A MOST MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS

Every December 25^th

Christmas arrives

Bringing surprises and

Unexpected happenings

While magic reigns

Supreme.

With Love

As fuel,

It all begins

The night before

Christmas

When families

Practice

Their traditions:

Caroling

Stocking hanging

And more.

With faith that

Gifts will appear

Under the tree

On Christmas morn

Carolers sing

Jingle bells ring.

Sometimes snow falls

Sometimes not.

Calls of Happy-Merry

Christmas fill the air

Kisses are shared

Under the mistletoe

And it doesn’t stop there.

Santa’s sleigh

Is loaded

And down chimneys he goes

Leaving gifts behind

For families to find

Meanwhile sleeping tots

Dream of dancing

Sugar plum fairies

And chocolate cherries

While safe in their beds.

Stars shine

Like the Great Star

Did long ago

And across the years.

Whatever the weather

Wherever ye be

Never fear

Christmas magic

Is ever near.

Thus believed

Sister and Brother

Seven-year-old twins

No matter what

Befell them:

Not blizzards

Not volcanoes

Not floods

Not hurricanes

Nothing

Disrupted their deep

Belief in Christmas magic.

They endured All

And were steadfast

From first to last

Trusting in Love

And Christmas Magic

To overcome

All challenges

That arose.

Then, on Christmas Eve

Startled awake

Sister and Brother

Stared at each other.

“Did you hear?

They asked.

“I did,” each said

And nodded.

As jingle bells rang

And angels sang

Reindeer on the roof

Made such a clatter.

Sister and Brother

Stuffed their feet

Into their boots

And raced outside

To look at the roof and sky

To see what was the matter.

And my, oh my,

What did they see?

But a red suited

Portly jolly gentleman

Upon their roof

Also, a brilliant star

Above their roof

And a reindeer harnessed

Sleigh waiting as the reindeer

Stamped their feet.

“Oh, ho, ho, ho

We’ve been seen,”

Santa said to the reindeer,

For it was He.

“We must fly!”

Santa threw handfuls

Of Christmas sparkles

Into the air

And the reindeer

Flew off without a care.

Brother and Sister

Watched them fly

And quicker than

A wink of an eye

Fled back to bed

Without a doubt

Or worry in their heads.

While they slumbered

They dreamed

Of decked halls

Ornaments bright

Festive lights

And good tidings a coming.

At morning’s light

They awoke with delight.

Laughing with glee

They scrambled downstairs

And entered the parlor door.

There it stood

In verdant glory

Their Christmas tree!

Branches atingle

With popcorn on strings

And tinsel glistening

While underneath it

In shiny colorful wrappings

Awaited gifts galore.

Brother and Sister

Could not contain

Their joy

Laughing they danced

Around the Miraculous Tree.

Next, they raced to Mother and Father’s

Bedroom door and knocked.

“Who is it?”

Father’s sleepy voice called.

“It’s us, it’s Christmas,” said Sister

“We think we’ll burst

If we must wait one minute more,”

Brother added.

“Please come and see,”

Brother and Sister pleaded together.

Then, they turned away

And scurried back

To their Christmas tree

Where they sat underneath it

Bathed in Christmas Spirit’s glow.

Mother and Father

Entered the parlor

Arm in arm

Exuding love and charm, saying

“Are you ready,

Dear children,

For Christmas fun?”

“Oh, yes,” cried Brother and Sister

“We can’t wait any longer

To see what Santa has done!”

“Santa, harumph!”

Burped Father.

“Shhhh,” responded Mother

“Alright,” grumbled Father

Let’s see what Santa has done.”

Everyone gathered round

The twinkling Christmas tree

And sat down.

Brother and Sister

Took turns passing out

The gifts all so clearly labeled.

To: Brother, Sister, Mother, or Father

From: Santa.

All went smoothly

With smiles and gratitude

Expressed abundantly.

There was one gift left

Marked To: Grandma

From: Santa.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Brother and Sister opened wide the door.

Grandma stepped inside

Bearing her famous pumpkin pie.

“Come inside, Grandma,

And see what Santa has brought you,”

Cried the children.

Grandma handed the pie to Mother

She took it into the kitchen.

They all gathered comfortably

Around the tree.

Brother brought Grandma

Her gift from Santa.

She opened it with glee

And found a lovely

Warm winter shawl.

She slipped it

Around her shoulders

And fairly glowed.

“Thank you, Santa, for

The warmth of your love.”

Grandma said smiling at all of them.

Mother stood up.

“Come, Sister, help me get

Our Christmas dinner on the table.”

After some hustle and bustle by Mother and Sister

From the kitchen to the dining table

A scrumptious Christmas dinner was served.

Mother called out,

“Christmas dinner awaits.

Come, everyone.”

Everyone gathered

Round the table.

Father nodded

And they all sat down

Simultaneously.

Next to Grandma

There was an unoccupied chair

Honoring Grandpa.

Father said the blessing.

“Now,” said Grandma, “let’s eat!”

And they did with laughter

And retelling stories

Of past Christmases

Shared with Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandma was spending the night

So, after dinner, they gathered

In the parlor again

To enjoy Grandma’s pie

For dessert and more stories.

“This is the best Christmas ever,”

Exclaimed Sister as the last bite of pie

Disappeared from her plate.

“Ahh,” joked Brother and continued,

”You say that every year.”

“I think so too,” agreed Grandma.

“I miss Grandpa, but

I know he’s with us

In Spirit.”

At that very moment,

Just as Grandma said “Spirit”

A distinct sound

Of jingle bells

Could be heard outside.

Everyone headed

For the front door.

Father flung open the door.

Like magic, they were greeted

With the sight of a team

Of white horses

Wearing jingle bells

And harnessed to a red sleigh

Waiting expectantly.

Mother and Father mouths agape

Stood as still as statues.

“Isn’t that Grandpa’s sleigh?’

Asked Sister in amazement.

The sleigh had been in the barn

Since Grandpa died.

Brother was already petting the horses.

Grandma smiled a huge grin

Like she knew a secret.

“Yes, it certainly is.

Come on, everyone, hop in.

We’re going for a sleigh ride,”

Grandma called to all. “Leave room next to me

For Grandpa.”

“But, but, but,” sputtered Father.

“Shhhh,” Mother said. “It’s Christmas.”

Without any further hesitation,

They all clambered into the sleigh

And pulled the blankets over their legs.

Grandma turned

And winked at them all.

Grandma then turned back

Toward the horses and started singing,

“Jingle bells, jingle bells…”

Everyone sang that favorite Christmas song

And as the song swelled,

The horses glided over the snow.

Grandpa’s shimmering Self was

Perched next to Grandma

As the joy of Christmas

Filled all the family

Together again under the stars

On this magical

Always to be remembered

Christmas night.