DAY 23 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

Did I tell you that our teacher, Miss Dorothy Johnson, has organized a singing group and that we’ve been meeting at Wilbur’s to practice? We sang two Christmas anthems for church Sunday and they went very well though they could have gone better, but it helped the service anyway. – Shirley Dobson

Christmas is upon us, and everyone is busy with the last-minute details, even though it’s Sunday. Ina’s youngest daughter, Shirley, arrived from Orofino in time for breakfast, bringing with her the groceries Ina had ordered to support their feasting over the next week.

It snowed even more during the night -- and was still snowing -- so Ernest helped Jack pull the old bobsled from the barn and the family settled onto it for the ride to church.

The little church was filled today, not so much because the minister was there but because it was Christmas. People came to hear the message of faith and hope and to sing the familiar carols learned in childhood. We have these things in common, you know.

The mood was lighthearted as people left the church and traveled home, many in sleds. Some were singing carols, and the sound drifted over the snowy hills. It was such a happy day – a happy memory. And that’s the important thing – making happy memories.

Sadie loved her aunts, but Aunt Shirley was just a lot of fun – still quite young and ready to play. After the dinner table was cleared, Ethel and Lynn agreed to do the dishes so that Sadie and Aunt Shirley could go outside and play in the snow while it was still light. Henry, Aunt Shirley’s “beau,” was there, too, and they made an awesome snowman in the front yard. As darkness fell on the world, they went into the house where Ina had hot chocolate and Christmas cookies waiting for them.

Before long, a big bobsled came into the yard, and the occupants invited Shirley – and anyone – to join in the caroling. “Hurry and put on warm clothes,” they said. Ethel consented to let Sadie go, too. It was such fun traveling along in the big bobsled, singing carols at each house out to the end of the ridge and back. When they returned, full to the brim with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, they found warm beds waiting for them.

 

It was a wonderful winter memory – snow, bobsled, carols, fellowship, goodwill. Sadie wished it could last forever. KW