Prayer Meetings

Christmas 1949

By

Madelyn Shields

     I was five so my sister Karen was seven.  We lived in a little white box shaped house in a community call Vandercook Lake, just outside of Jackson, Michigan. Daddy called our house a "cracker box" and at five years old I could not quite get the picture...you know...I would go outside and study the house trying to see the "Saltine" cracker box. It just wasn't there.
     Vandercook Lake was a beautiful lake great for its fishing, both summer and winter. In the summer there would be people out along the shores fishing with cane poles and a bobbin and sinker. We loved the Blue Gill and Bass. We would fish and fight the mosquitoes that were as big as elephants, flying in formation, bombing us as they went. Talk about mosquito bites!!!! In the winter there would be ice fishing shanty's set up out on the ice that also provided a fun sport but we were not allowed to go out on the ice in the winter.
     It was Christmas Eve and we always went to Church on that night no matter what day of the week it was. The snow was everywhere and as we drove the street lights would make the street glisten like tiny stars sparkling everywhere. We had a Plymouth with a big ship on the hood of the car and it was like we sailed down the street.
     We would walk into church on that special night and it would be all decorated with beautiful greenery and red ribbons, sing Christmas Carols, hear about the Saviour's birth and how He was lain in a manger because there was no room for Him in the Inn. I could see that tiny baby all rapped up in a white strip of cloth and wondered where in the world they found a snow white strip if cloth in a barn. Daddy was the Pastor so he always stood at the door and talked to the people as they left; that made us the last ones out to lock up and go home. I can remember on those cold winter nights as we left church we could see the Northern lights and that was so special!
    On the way home Daddy decided that it would be nice to see the houses that were lit up so he drove us through the ritzy neighborhoods and out by the radio station where everything was lit up and the lights seem to dance in all their color. Karen, my sister, and I would bounce on the back seat of that car trying to see from side to side. What wonder and splendor and then he would drive us down Michigan Avenue, through town to see the windows dressed up for the Christmas season. It was a fairy tale land and the best one was the window with Santa Clause in his chair; he was big as the window and rocked back and forth laughing "ho,ho,ho." It was all so fantastic! While we were driving Daddy, Mother, and Karen saw Rodolph in the sky leading Santa's Sleigh but I couldn't find him. I was so sad and I felt so left out. Actually it was the blinking red light on the radio tower but I had no clue. Daddy had a great imagination and loved to tell great stories.
     It was getting late and Daddy decided that we better head on home. As we pulled up to the "cracker box" everything was dark and quite. We walked up the steps and went in. Daddy turned the lights on and the tree lit up; while we were at church, sure enough, Santa Claus had come and left Christmas. My Grandmaw Grace and my Uncle Jay were there. Oh the excitement! Karen and I shared everything, even our Christmas presents, but that is the fun of being sisters. There under the tree was an ironing board and iron that really plugged in and warmed up, a toy stove that plugged in and warmed, our dolls that had on new clothes and hand crocheted sweater sets made by Sis. Kenyon, We got a table and chair set and a tea set mad out of tin.  Mother had Sis. Kenyon to make our Christmas outfits from two of Daddy's old suits. They were skirts and vests with white blouses and ribbon suspenders.  Grandmaw and Uncle Jay had hot cocoa and Christmas goodies made and we all had a fun time to eat and sipped our hot cocoa with a big marshmallow on top.
     That night I fell in love with Santa Claus and have been ever since that magical night when without a shadow of a doubt he had been to our house with Rodolph leading the way. What a Christmas!