Christmas Mystery and Miracles

CHRISTMAS MYSTERY & MIRACLES

The day of December 26^th was quite amazing. I spent most of the day with Wendell. Mark and his family joined us in the afternoon and brought with them the wonderful Family Tree picture that Debby and Miranda had made for us. I was so excited to see it and Wendell was confusedly excited. He wasn't able to understand how to tell how to identify relationships, but he knew it stood for our family and he loved everyone. We all expressed our amazement of this creation that makes it easier for me to get an accurate count of our family.

It was the next day that I found out the miracle about it's delivery. I Called Debby to let her know we love the gift she sent – the family tree picture. Then she told me the whole story of how come Mark was bringing it to us personally. I thought she had mailed it. She laughed and said that Mark was taking pictures of me on “Polo” as he gave it to me to open. Then explained that instead of mailing it Miranda sent a copy to Walmart on line, Walmart printed it, Mark picked it up and put it in a frame & wrapped it then brought it to me. All this on their way from his house to The Gables. And now he was filming me on Marco Polo as

I opened it. What an adventure!!! Miranda helped Debby make it. It is so special I love it and Wendell is beginning to understand it, but he says he loves it already because it is family. Look on "Polo" to see it.

Debby asked if another package had come in the mail. I told her “No.” She said it should have been here a week ago and she would “track it.”  Look on "Polo" to see it.

The next day Debby called and said that she tracked the package and it was delivered 6 days ago. That lit up a memory in my mind of the little package I had waiting on the counter to be identified. It came with only the identification of “PRIOROTY MAIL” “DANIELLE JOY DESIGNS.” I told Debby this and quickly got the little package open. There was a darling necklace with the words to a song we used to sing together when our daughters were little: “I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck.” That is where it stops on the necklace, but the song goes on, “A hug around the neck and a barrel and a squeeze, a barrel and a squeeze and I'm talk'in in my sleep about you. About you.”

Then today, Monday December 30^th, Peggy and Owen cam

e to help me take down the outdoor Christmas lights and manger scene; also the Nativity sets I have indoors. That was a lot of intricate work but they worked through it like a whirl wind. I kind of stayed on the edge of that fast movement and was able to be of some help anyway. When we finished we posed for pictures (they were moving too fast to get pictures during the working time). Then they popped up like they hadn't done any work and headed out for their New Year's Party. I had a nap!

The same day, there was another “whirl wind” very early in the morning. It sounded like big trucks going by. When I looked out the window I saw Mark Dupree's truck with its special snow scooper on the front just ready to go up the block after cleaning both of our drive ways. In a twinkling of an eye he was gone.

New Years day was so special for me. “It is like The Sweetest Story Ever Told.” Do you know that song? My written plan in my planning book listed going to see Wendell in the afternoon. When I prayed The Spirit told me, The time of day isn't too important, let it fit into other appointments. But after I had made a call and found out that I had no appointments for this holiday, the Spirit whispered, “Do NOT be in a hurry. You may want to have lunch with Wendell. That changed everything. I set aside all that I was going to do and gathered my things that I take when I go see Wendell and was off.

That was when “The Sweetest Story” began. Wendell was sitting in his wheelchair in the “sitting room” just staring into space. I touched his shoulder and said, “Happy New Year Sweetheart.” His big smile and pretend kiss told me he was glad to see me.

We went to his room and as we came to the little cabinet with the snow man and the girl holding a snowball was we stopped. I picked it up and asked him if he could find the red button to push to start it playing. It took a couple of tries, but HE DID IT! (SMILE). We listened to the music and laughed and clapped our hands to celebrate the fact that he had done something that he hadn't been able to figure out before.

By that time it was time to go to lunch. We enjoyed our meal there in the dining area together and then went to “our room” to have a nap. After I massaged his shoulder I tucked him into bed amid lots of sweet loving words from my sweetheart and my tender words for him. When he was satisfied that I was going to stay there he dropped off to sleep and I got my “bed” - the big light brown chair and his wheelchair put front to front, put my feet and legs on the wheelchair and the rest of me on the light brown chair and soon there was two of us asleep.

After about 45 minutes I heard a little singing coming from his bed and sure enough he was waking up. I moved to sit by his side on the edge of his bed and we had the sweetest conversation, part of which we revealed to each other that Heavenly Father talks to us about each other. That was very special to know. We talked about many things that were tender and so meaningful to both of us. This is the first time we have been able to really converse for...I don't know how long. When I left it was comfortable for both of us to say, “By, see you tomorrow.” That is THE SWEETEST STORY EVER TOLD.

Love, Mom & Dad / Gr. & Gr. Christensen