A Christmas To Remember

Here it was the first week of December and I had not even begun preparing for the festive season. Where had all my good intentions gone? There was a list on my kitchen table so long, that it hung over the edge against the wall, blowing in the furnace draft.

My daughter, Erin, needed a costume for her school play, scheduled for December 19^th, and so far all I had ready was a flannelette nightgown that could quickly be transformed into an angel dress. That would likely happen very late at night when everyone else was sound asleep, and I would go to my attic sewing room. Daily I checked my calendar and ticked off days for errands, but I never seemed to get past the chaos of barn chores, cooking, packing lunches, laundry, and my part-time job at the library.

My husband, Carl, had trudged onto the veranda last evening, having fulfilled his promise to bring home a fir tree for our living room. Now it was up to my son, Curtis, to set it up in the corner near the front window. Being an aspiring carpenter, he did not mind the job. But so far it sat forlornly on the wooden floorboards, dripping puddles that trickled over the steps. I could imagine the undecorated tree in the living room waiting desperately for its adornments while the mad woman of the house ran around with pastry on her hands.

Peering out my kitchen window, while shaping cookies on a cookie sheet, I could see Erin running towards the house. She had a bag full of material that she promptly dumped onto the floor, an array of gauze, netting, wire, and tubes of paint. Excitedly, she explained how she was going to make her angel wings, and I was delighted that that part of the angel costume would be taken care of.

The next week passed in a blur, while pies, candy, buns, stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey slowly filled the freezer and cupboards. I rushed from the library to our house to the barn where it seemed that the only creatures who were not in a hurry were the animals. Our team of Belgians were large stallions who looked impressive when we decorated them before harnessing them to pull the big, red sleigh. This year there were quite a few bookings for families wanting to enjoy a Christmas sleigh ride.

On the evening just before Erin’s school play, Carl came through the back door looking worried. One of the Belgians was limping badly, and the vet needed to be called. Soon it became apparent that Ned was not going to be pulling the sleigh this year. I knew that Carl did not like to disappoint anyone, and I could see him thinking hard, trying to come up with a solution.

Late that night I tiptoed down the hall to sleepily crawl into bed beside my slumbering husband. The children had long since turned in, and I had finally finished the long, white, flannel gown which would adorn my daughter for her performance in the play. She had been secretive about her wings that just needed to be tacked on, but I left it up to her. I had enough tasks to be concerned with.

We arrived at the school auditorium just in time to squeeze into some end seats. The ancient Christmas story unfolded, and a very little mother held a baby doll in her arms, with many fuzzy critters surrounding them. A proud father stood behind the pair and then the whole group looked upwards at once. Soaring into the air above the stage, loomed an angel which hung suspended over their heads. Wings big enough for an airplane stuck out of her long white gown, and to add to my astonishment, they glittered in bright purple splendour! Giggles of amusement, and then laughter erupted throughout the audience, but Erin grinned gleefully from beneath a huge mop of matching purple hair. At the conclusion of the play, when the cast took their bows, Erin received a standing ovation.

Next evening was our first scheduled time for a sleigh ride; a neighboring family was entertaining guests from out of province. In all the rushing I had forgotten to ask Carl about Ned. Busily stacking the dishwasher, I took a minute to glance out the window to see what my husband was up to. Imagine my surprise when our four bejeweled donkeys pulled up beside the front veranda. Carl proudly held the reigns, with Curtis beside him, and I could not believe my eyes while the two pair of festooned animals pulled the big sleigh out the laneway. Erin and I collapsed in a fit of laughter at the sight.

Christmas Eve was approaching quickly! The tree had righted itself in the proper corner, thanks to Curtis, but no one had found the time to decorate. Another hilarious evening had passed with customers who were delighted with their exceptional sleigh ride. That mad woman of the house had collapsed onto the sofa, and was sound asleep. I think it was the quiet that awakened me! I opened my eyes, and huge snowflakes were softly falling, nestling on the window sill. Glancing towards the big fir in the corner, I was delighted to see it decked out in a glorious array of silver bells, garlands, small drummer boys, shiny reindeer, and little angels. I breathed a sigh of relief and whispered a prayer of thanks for my wonderful husband and family.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and magically everything would be ready. That long list could be put away for next year! I chuckled to myself, thinking of those huge, purple angel wings, and the donkeys pulling the sleigh. My precious family had kindly let me sleep while they quietly decorated the big fir tree, and I felt truly blessed. Later on, I would look back on many Christmases, but this one was truly a Christmas to remember.