Free The Divided Family by Wanda E. Brunstetter

me.
    Turning her attention to the front of the room, Doris couldn’t help but smile when one of the smaller students recited a poem while holding his hand against his heart: “Christmas comes just once a year; but the love of God is always here.”
    Another child, holding a wrapped package, added, “Christmas is not about gifts or toys. God sent His Son to earth for moms, dads, girls, and boys.”
    Doris thought about the trials people sometimes faced and how keeping their focus on God helped them get through even the most difficult times. As the children emphasized through their recitations, poems, and skits, the true meaning of Christmas was God’s love for His people.
    She closed her eyes and offered a brief prayer.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Son. Help me love others as You have loved us.

    “The program went well, don’t you think?” Arlene said to Larry as they headed for home in their buggy.
    “It sure did, and I’m glad the snow they’ve been forecasting held off so the roads are clear.”
    Scott groaned from his seat behind them.
    “What’s the matter, Son?” Arlene called. “Are you disappointed because your uncle Joel didn’t come to the program?”
    “It ain’t that. I mean isn’t. I’ve got a
bauchweh.
Sure hope I don’t throw up.”
    “Hang on, Scott, we’ll be home soon.” Larry bumped Arlene’s arm with his elbow. “It’s no wonder our boy has a stomachache. Did you see all the popcorn he ate after the program?”
    “He had some candy, too,” Martha interjected. “Teacher Anna brought some for each of the scholars tonight.”
    Arlene turned and reached over the seat, patting her son’s knee. “You’ll feel better once we get home and you can go to bed. I have a homeopathic remedy for tummy aches, and that should help, too.”
    Scott’s only response was a deep moan.
    Poor little guy.
Everything went so well at the program tonight, Arlene felt bad it had ended on a sour note for Scott.
    “It was good to see Doris out tonight,” Larry commented.
    “Jah. I wasn’t sure she’d be up to it, but I’m glad she came. She’s been cooped up in the house too much since her accident.” Arlene shifted under the blanket covering her lap. “Once she gets her cast off, she should do even better.”
    By the time they arrived home it had begun to snow, and the storm seemed to be getting stronger as the snow stuck to the ground.
    “I’ll get the snow shovel out before I come in for the evening, in case we get a good accumulation of this white stuff during the night.” Larry pulled the buggy up near the house to let everyone out.
    “Yippee! Can we make a big
schneeballe
?” Lillian asked when she jumped down from the buggy.
    “No snowballs tonight,” Larry said. “It’s late and you kinner need to get ready for bed. School’s out till after Christmas, so if it keeps snowing, you can all play in it tomorrow.”
    “I don’t wanna play in the snow,” Martha said. “It’s too
kelt
for me.”
    “It won’t be cold if you put on plenty of clothes.” Doug ran ahead of his sisters, while Scott trailed behind.
    Arlene could tell her boy wasn’t feeling well, because normally Scott would have been excited about the snow.
    As Larry helped her out of the buggy, he leaned close and said, “How about making some hot chocolate with marshmallows after the kinner go to bed? We can sit by the fire and enjoy each other’s company for a while.”
    She smiled. “That sounds nice. I’ll take care of making it as soon as the little ones are tucked in.”
    While Arlene and the children headed inside, Larry led the horse to the barn before he put their buggy away for the night.
    After Arlene placed the baby in his crib, she sent Doug, Martha, and Lillian upstairs to wash and get ready for bed. Then she gave Scott a remedy for indigestion and took his temperature. He was running a slight fever, but she didn’t think it was anything to worry about. By tomorrow morning he’d probably