In relief society on Sunday our lesson was called Through Christ I Can Do All Things. The Relief Society President asked us to think of ways Christ has strengthened us during our trials. Christmas Eve was the hardest day I've had in a long time so it's a good little case study.
1. The Hat.
Brian and I have always filled stockings for each other. Every year, I give Brian something to put on his BYU tree he keeps in his office at the bank. As I was standing in line at the Costco pharmacy, I realized I'd never picked up anything BYU for his stocking this year. I felt a little sad but it's been the craziest December and I knew he'd understand so I brushed it off. As we edged toward the front of the line I turned my head to the right and there, on top of the soap, was a men's BYU hat. I elbowed Natalie and we both stared at it for a moment. "Dad would love that," Natalie said. I completely agreed, and even though were weren't there to shop, and we'd never have made it down the aisles with how crowded it was but we made an exception for this special purchase that was sitting directly in our path. He did love it and he's worn it every day since. I didn't think he even needed a new one but he told me later he'd noticed his "nice" hat had just barely started needing to be replaced.
2. The Lotion.
There was one other item I selected from my spot in the Costco Pharmacy line. It was truly the most random item I have ever purchased. It was a 3-pack of a face cream called Egyptian Magic. It was freakin' $30. I know people spend a lot on face cream, but not me. And it was Christmas Eve, not really the time to be buying something for myself. I couldn't even begin to explain why I actually went through with this ridiculous purchase. It just felt like I needed it.
I went home and read up on Egyptian Magic to see if it was worth all the hype. Reviewers raved about it for all sorts of skin problems. Made of all natural ingredients like bee pollen and olive oil and all that wholesome stuff. It can fix anything.... weird dry patches, unexplained rashes, those kinds of things. You can use it as a night cream too if you don't mind that it's a little greasy. I set it aside and forgot about it until I stuck the medium-sized jar in my bag to take to California.
On my way out of town the day after Christmas, we stopped by our neighbor's house. She was diagnosed with breast cancer two months before but we'd only barely found out. We'd been trying to stop by all week with a gift for her but this was the first time she'd answered the door. We stepped inside the door and chatted while our kids waited in the car. Her husband was with her and we had a good heart-to-heart about the whole thing.
As we were leaving I asked if she still had all her hair. She took off her hat and revealed her beautiful bald head. Except on the back, she showed me, she had a few weird dry patches and unexplained rashes. "I have something for you." I ran out to my car to grab that jar of Egyptian Magic that was meant for her all along.
3. The Cinnamon Rolls.
The night before Christmas Eve, we'd attended our first ever Christmas sing-a-long. Five families got together and sang Christmas songs. It was a fabulous idea.... until I realized we'd just exposed all of those families to Strep. I called the hostess and explained the situation. She was so sweet about the whole thing and told me she'd let the other families know. (None of them ended up getting it.) Then she brought over a plate of her famous cinnamon rolls, which we used for Christmas breakfast. I wasn't up for making the ones I usually make so it really lifted my spirits to have something to serve on Christmas morning. Nothing has ever tasted so good.
4. Christmas Day.
Christmas is usually a day we see extended family, but this year we were totally quarantined for at least 24 hours. (And we still didn't know if the other 3 kids were going to get sick so we were very cautious about who we came in contact with.) That was also the day of the amazing snowstorm. With nowhere to go all day and not a single obligation, we played in the snow for hours. We'd gotten the kids all new gloves and snow gear so we could go sledding but we ended up just playing on our street without a care in the world. That day was a gift in itself. (Until I had to think of something to make for Christmas dinner and all the stores were closed.)
5. My Grandpa.
My freakout on Christmas Eve had everything to do with my grandpa. We were heading to California because he hadn't been doing the best and I really, really wanted to see him. When the kids were dropping like flies with the most contagious illness I know, I almost lost it. He is so fragile right now, even a simple cold could send him to the hospital. It was too much for my heart to take and that was when I really started praying. Please let me see my grandpa.
I explained the situation to the doctor and asked if I could get a "just in case" prescription for the other three children for if they started showing symptoms but she said no. And our doctor doesn't prescribe antibiotics without seeing the child in person and getting a positive strep test, so we were really going to have problems if they got sick while we were traveling across two states.
We have been sick with strep and various colds all through Christmas break and even still today, but the one day we were all healthy was Tuesday, the day we saw my grandpa. He hugged each of the kids and there was not a sniffle to be heard from any of them.
This Christmas Eve was definitely the worst on record, but I was never alone for any of it. "Faith is knowing that good will come, no matter what happens." That is what I know to be true and how I know that even the hard things in my life can be turned into good.
