CHRISTMAS chapter 177

Christmas 72

Christmas was becoming a very special holiday for us. Della and I were still in the process of working out what would become “our” traditions. For our first Christmas with both children, we were in Vancouver. The house had a fireplace and big windows in the living room. We hung stockings and placed a large tree in front of the window. There was no fireplace in Buena Park so we hung the stocking off the edge of the dining room table. But we still had a large tree by a large window. It was the first year we considered buying an artificial tree. Man, were they expensive in California, even more than in Saskatoon. I guess most of them came from much further north. We were not yet ready to give up the smell of a real tree.

Since the children were little, we loved the idea of them waking up to presents under the tree. We had decided we would put some out as we got them, but added more for Christmas morning. Things were a little skimpier for us for than at our first Christmas, but a few families in the church got gifts for the kids. We had a terrific day.

We had Christmas Dinner with the Rouse’s, Stanwood’s, Frewen’s and a few other couples. The meal was always incredible and the people were great to be around. It always felt like family. We returned again on New Years day to eat with the same group of people. It was always fun and the kids loved to go to Auntie Faith’s house.

Things changed the second year. The church had a potluck meal together at an event called “Christmas in October.” It was a time when the church brought gifts that would be went out to their missionaries. We had attended the first year and were impressed with their generosity. We were struggling when the event came around the second year. Della was stewing about what dish she would make because our food supply was so very low. But she was not one to ever go empty handed. Being the creative cook that she was, she dug around and pulled together a casserole from the few things left near the end of our food supply. She felt like we could not go without taking something, since that dish would nearly empty our cupboards, I was sure it would be fine to just go. I told her there would be more food than the group could ever eat.

Christmas 72

We went and had a wonderful time. The room was crowded. People piled their gifts under the tree on the platform and it was crowded, just like the year before. At the end of the evening, our family was called to the front and told all those gifts were for us. Della and I both gasp. Every package was food. We both welled up with tears. We could not believe it. We brought all that we had and went home to fill both our cupboards and fridge. This was out biggest single entry in out blessing book to that date.

We felt completely blessed. After loading up (there was barely enough room) Thankfully we could fill the trunk and much of the back seat. On the return home, Rhonda was in the front seat and Rod was in the back with all the food. As we were driving home Rod asked, why they gave us all the food. We told him because God told them to. He said, “God is neat.” “Yes He is.” “We should thank Jesus,” Rod said. We ask if he wanted to pray. It was short, to the point and beautiful. “Thank you Jesus for all this food. We need it.” We didn't know he was that aware.

Our last Christmas in California was overwhelming. Throughout Christmas week gifts began to arrive for our kids. It felt like half our living room was filled with packages. The kids were overwhelmed on Christmas morning. It took most of the morning to open the gifts one person at a time and one gift at a time. When done I wondered who bought out Fischer Price. It looked like we had one of every toy Fischer Price made. Someone clearly coordinated these gifts. There were no two alike. The kids were overjoyed and the living room was jammed packed.

As we were cleaning up the living room Della noticed the neighbor across the street walking toward our house with her two boys each carrying a Tonka truck. “Come, lets meet them outside,” she said. We stepped onto the porch and greeted them as we pulled our door shut behind us. The last thing we wanted was for them to see the living room floor. “My boys wanted to share some of their toys with Rodney and Rhonda. I brought the children out to receive the gifts, which they did politely. I was praying they would not want to show the boys what they got for Christmas or take them in the house. They didn’t. Whew!

The boys wanted to share some of their older toys with the poor people across the street. Since that was generally who we were, I did not want to offend or embarrass them or take the joy of sharing away from the boys.

It was a big wheel Christmas

We spent the day having a meal with the same group we usually shared with on holidays. We were pretty sure this group was behind the Fischer Price invasion. Everyone had a good laugh about our embarrassment with the neighbors.