Mother's "Best" Christmas

Phil's surprise arrival home for Christmas!
That is Marlene's graduation picture above the chair.

Mother wrote of her "Best" Christmas.  Both Phil and Marlene were away from home for the first time, and mother was very lonesome for them.  Marlene was away at school in Seattle, where she had earned a scholarship, and Phil had joined the Air Force.  She heard the song "Silver Bells" and it made her cry, thinking of her children who were so far from home. 

When the family was picking out a Christmas Tree, mother thought a smaller one would do.  She wasn't expecting anyone other than us little kids.  When Christmas Eve arrived, the front door flew open and across the living room floor scooted a big duffel bag, and Phil came in after it.  He made his way home for Christmas for a wonderful surprise for us all.  On Christmas Day, Marlene called to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and it made the holiday complete for mother, who always looked on this as her Best Christmas Ever!

I remember Phil and the tree.  He was so tall, he could look down at the top of the tree.  The ornaments we had were unique I think.  We had some that looked like candles that when they warmed up, would bubble so it appeared to be a flame.  We had the large bulbs that were popular at the time, and to make them more interesting, we had some colored flame resistant material that looked like cotton balls that were placed over the light bulbs and made a soft glow.  The tree was never complete without lots of tinsel.  Mother always had a round mirror in the living room, and every year she taped a two dimensional foil ornament to it that folded out and looked like a big silver snowflake. 

Mother would bake sugar cookies that were numbered 1 - 12.  We got a cookie each day that counted down to Christmas.  They were kept on top of the freezer in the kitchen.  They were delicious! 

Mother always baked sugar cookies that counted the days until Christmas.
I'm pretty sure, there were some of those cookies and pies on the freezer
behind us.  Seated at the table from right to left is Georgia, Mary Lou
and Dean was pretty brave, sitting in daddy's chair!

The Christmas List - 1926

Adelbert Asay
our favorite Santa

The first Adelbert Asay family reunion was held August 30, 1957 at the old house in Lovell.  At this time the family was organized with officers and goals. One of the high-lights of the evening was a box of momentos found under the floor during recent renovating of the old family home.  Articles were held up for the owners to claim .... old shoes, hammer etc.  The prize item was Grandma's Christmas shopping list for December 10, 1926:

Christmas - - 1926

Albert - necktie 75 cents

Bert - necktie 75 cents, shirt $1.50

Percy - overalls, necktie, long sox

Boice - overalls, necktie, long sox

Merril - shirt, overalls, necktie

Calvin - baby rattle and shoes

Hyrum - garters, necktie

Hyrum Jr. - marbles, ball, and shirt

Wayne - material for rompers and a ball

Papa - shirt, necktie, and Sandy Andy

Gladys - cloth for aprons and stockings

Mae - shoes and stockings, one suit of underwear and garters

Helen - shoes, stockings, doll

Mama - cloth for aprons

(Zela has to help be Santa)

Sandy Andy toys variety of tin lithograph...

would love to know which one Grandma would buy for "Papa"

Merry Christmas!

The Most Memorable Christmas

Adelbert Asay aka Santa

One hot summer day as we sat in Grandma's living room sipping lemonade, a grandson, Matt asked, "Grandma, what was the best Christmas you ever had?"  Grandmother told him this story:

Many years ago, though it seems like yesterday, our means were quite limited.  We knew Christmas was coming.  We had six little children at that time, who we loved very much, and we wanted to have such a nice Christmas for them. 

So Grandpa hooked up the team and went to the mountain for a load of wood.  He brought it down and took it to Brother M.D. Harris, who said, "Delbert take that load of wood over to the school, and I'll give you $8.00 for it."

Grandpa took the wood to the school and received a check for $8.00.  He then came home, and he said to me, "Mama, this will have to be the Christmas.  It is all I've got and all I can get.  I'm going to give the check to you, and you do the best you can with it."

I went into the bedroom and put on a nice dress and combed my hair.  Then I knelt down and told the Lord our circumstances and the money I had.  I asked Him to direct me that day - where I should go and do the best I could.

I felt good about it and went up to Main Street and cashed the check.  Then I went up to Bishop Cutler's, and I paid 80cents tithing on that check. I then went back to town and every store I went in, I got something we needed.

When I got home and the parcels were opened I had: a chicken, some sugar, some eggs, flour, candy, and a tiny gift for each child - and a little suit for Ab.

Papa brought us home a Christmas tree which we decorated with popcorn and cranberries.

We knew the Lord had guided my footsteps to bargains all over town, and I even got a little something for Papa and I.  This was the most outstanding Christmas we had in those early years.

Aunt Gladys, who had joined us in Grandma's living room said, "This was our best Christmas ever, and it was a real testimony to us children of the value of tithing and praying to Heavenly Father in time of need."