Christmas Curveball

My husband and I planned to keep Christmas simple this year. It would be nice to spend Christmas with my family; mom, her husband Fred, my sister, brother-in-law, niece/nephew and their towheads who all moved to North Carolina 16 months ago. However, a few layoffs have set us back so we will enjoy local gatherings with friends to break-bread and toast as we celebrate the true gift of the season. 

Fred Babe’s Bday May 2014

At least we’d seen our family in May when we celebrated Fred’s 66th Birthday with carrot cake in Manchester.

While wondering what to offer people during the holiday, we received old fashioned gifts one by one; a live wreath, a box of fruit, sausage and cheese, a Texas pecan pie and a fresh cut Christmas tree! Last time we had a tree was 4 years ago. Working at a school, only 5 more days till winter break and I could recharge my batteries and decorate our tree and prepare for a relaxed simple Christmas!

December 16 I received a call at work, Fred, my step-father in North Carolina died unexpectedly that morning. Mom found him on the couch. We had to change our simple and frugal plans to, “How are we going to get to NC?” A series of car problems made our vehicles unreliable.

Of course I wanted to be with my mom and family but “How” was testing my faith. In summary, within one week:

• I found coverage for my absence at work.
• A friend lent us her GPS
• People who hardly know us or the depth of our needs, gave unexpected monetary gifts which buffered the reality of our situation.
• Our neighbors watched our home, fed our pets and watered the tree. 
• Our car was dropped off at the garage for repair. 
• Christmas car rental prices are astronomical; we received a bereavement break, cutting the charges in half. 

We still have “real” things to deal with at home, but I felt these flowing gifts were God saying, Go and don’t worry. It will work out.

We arrived two hours before mom’s Christmas Eve church service. Afterwards, shopped at the only store opened, Target, to find gifts for the three nephews. Sleeping in mom’s guest room made Christmas morning easy to exchange thrift store finds and baked goods. Mom loved the live wreath we gave her. Christmas meal at my sister’s; I was able to contribute fruit, sausage and cheese. We ate, exchanged gifts and sang songs with our family.

It was strange reading cards and gift tags from Mom and Fred Babe in his writing just days before he passed.

I called him Fred Babe, my sister called him Freddy Bear or Pops. Collectively our family participated with various readings and songs during an unexpected memorial service on Saturday, two days after Christmas. My brother and nephew in Connecticut, joined us in spirit and phone calls. A reception followed.

• The drive to and from NC took longer than planned. 
• I was up late every night helping my mother with something. 
• This trip tested my faith, trust and attitude. 

Now the Target Story: Shopping at Target Christmas Eve (just what I love to do, NOT!) a woman was sitting in an aisle, head down in her hands, crying and rocking herself while her baby girl lay in the carriage. Trying to comfort her she leaned into my shoulder and cried, “There will be no Christmas and my kids won’t understand why. I can’t even get my baby girl her diapers and medicine. He didn’t show up. He broke his promise.“