Twas the Night before the Night before Christmas

Twas the night before the night before Christmas and all through my house,

Every creature was stirring, each with a louder mouth.

All the wrapping paper cutoffs were strung about my living room without care,

In my hopes the rest would pitch in, that I would leave the room and return and the paper wouldn't be there.

When out on my street there arose such a clatter,

A Brazil Water truck stuck on the ice, spinning its tires to no avail.

I walked out to my porch, my teeth all a-chatter,

I offered them kitty litter to get the truck far,

In hopes they would not skid right into my car.

They declined my simple offer and chose instead to take,

A city employee's truck with sand off the main interstate.

I walked back into my home, my mind all a-flutter, as I heard cars skidding down Route 40 without the life saving sand .

I rolled my eyes and realized that this silly decision was out of my hands.

Back into the warmth I came, seeing paper still all strewn about.

I heard my toddler laugh and my stepdaughter shout.

"Off the kitties little man, off my books and papers too!"

"Off our stuff little man if you know what's good for you!"

Her hair in disarray, her mood getting tense,

I smelled an odd odor, so into the kitchen I went.

Upon my stovetop in a pot so warm and welcome,

Sat my homemade chicken noodle soup now burnt to the bottom.

Frustrated and dismayed,

Our travel plans waylaid,

I transferred the remaining soup into another pot.

I poured facing my body, as it scalded me I then remembered, it was hot.

My toddler pulling at my leg, insisting over and over,

"Mommy..hungey! Mommy hungey!" as the other baby birds chimed in,

I stood there stoically and began to pretend,

I pretended life was perfect, just like fiction on TV.

My children were all sitting clean and quiet waiting patiently for me.

Never complaining or making messes, content with the smallest things,

Like helping Mommy clean up and never saying anything mean.

Love was all they could exude from hearts full of pure perfection,

Instead I was awaken from my daydream, by cries for confection.

"Well Mom if the soup is burnt, let's just order pizza and eat candy."

Never mind not a single car was able to move down our street,

These hungry little baby birds were focused on when to eat.

The soup salvaged, sandwiches done and food warmly in young bellies,

Dreamworks and Pixar my heroes as cries of delight went about the house.

I sat on my chair exhausted, a sink full of dishes to do.

As my children sat round together watching the movie, two by two.

Snuggled up together, they sat so quietly,

That a tear welled up in my eye and moved slowly down my cheek.

Last minute run to Walmart by my husband oh so brave.

To get that all important gift for that one child so we can hear him rave,

"Mommy! Mommy! You remembered that! I wanted nothing more!"

I realized that my big mistake this day was mentally keeping score.

I kept score of the good and bad, which outweighed the other,

I would let that determine the quality of the day with the family all together.

I looked around my living room so lived in with all the clutter.

Knowing that at the crack of dawn, it was on the road to Grandma and Grandpa's for our Christmastime together.

I thanked God silently for the blessings of presumed curses.

I thanked Him for another year.

I thanked Him for my children.

I thanked Him for my life.

I thanked Him for my husband, and how honored I am to be his wife.

I asked Him for travels mercies as we head out tomorrow,

I thanked Him for giving me that tomorrow in advance.

I'd relive this day a thousand times if given that chance.

So as my night before the night before Christmas comes to an end,

I want to take time out tonight and jot these few lines down.

For somewhere in the midst of chaos that caused me to frown,

I forgot to take my own advice and be thankful,

That turned that frown upside down.

Thanks Lord for our Savior as we celebrate His day,

Thanks Lord for our Soldiers who are so far away.

Thanks Lord for our parents, without them where would we be?

Thanks Lord for the town of Brazil, Indiana there is no other place I would rather reside.

Thanks Lord for being there, where I can run and hide.

When times are troubled and seem too hard to bear,

The birth of your precious Savior reminds us all YOU ARE THERE.

Merry Christmas Brazil, Indiana!!!!

Stay Tuned…

Karen Meister can be contacted at: ksframeofmind@yahoo.com