A Christmas Story

Alex had Bob go to the doctor's office to pick up some medicine for Steve and because the doctor was so kind, he allowed the Ebbs to pay when and if they could. Of course the Ebbs always paid in time. They were a proud family and with the exception of the doctor's kindness, the Ebbs would never accept anything from the townspeople.

When Bob got home from the doctors with the medicine, Alex was in the bedroom with Steve trying to break his fever. She was bathing him a little basin, with lukewarm water and rubbing alcohol. Bob immediately gave the liquid medicine to Steve and Alex wrapped one of Bob's thermal shirts around his chest pinning it so it would fit his little body. They laid a blanket under Steve and placed a blanket over Steve, and within minutes he was peacefully asleep.

When Bob and Alex went out to the front room to join girls who were still sitting in front of the fireplace, they asked if Steve was going to be okay. With a soft compassionate smile, both of the parents answered yes, and they joined the girls on the floor to enjoy the beautiful warmth the fireplace was giving.

As Bob and Alex were getting ready for bed, they both decided that this was going to be the best and happiest Christmas ever. They both decided to stop worrying about the things they could not give their children and decided to focus on what they could do for them. The next morning Bob was up and out of the house before anybody had awakened. When Alex had gotten up the two girls were already in the kitchen making some biscuits. Alex gave each of them a hug and asked Ellen if she would watch Steve while her and Crystal goes to the woods to gather some things. Alex explained to Ellen that she had checked on Steve and his fever had broken but to be sure to continue to give him his medicine and keep him wrapped in the blankets.

As Alex and Crystal were walking out the door, they grab a huge basket that was kept close to the door for carrying their vegetable in from the garden. The children did not know exactly what was going on, but whatever it was; it was exciting and the energy of that excitement made the children excited as well.

Walking through the woods was a wonderful feeling. The air was crisp and it smelled fresh and clean. Alex just breathed in deeply and enjoyed the moment for everything it was. Crystal following her mother's every move did the same exact thing. When Alex looked over at Crystal seeing her being mimicked; the both just laughed and skipped along the trail!

Alex spotted some highbush cranberries that would make an excellent cranberry sauce, and then she noticed some squashberries that made an excellent pie. The squashberries were not as sour as the high bush cranberries. Besides the berries, they found several beautiful pinecones, some mistletoe although it was hard to reach by luck they were finally able to get some down. Crystal gathered some beautiful colored leaves that were lying on the ground and even found a few nice feathers. The basket became full fast so both Alex and Crystal headed back to their home. "This was so much fun mommy!" Crystal looked up at her mother and said. Alex just smiled and said; indeed it was my beautiful daughter!

Dinner was already made; the children had eaten and were in bed before Bob returned home that night. While Alex waited for Bob to return home she began to look through her box of left over scrapes of material. She decided that she would make each of the children a patchwork pillow to use while they sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. The children loved to sit in front of the fireplace, they would sing, and tell stories to each other and sometimes they would just sit there and daydream. So making each of the children their own pillow would be a wonderful gift.

After a while Bob finally walked in, he was exhausted, but yet he had this sparkle in his eyes. Alex walked over to him and said, "Bob Ebbs, I have been worried about you! Where in the world have you been all day?" Bob smiled leaned in and kissed Alex gently on the cheek and explained his day to her. "I was the first one at the lumber yard this morning so I was able to put in a full day's work in. I asked the owner if I could have some of the scrape wood that was lying around, and he said yes. So, I thought I would make each of the children a little stool to sit on when they sit in front of the fireplace." Alex just laughed and said "I had the same idea except I am sewing them a patchwork pillow." Both of them just laughed and hugged each other. This is going to be a Glorious Christmas indeed!

The next morning was Christmas Eve and once again Bob was up and gone before anyone had gotten up. Alex, Ellen, and Crystal were in the kitchen cooking breakfast; Steve was crawling all over the floor getting into everything, a sure sign he was back to normal. Right as breakfast was being placed on the table, Bob walked in the door. He stood there for a moment with this huge smile on his face. Steve rushed up to him as fast as his little legs and arms could crawl. Bob bent down and picked him up; I see my boy is feeling better today! Okay, everybody close their eyes and NO PEEKING! Bob opened the door and pulled a tree inside the house. Okay everybody can look now! The girls screamed with excitement and Steve clapped his little hands together, what a beautiful tree!!

The Ebbs spent the whole day together decorating the Christmas tree with pinecones, sugar cookies and mistletoe. Alex was in the kitchen making squashberry pie, highbush cranberry sauce, greens, dried beans, biscuits and chicken for tomorrows feast.

Christmas Morning was indeed the best Christmas ever! The children loved their stool with the patchwork pillow; Alex sewed pieces of material in the corners of the pillows so they could tie to the leg of the stools. The family feasted on the huge dinner, each of them speaking about how wonderful Christmas was and how thankful they was to be a family.

Bob and Alex stood back with their arms around each other, and just watched the excitement in their children. The children were happy and full from dinner. They sat in front of the fireplace, laughing, singing and telling stories to each on their new pillow and stool. "What a Glorious Christmas we made together! What a Glorious Christmas indeed!"