when the time came to say goodbye, Amy handed her infant back to me and said, “thank you,” and three simple words: “God is good.” I finished my work and, leaving the unit, I decided to stop one last time and peek in at Amy. She and her husband were both asleep, with a small teddy
Adobe Stock same Christmas), one industrial-sized can of ketchup and one can of Chicken of the Sea tuna that finicky Aunt Fridea
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bear at her side. Dec.1984 The wind was picking up and we needed to head home. I looked at the postcard one last time. On the front was a baby boy’s photo, and on the back it said: “Nurse Elizabeth, Good is good. Merry Christmas. Amy” “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” Matthew 5:4
opened, but was intended for the family cat. There were many wonderful gifts, but what gave me the most pleasure was watching the joy on the face of someone who opened a handmade card or gift from one of the children or a framed family photos. This has always been the perfect time for all to share treasured memories of those no longer with us. Sharon’s grandfather found a lady’s elbow-length glove in the street. It was filthy, had been run over several times and still had the tire marks on it. It was never washed, and each year, it was wrapped and addressed to someone and was signed by Santa. It was an honor to be the recipient of this special gift! As we reflect on this Christmas season, let us remember how blessed we all are to be the recipients of the most wonderful gift of all, THE CHRIST CHILD! May your Christmas be filled with joy and love, knowing every perfect gift is sent from above!
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Another two hours of arrangements, I found a doctors’ lounge. It was peaceful and warm, had a rocking chair, a Christmas tree in the corner and soft lights. The perfect place. At 9 p.m., I gathered Amy, her husband and both sets of grandparents into this peaceful place. I wrapped the baby in warming blankets and place the beautiful, full-term infant girl, with soft, dark hair and
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