Christmas at the Sheffers
It seems that through the
years we have had some real memorable Christmases. We were
reminiscing and thinking of those the other night. Some that stood
out were the year that we lived in Panguitch 1980. Trisa 4, Crystal
2, Ryan 1 and Cody about to be born any day. (We did not know the
due date or the sex). Dean was teaching at Panguitch Middle School
that year and Sandra and Barry were living in our Magna house. We
lived in “Ours Little House” (Crystal's words) on 100 North 250
West. There was only a wood stove for heat. The house was built by
my Gr. Grandmother's brothers, the Ridings around 1900, and my Dad
was born there. He looked at the chimney and believed he could
remember it. That Christmas we decided to make everything. Art
Talbot had left his saw on the lawn so Dean used it to make 2 cradles
that rocked and a rocking horse. He used a record to design the tilt
of the rocking part. I painted designs on them and sewed dresses for
the girls. Mom crocheted little dolls that took a bottle. As we sat
down to dinner that night a stranger appeared at our door. It was
Santa! It scared the kids so bad they scampered under the kitchen
table to hide. They were coaxed out and sat on his knee to receive a
candy cane. We had very little, but the warmth in our home was very
big. Memories of that Christmas and year fill my heart and head. We
had all we needed – each other – and being in humble
circumstances helped shape our life for what is important – our
testimony and belief in the Christ child and His purpose in coming to
Redeem us.
Another year, 1998, we had
moved to Riverton. Our home now held Cody 17, Kami 16, Raychel 14,
Sheila 11, Alisa 8. Trisa and Jared (Holly) lived in Nephi, Crystal
in Logan USU, Ryan in San Diego on a mission. Mom and Dad had passed
away. Mom in 1997 and Dad in 1996. Dad had a horse that Richard
said we could have. She was Lucky's colt part POA and part Mustang.
Rosebud. She had energy, was small, and not quite broke. I had
borrowed a trailer from Mary Ellen Ross and ran down to Panguitch to
get her a few weeks before Christmas. Diane Colby had loaned us
their back yard to keep her in until Christmas Eve. After everyone
had gone to bed that night. I walked over to their house with a
halter. I led her home cutting through the field where Karri Sue
Hamilton school now sits. The moon was bright. Not a lot of snow.
The air crisp. You can just feel Christmas Eve. It consumes every
light, every warmth, every glow. Again, the gratitude felt for
family and friends is central to our life. Every Christmas Eve we
have a Jerusalem dinner, it is quiet, and grateful, testimonies are
shared and love for one another is given. The lights are out, and
only a candle and the Christmas tree shine deep as the light in each
of our hearts. I let the horse go in our crude corral we had built
from logs Dean had cut for the scouts to build towers with. Dean was
skeptical that it would hold her as Rosebud bucked and ran around
finding her boundaries. But in the morning she was still there.
Whew! The kids had opened their Christmas, the last one being a
bridle. ? What's that for? They knew immediately and ran outside to
see in the corral. Excitement never did change. She was a special
horse till the end.
This year was another mile
stone. I don't think we have celebrated alone since we were first
married. That year 1975 we lived in Provo, going to BYU. We were
expecting our first baby and Dad had brought up a load of Christmas
trees for us to sell. We chose the tallest one to put in our old
drafty huge ceilinged house. We sold the rest for $1 to $5 a tree
which gave us a little money. We had a fireplace where we had hung
our stockings and went to bed. Dean would not hear of there is no
'us' being Santa together, so in the night (he had drank a whole lot
of pop so he could get up in the night) Santa had come and filled the
stockings. It was exciting to be our own little family. Now again,
2019, we are still alive and doing the excitement of Christmas.
Sheila and Jordan (Alexis, Parker, Kandyce, Skyler) live through the
block and Trisa and Jared (Holly, Karri, Valerie, Heidi and Tayci)
live in Beaver 40 minutes away; came to our Jerusalem dinner. We
still pass the candle and say our blessings. We have not forgotten
the reason we celebrate: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the
firstborn of the Father, the only begotten son in the flesh, the
Redeemer of the World. May His spirit reside in your hearts as you
find and feel the meanings of Christmases in your life. Sincerely,
Dean and Angeli
Rubys and Winter Family Night out.
THANKSGIVING!
Thanksgiving 2019!
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