With everything we own in storage I knew that this years Christmas would be different. Our holiday traditions were "horibly mangled" without "our" decorations and ornaments. I fought images of little Who's gathered round the Christmas tree lamenting Christmases past. So every day I prayed, :"Lord, Please, let there be “no sad faces on Christmas."

It was a different Christmas this year. In fact thanks to the ingenuity and generosity of my younger brother Gary and his wife Kathy, it was a wonderfully, remarkable, tremendous Christmas. Gary invited our Mother, our siblings, our children and our children's children to spend “Christmas in Connecticut." So it was that thirty three people, seven dogs, a cat and a parrot named Picasso gathered at Gary's home for a gigantic Christmas slumber party.

My nephew Brian played the trumpet. Ali, my daughter in law played the guitar. We sang, we laughed and we shared the Christmas Story. Despite a rocky start, it was a wonderful evening full of family and fun. Finally, the children were nestled all snug in their beds dreaming of Christmas toys.

In the morning the sounds and smells of Christmas filled the house. Packages boxes and bows surrounded the tree. Fragrant aroma of cinnamon rolls summoned hungry Who's to a warm kitchen. I was sure that there would be no sad faces this Christmas morning!

Everyone gathered around the tree while Santa's helpers delivered packages to the proper recipients. Soon the room was filled with “oohs", and “ah's," and "thank-you so very much."

 Everything was going smoothly, until a little Who, my little Who, began to cry.

Anna, who loves Christmas a lot, buried her head in my shoulder and sobbed. My heart sank to see her sad face.

“Anna what is wrong? I said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

She replied, “Mommy, I love you sooooo much. I wanted to give you something beautiful and I didn't get you anything."

Her tears warmed my heart, which "grew three sizes." I was clothed in joy.

Christmas came. My wailing was turned into dancing and I was clothed in joy. Christmas came without our usual traditions, boxes and bags. It came in the precious gift of my daughter's tears and my family gathered together round a Christmas tree.

Psalm 30:11

You turned my wailing into dancing and removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.