BLURB:
How Can one visit alleviate the trials of
the past few years? How can one quilt reveal truths never before realized?
It had to be a dream . . .
Her grandparents passed away a few years
earlier, but here in the family kitchen on the dawn of Christmas morning, they
greet her with the same love and sage advice she grew up with. Their presence
captivated reality and brings Ivy to complete confusion.
Could this strange visit truly be the
provision for which Ivy longed?
EXCERPTS:
1. The sizzle of bacon cooking brought Ivy to an upright position out of
sound sleep. The smoky flavor tantalized her nostrils as the fog in her mind
slowly lifted. Her hands flew to her face. It’s Christmas! The words rose
within her, not with joy, but with panic. How could she have slept so late!? Mama
will have my head. I should be making breakfast. But wait. It’s Christmas!
Mama must have let me sleep. A wonderful gift, to sleep past dawn. Ivy
heard a gentle snoring and looked to see the cat curled next to her legs.
2. She did not have
to inspect the bed to see if James was up. He was not. One leg and one arm
dangled off the side, almost touching the floor. His unruly hair was unruly
still and his head like a mop. Ivy giggled as she imagined turning him upside
down and cleaning the floor with his independently curly locks. James kept life
happy in the Rushton family. Mama called it incorrigible at times. Still, Ivy
knew Mama appreciated his light heartedness. Besides, he worked so hard to help
out now that Dad was gone so much. When all the tragedy descended upon the
family, James, just two years younger than she, determined to keep the family
on track. He led prayer at the table when everyone else just sat in a daze. He
even tried to get everyone to sing which usually ended in a laughing fit, as
singing voices were nowhere to be found in this family. James never lost his faith. Only me, Lord.
I’m the one who is still a mess.
3. “But it’s
Christmas morning. Why is no one awake? Even the cat won’t get up.”
“This is your time, Ivy, your Christmas
gift.” Grandad’s voice was strong. It wrapped around her as strongly as his
arms often did.
4. “What’s inside,
Ivy, is your gift to your parents.” Granddad patted her hand again.
She sighed and ran
her other hand through her hair. She must do better and help more.
“And the quilt is our gift to you.” Grandma
smiled that smile that seemed to hug her.
“You really made it before you, I mean,
before…”
“Yes, before I died. And I hid it too.”
Again, Grandma’s steel-blue eyes twinkled. “But before we tell you where, we
want to talk about you hiding something.”
INSPIRATION:
Our church always
does a children’s Christmas play. Usually, our Pastor’s wife creates each play.
One night on my way home from a prayer meeting I thought about contributing a
story for the play. Parts of the story rose up and when I got home I sat down
on our stairs next to a little heater and wrote the majority of the story. It
really flowed. It was never used as a play at church which was fine. Instead it
became part of the Christmas Extravaganza with Prism/Pelican.
LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Ivy-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B07PTYNKSX
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