Christmas Morning 10/14/2011
Helen was sleeping peacefully when she was startled awake with a squeal from Larry...then she realized it was Christmas morning and he had seen his farm set. Who would've thought last night it was gonna take her, Frank and Jane so long to put it together. Seeing the total excitement on Larry's face made it all worthwhile. Larry had a story of his own to share with everyone - he wasn't surprised that Santa Claus had brought him the farm set. He said last night while he was going to sleep on his bed on Mama and Papa Tollison's couch...he was just sure he'd seen Santa leaning over him... he had even felt his whiskers tickle his cheek. It was so real to him when he woke up...he looked around for Santa and there in the floor beside him was the farm set. J.T. came upstairs from the bedroom apartment right below his mom and dad's place. It was the same place that Frank at one time used to store his extra Watkins products, until J.T. needed a place to stay. When J.T. opened the front door, he was met by Larry ... he was so excited to show his uncle the animals from his new farm set from Santa. The smell of smothered chicken (one of Jane's specialties) was drifting around the apartment...it was making everyone so hungry. When it was time to set down to their Christmas feast, they gathered around the table and said a prayer of thanks for being with family and God's protection over Willie. They sat down and started passing around the chicken and dumplings, smothered chicken, green beans, slaw and corn. Fresh butter on the homemade rolls finished off this wonderful Christmas dinner. For dessert Jane had made a Coconut pie from a Watkins pie mix and she had made a fresh yellow cake for the kids. Helen helped Jane clean up the table and asked for her recipe for the smothered chicken. She wanted to surprise Willie and make it for him sometime. Helen had always been amazed how Jane could make a $1 stretch. For as long as she had known them, every Saturday Frank and Jane would drive to Charleston where Frank would sell Watkins products out of his car to passers by and other folks in the stores there. He would give Jane $5 to buy her groceries for the week. She could take that money and feed a lot of people for a week...because when Helen and Willie lived with them for that short time after they were first married, she got that same amount to feed even the extra mouths. They spent the rest of Christmas day just enjoying each others company and watching the kids play with their Christmas toys! They would spend the night again tonight and head home in the morning. Helen couldn't wait to get home to see if she had any letters from her handsome sailor! Comments Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Leave a Reply |  Author
Paula Tollison Andrews Maupin I am married to Bobby and live in the Nashville, TN area, working as Executive Assistant to both the Director of Sales and General Manager of FOX17, MyTV30 & CW58 television I have 3 wonderful sons and daughters in
love (Brad & Holly Andrews, Bryan & Stacy Andrews and Brandon
& Ashley Andrews) from Tulsa, St. Louis & Springfield
respectively. They have given me 9 precious grandbabies. (Joseph,
Cooper, Margo, Sloan, Jonas, Nora, Everett, Lawson and Blythe & Gma
loves them so much) I also have 2 great stepsons and daughter in love
(Jonathan & Kathryn Maupin and William Maupin) from Lexington,
Kentucky.
As a lady who's lived through both good & bad circumstances in my life, I've learned and continue to learn a lot of "life lessons". Along the way I have been inspired to be a better me. God is faithful in ALL circumstances and His love covers all. My hope is that you will be inspired to be who you were meant to be. I have been writing this blog about my mom and dad since September of 2011. You can find their story from the beginning by going to the Stories link. Happy Reading!!!   ArchivesMarch 2012 |
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