A CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED

By Lisa Ellingford

Christmas was always a very happy and festive time of year in our home. One of our yearly traditions was going caroling as a family. As a little girl, I particularly liked to sing “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” It seems Brian liked “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” At each home we would sing a few songs about Christ, such as “Away in a Manger” or “Silent Night,” then we would sing some of our other favorites. We would always end by singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas!”
This particular year must have been around 1971. Christmas was just a few days away. I would have been 6 years old; my sister, Denise, was 12, Margo was 5, and my brothers, Brad and Brian, were 10 and 8. The Sunday before Christmas our car had been stolen from the church parking lot. Unbeknownst to the children, Santa’s delivery was in the trunk. I’m sure my parents were very concerned, with heavy and prayerful hearts. I look back now and I think of our young, growing family, my dad’s job change, my mom’s frugality and ability to make things stretch, and I realize there was not excess.
Here it was Christmas time and our family was in a dilemma. The decision must have been made to go forward with faith, carry on and trust in the Lord.
Thus, our caroling tradition would not be postponed. We bundled up to protect ourselves from the cold, snowy Idaho weather and walked to various homes in our neighborhood where we were invited in. We would sing four or five songs, extend our love and Christmas wishes, and be on our way.
When we had finished singing and were preparing to leave Bishop and Sister Hansen’s home, the Bishop pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to my dad. They quietly exchanged a few words. The envelope had a substantial amount of money in it. My parents were very grateful.
Two days before Christmas our car was returned with the trunk’s contents undisturbed. When my parents went to return the money in the envelope to the Hansens, they would not receive it. Bishop Hansen instructed them, at some future time when they could, to do likewise.
I have never forgotten the feelings of unconditional love, brotherly kindness, and service that were embedded in my heart as I became aware of the situation surrounding our family and I learned of Bishop Hansen’s charge to my parents to “do likewise”. When I became aware of his mandate the spirit bore witness to me that this request extended to me as well.

I do not remember what I received for Christmas that year. However, the lessons I learned from this thoughtful and caring act of our neighbors has become clearly and forever written in my heart. I am grateful for the feelings of love that always come when I take the opportunity to follow the mandate which comes from our Savior and “do likewise.”

Lisa Ellingford

Primed for the Holidays

I believe that the holiday season actually begins on Halloween. We are seasoned with an abundance of sugar priming us for the Thanksgiving to New Years Eve stretch. The children are overly excited and impatient allowing us to have opposition in all things to be strengthened. It really is just a growing opportunity. This year was a perfect primer at my house with school the following morning. We all grew that morning.

I personally spent my Halloween night with my back out at home with my 18 month old. We are blessed in my neighborhood with clones of my family providing a continuous knock or ding of the door for 2 hours. Each time I hobbled to the door my 18 month old would make a run for it.

The highlight of the evening was when a bird flew in my home. My ceiling is 20 feet high. It would fly from wreath to swag to ficus tree. Probably the scariest moment on Halloween for my little 3 year old neighbor Emily was when she looked up in awe to see the frantically fluttering bird I pointed out to her mother. I proceeded to explain that if that bird drops any tricks I'm gonna give it a treat to remember. Little Emily looked at me horrified. Perhaps she's never seen this side of her Primary Chorister.

Halloween really can be a ugly and scary at times. Especially after I have done costumes and makeup for the 4th time in a week because it would be "fun" to have the kids come in costumes to their lessons. I really don't find it a sweet dream come true to hear my 10 year old son asking for the prefect hatchet for his costume.

The nature of the non-Christian Halloween allows us to be ourselves without the cloak of the "holiday spirit". Although I wore my smile and did the parties, for the first time ever I wasn't "feeling it" this Halloween. I even dressed up as a Christmas present with bells on for the 1st grade party. The holiday thrill never jingled its way in.

Because we are blessed with so many food allergies in my home we are on a constant alert status from October 31st to January1st. But I find it no accident that right in the middle of these holidays is a big fat turkey day to be grateful. In fact, last week my number 1 hit song has been Count Your Blessings. It has been my replacement thought and stress easer as my To Do list has been multiplying like rabbits in spring as the big day approaches. I've been feeling a little tempest tossed.

However, as I sat at the Thanksgiving Day table and all eyes fell upon me to state what I was grateful for, I did feel something. And then an overwhelming something. I felt grateful for what I wake to each day. Life itself and my family. All of the comforts and opportunities we enjoy. It's a good life. Bring it on!