Christmas Memory #2

The memory I want to share today is of very special quality and I share it with the world to bring a smile to a face and warmth to a heart. Sometimes memories are too precious to share the entirety, so just know as you read that there is much more and I give you only part.

Christmas time is a rather special holiday for my husband and me. It all began Christmas 1999...

For 2 whole months I was tortured over the thought of moving to a state that I found rather intimidating; Utah. My good friend Kevin lived there and I lived in Missouri. The two of us had gotten to know each other rather well and wanted to pursue "dating" and I decided to move closer (I say "dating" because you can't do too much of that states apart). I was invited for Christmas and spent one glorious week. I spent a good deal of the time hunting for jobs and apartments. I was overwhelmed and discouraged due to the reservations I had in regard to Utah in general. But Kevin was very supportive and encouraging all along the way.

On Christmas Eve we drove up to Salt Lake City where Kevin's mother and her family awaited meeting...Me! Can you imagine how I felt meeting all of these family members as a girlfriend trying to fit in? Kevin took me to the famous Temple Square to see the beautifully decorated grounds. He was however, not as enthusiastic and warm and bubbly as he usually was. I was really taken aback by this. He barely spoke a word the whole evening. He held my hand and continually had a far off look on his face. Suddenly out of no where I had this thought "He is going to ask me to marry him".

We walked all around the grounds and saw all sorts of love birds snuggled under trees, walking hand in hand, and I continued to have a strange feeling of distance between Kevin and I. Before I knew it we were back on a bus that would take us back to the truck at the parking garage. Did I mention there was silence the whole way? I began to wonder what I was doing there. Was I doing the right thing by moving to a state I dreaded, to be closer to a guy who barely spoke a word to me all night and acted incredibly awkward, and didn't even propose! I couldn't believe it. Wondering what was going through that boys mind drove me bonkers, which just caused me to withdraw. Which there was mistake number one, I should have not cared and not give it another thought. But I did, over and over and over.

We arrived back at his Grandmother's house where a lot more family awaited our return. There were games, food, laughter, and all sorts of excitement. Awkwardness dissipated and that bubbly energetic Kevin was back as if nothing were different. I felt a wave of relief and relaxed and enjoyed myself.

Christmas morning goodbyes were said and we make the lengthy drive back down to St George where more family awaited our arrival to open some gifts. The ride down was strange. It was a getting to know you session and the oddest questions were asked of me, which to all I answered agreeably.

Upon arrival at his house all his local family were gathered around to open some gifts. Everyone had gifts and laughs over secret jokes and I felt as if I was peeping in on a family tradition I should not have been part of. I squirmed and felt awkward until I was handed a gift at the end. A single priority envelope. I looked around nervously as all eyes were on me, accompanied by grins that seemed to be repressed.

A single invitation lied within the envelope. An invitation to go on a scavenger hunt beginning immediately. There were explicit instructions that I must follow to a T. Kevin's sister was my driver for the activity, I had to wear my very best outfit I had brought, and I must be quick. My heart was racing the entire time! I had never been part of anything so fantastic and exciting before. Coming from a state with zero creativity and dating a man from the most creative state in the country made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Each location I had to get to had a small gift and another clue. At one point my gift was surrounded by a small group of elderly folk trying to figure out what it is. When I approached my gift they all turned and said, "Oh this must be for you! The handsome young man who left this here was here just a moment ago". My heart leaped at the thought of him being just steps ahead of me. I wanted to run to him and thank him for the best day, the best gift I had ever been given. But there was more to come on the hunt and I could hardly wait to see what was next.

I had arrived at the final clue, the final destination. It was a place of very special and significant value. I could hardly contain myself as I walked amongst the beautiful grounds, my eyes continually searching for the final gift. My eyes fell upon my gift, Kevin standing under a tree, more handsome than ever. I walked up to him hugged him and thanked him for the most amazing gift. Tears of overwhelming joy were already filling me eyes, so when he said, "There is one more gift", I couldn't hold them back. I couldn't imagine being given more than he had already given me. But then he pulled out a tiny gray box.

Now, don't be upset, I am going to interrupt this fantastic tale to give you a little background to what I am about to think in regard to the tiny gray box.

Kevin had visited me for Thanksgiving just a month before and with him he had brought several tiny boxes. The first tiny box was a necklace given to me at a very special place in St Louis Missouri. The next tiny box was given to me atop the St Louis Arch, 3 rings made of different types of rock. (Which reminds me, the first gift on the scavenger hunt was a tiny white box and within was a ring made out of an old nail.)

Ok, back to this fabulous tale...

I said to myself, upon viewing the tiny gray box, "It's earrings. It's earrings. It's earrings!" As Kevin lowered down onto one knee and opened the tiny box my eyes fell upon the most precious ring of all accompanied with the words I had longed to hear since I was but just a small girl "Suzanna, Will you please marry me?" I stood in shock and wonderment, tears pushing against my eyelids but not quite falling, a smile so large I could no longer feel my face. As I held this amazing man in my arms and thought, "Is this for real? Someone please wake me now if I am dreaming!" Kevin said softly in my ear, "Is that a yes?"

Well, the rest is history! We were married in a very special place in St Louis Missouri where he first tortured me with a tiny box. I was quite pregnant for our second Christmas, and two Christmases after that our second daughter had arrived a month prior and we had a family of four only three years after the greatest day of my life!

Christmas Memory #1

One of my most heart warming, emotional times was the Christmas 1998. I was on a mission for my church in Niagara Fall New York. I had been away from family for just over a year and had been missing them tremendously. I had been forgotten the previous Christmas and received very little mail the entire year. So, as Christmas time approached yet again and my companion was receiving package after package and letters innumerable, I mentally and emotionally prepared myself for yet another year of silence. I did rather well hiding and covering up the pain inside, and immersed myself in giving, serving, and loving the people I served. It truly was a good holiday season and I was happy the Lord was blessing me with a cheerful attitude.

The countdown to Christmas day was fast approaching, the mailbox was checked multiple times a day, the door step thoroughly inspected for hidden packages the mail carrier may have delivered. And still nothing came. Christmas day came and nothing else. I was broken hearted and gave it my best to suck up the hurt inside. The day after Christmas after returning home from an appointment, low and behold there upon the door step was one single medium sized box. I stared at that box, I hugged the box, I caressed the box, and with childlike dreams wondered what could possible be inside.

With shaking hands and increased heart rate I slowly, and I might add with reluctance, opened the box. Immediately my eyes overflowed with tears, my heart was so full I could not speak. All I could do was sit and cry. Once I had gotten my composure I ever so gently reached into the box and removed the quilt made by my parents, sisters, brothers, and their children. Each square had a hand and a scripture. And right in the middle says, "Suzanna's Praying Hands". I wrapped the quilt around me and literally felt the love and prayers of my family who lived so far away.

To this day, this memory is one of my fondest. I shall never forget that Christmas! The Christmas I received and felt the love of my family.

(I had a pictures taken while opening the package and being wrapped in the quilt. I have looked everywhere for these photos and cannot find them anywhere! I am so downhearted right now, I had wanted to share that moment with you!)