“CALEB!! It’s Katy Brown—on her horse!!” I was looking out the window as the blizzard continued to swirl over Steadman Farm and couldn’t believe my eyes! Why was Katy Brown, a widow and tough cattle rancher, riding a horse to our farm? Something had to be wrong. Caleb had already pulled on his boots and coat and was out the door to see why Katy was riding her prized horse, Willie, bareback in four feet of snow with very little visibility. Caleb was reaching up to help Katy off her horse and was struggling to get her in the house. Her leg was broken! What in the world? And how did she get on her horse?
Katy began answering questions after we got her inside and on the couch wrapped in blankets. Caleb had situated Willie in the barn and then dug out his old boot he’d worn when he’d sprained his ankle. It was a little big, but at least it would keep Katy’s leg stabilized. She told us, “I’d gone to the barn to milk the cow and she was agitated. I was trying to figure out why when she kicked me. She’d never done that before. I knew my leg was broken—and that dadgum cow took off through the open barn door. I called Blayne and asked him to find her and milk her and lock her up. He has one of those new-fangled snowmobiles, you know, and likes to use it at the drop of a hat.“ I couldn’t help but ask, “So why didn’t you ask Blayne to bring you here instead of climbing on your horse with a broken leg?” “I don’t trust those things! And I knew Caleb wouldn’t mind letting Willie stay in his barn,” she said. “Plus I knew I couldn’t manage on my own until this dadgum blizzard stopped.” “But how in the world did you get on your horse,” Caleb asked. “I’ve trained Willie to bow down to say his prayers,” Katy replied, “He bowed down, I climbed on.” Ok. That made perfect sense.
We’d given Katy some pain medication and she was snoring softly near the fire even though our home wasn’t quiet. The boys were running up and down the stairs and wielding their flashlights as swords. She was exhausted. Stew was simmering on the gas stove and Caleb and I had convened in the kitchen to discuss our new plans. There was no way we could get Katy to the doctor—so we called her doctor and made him aware of her condition. He told us to ice her leg several times a day and to keep her medicated—even if it was only with Tylenol. We’d meet at the ER when the blizzard stopped and we could all travel again. In the meantime, Blayne would help her out with her milk cow and cattle on his trusty snowmobile. Thank goodness our cell phones were still working! And thank goodness Caleb had invested in a solar phone charger.
The stew and cornbread had hit the spot for all of us. We were gathered around the fire with our sleeping bags and pillows. Without electricity, the fireplace had become our central living space. Caleb had filled an air mattress for me to sleep on since he said I “was great with child.” I was grateful…but I didn’t know how much it was going to help my aching back. It just would not stop hurting—and hot baths were a thing of the past with no electricity. Caleb was reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth to all of us. He read, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” Henry interrupted, “I wouldn’t be afraid! I wish I’d been there.” Matthew and David chimed in with their, “Yeah!” “We wouldn’t be afraid either!” Caleb didn’t finish reading Luke but spent some time talking about shepherds and their responsibilities and what it would really be like if an Angel of the Lord appeared to us. And then Caleb used an old trick he’d learned from his youth minister at camp when trying to get a room full of boys asleep at night. He prayed a really long (and yet, heartfelt) prayer until every boy was asleep. Even Katy had fallen asleep. Caleb and I quietly made our way to the kitchen.
Caleb held me in his arms and gently rubbed my back. Tears were filling my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. When he bent to kiss me, he pulled away and asked, “What’s wrong?” I could hardly get the words out but finally said, “Oh I don’t know…maybe I’m 8 1/2 months pregnant, we’re stuck in our house in a blizzard with three rambunctious boys, now we have the responsibility of Katy, it’s almost Christmas, and my back hurts! It never hurt like this in any of my other pregnancies.” And I couldn’t hold the convulsive crying back any longer. Caleb sat down and pulled me into his lap. He gently told me, “Merry, I love you. I’m so sorry your back hurts—you’re doing too much! Tomorrow, the boys and I will cook breakfast. You stay in your little bed and get some extra sleep for you and this baby. We’re going to make it through this, I promise. Praise God we have a warm house and three healthy, rambunctious boys. Praise God Katy got to us safely and we have room for her and can help her. And praise God you’re healthy and great with child. Pretty soon we’ll have another baby to hold in our arms! Our life is pretty perfect in spite of this blizzard. And just think of the stories we’ll have to tell our grandchildren!” Caleb always knew how to make me laugh. The crisis was over—for tonight. And I really thought I could sleep in spite of having an air mattress for a bed.
I got up and kissed my husband. I was grateful. Grateful I had Caleb by my side through any storm of life. We held hands and walked into the living room—and saw the most amazing sight. The fire was glowing; it’s light was reflecting on the ornaments on the Christmas tree. Two little boys were snug in their sleeping bags near the tree. But David had moved his sleeping bag next to the couch where Katy was sleeping and had his hand in hers.
“Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.”
