Christmas Was a Little Different This Year

Last Christmas we were planning to go to my home in Missouri, but when the accident happened I knew I couldn't do it.  Everyone came here for Gordon's funeral, the Friday before Christmas.  We were surrounded by family and people kept showing up giving us food and flowers.  It was a huge whirlwind.  This year was different and I knew it would be and I knew it would be hard.  I wanted it to be different and kept trying to think as time got closer how I could make it memorable and happy.
When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Phillipines at the beginning of November, I didn't know it was coming.  After it hit, my friend whose family lives there messaged me about how worried she was about her family.  They all live in Tacloban.  She hadn't been able to contact them.  A week later, she still had no word.  Finally, through others, she found out they were alive.  They lived through waiting out the storm in the rafters of a church building as the church building itself became flooded with 3 feet of water.  Her brother had gone back to check on their home.  He was able to wait out the storm on the roof of house.  Miraculously the roof did not collapse after much of the rest of the building in fact was washed away.  He was able to save 5 people by pulling them up onto the roof.  Other people that called to him, he could not reach and was unable to save.  Her family lost everything.  Their home and all their earthly possessions... gone.  More devastating.  Many of their friends didn't make it.  Including one of her best friends three children.  My heart ached for them.
I think no matter what we have gone through, it is nothing compared to what these families are going through right now.
She told me of the stockpiling that was happening.  Her sister with a six month old baby was declined food even though there was tons.  She was able to raise 300 dollars to send from her customers at the restaurant she works at.  She said it would help.  There were and are still so many that need help.
I knew I couldn't do much but I could help her family get some basic necessities and help them feel that someone cares before Christmas.  I sat down with my family and we had a talk.  First I talked with my husband.  We decided not to give each other gifts this year.  Then I talked to my oldest.  I asked him what he wanted for Christmas.  He wanted an iPod.  I told him he deserved that, but our friend's family in the Philipines had just lost everything.  I asked him if he would rather have an iPod or give to this family who didn't have anything.  He said he wanted to give to the family.  I talked to the rest of the kids and though I didn't think they fully understood, they agreed to give to this family.  We didn't have an extraordinary budget for Christmas this year since we are close to the end of building a home and have not sold our current home yet.  But we decided as a family to give our Christmas budget to this family.  We have all our necessities and did not need any more toys.  My friend lives two hours away, so I mailed her a check so she could wire it to her family.  I let my oldest put it in the mailbox.  He said, "Mom, this will be the best Christmas ever.  I feel so happy right now."  He is such a great kid.
As Christmas got closer, I was getting a little nervous.  I wasn't giving my kids any toys for Christmas.  I got them each a couple books and Santa was bringing pyjamas and of course would fill their stockings with candy and toothbrushes and Christmas oranges.  I am sure that this family in the Philipines doesn't have nearly this much, so I probably shouldn't have been anxious.
On the anniversary of Gordon's death on Dec. 14th, my SIL in California called and we talked for a long time.  One of the things I mentioned was what we were doing this Christmas and how I was getting a little nervous about how the kids would react.
Well, with only a couple days before Christmas, I started getting packages in the mail.  Something for each of our kids and something for our family.  My SIL had e-mailed my siblings and together they sent us gifts.  I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but it eased my tension about Christmas coming.  We did our normal traditions.  Got together with my husband's family that lives here.  Sang songs, watched nativity movies, played games, and ate lots of food.  Christmas morning came, I woke up to the sound of heaving.  Tegan was sick with the stomach flu, but she was very excited as were the other kids about the presents under the tree.  They weren't expecting anything and they were so happy.  I feel like it is a miracle.  We were able to help someone who really needed it, and we were helped as well.
It still wasn't an easy holiday.  Just about everyone got sick with something in our family, flu, strep throat, and colds.  My husband was having a hard time emotionally through the holidays, but we made it through and the kids were happy and I imagine next year will be better.  There is much to look forward to in the New Year.