Beech Tree News Network

On Saturday morning, I put my bottle of water into the cup holder in my car.  It tipped to the side.  I looked to see what obstacle caused the slant.  It was a plastic reindeer ring.  I smiled to myself, and enjoyed that little granddaughter moment, because they won’t be forever.

               Three days before, on Wednesday, I had taken Sabria Christmas shopping.  The experience was wonderful.  It was wonderful because she is six, and as a six-year-old, she sees the beauty in simple things.

               We stopped first at Hobby Lobby—Sabria’s favorite store.  She spotted some large red sparkly flowers she said would be perfect for her stepmother.  I helped put them in the cart.  She added some red glass beads.  I asked if we needed a vase, but she said no, just the flowers, so I was silently hoping her stepmother had a vase large enough to hold them.

               She picked up a beautiful glass mermaid she said looked like her Mama, so I put that in the cart for her mother.  Next, she chose a white glass pineapple with a pink crown for her Mamaw (my stepmom), and a small globe on a stand with an arrow inscribed with “Follow That Dream” for her Aunt Charlotte (Garey’s sister). 

               “I like cats, and I bet Aggie does too,” she said, as she picked up a blue and gray speckled glass cat.  Aggie is Garey’s mom, Sabria’s great-grandmother.  As far as I know, Aggie has never had a cat in her life.  She does now.  I will have to warn her not to act disappointed in her gift when she opens it.  Aggie is a wonderful grandmother to Sabria, but she is very pragmatic, and her emotions show on her face and in her reactions.

               Our next stop was Walmart, where Sabria spotted some sleep pants covered in large wolves.  We put those in the cart for DaDa (her father).  She also picked out a red and silver tie for him, as well as a pair of camouflage socks.  She looked through the myriad of Christmas cards until she found one with a deer on it, so she could add that to her dad’s present.  She chose a black belt and some Dickies work pants for her stepfather and a quilted Wrangler shirt for her Papa (Garey). 

               We did our shopping in Owensboro this year, because we needed to stop by my sister’s house to drop off her present and pick up ours.  Each year, I give Marsha a “Nuns Having Fun” calendar, and she gives Sabria and me a mug full of candy Kisses that we eat while watching a Christmas movie together. 

               At Marsha’s house, Sabria played with Marsha’s grandson’s toys while the two of us sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and catching up.  Marsha asked Sabria if she knew about the advent candles.  Sabria said she didn’t.  My sister has an advent wreath, and as she lit each candle, Marsha explained how the first candle stands for Hope, the second for Love, the third for Joy, and the fourth for Peace. 

               “The candle in the center is the Christ candle,” Marsha said, as she steadied Sabria’s hand over the large candle.  Sabria was mesmerized.  It was one of those moments in time that will live forever for me, and probably for Sabria, as well. 

               Sabria and I returned home late that afternoon.  We unloaded her gifts to be wrapped then ate pizza and our mug of Kisses as we watched “Home Alone,” her favorite Christmas movie.  She slept with me that night—her Papa had to make an unexpected trip to Alabama.

               As I write this, it is Christmas Eve, and there is so much more left to enjoy of the Christmas season, but if Christmas had come to a close with Marsha and Sabria and the advent wreath that Wednesday afternoon, the season would still have been complete for me.  I guess that’s why they say Christmas is a season for children of all ages.  Merry Christmas.