The worst blizzard in the history of Sunrise, Texas. We didn’t even need a weatherman to give us that info—which he couldn’t have anyway with zero electricity. It was day two of the blizzard and Caleb was shoveling his way to the barn which was invisible in the whiteout. I was so thankful he’d strung rope from the house to the barn for this worst case scenario. I was also grateful I’d gotten him some thick Carhartt overalls and a matching jacket for Christmas. He was now wearing them as he shoveled. This wind and snow were nothing to mess with. It’s like we were living out the Little House on the Prairie books I’d read to the boys. I was just hoping every animal in the barn was alive.
In the meantime, I’d helped Katy get situated for the day. It appeared David had completely attached himself to her. He’d brought her a nativity Christmas book and she was reading it to the boys. I pressed my hand against my aching back as I got up to go do the dishes while everyone was occupied. The boys ran into the kitchen yelling over one another, “Can we be shepherds? Can we dress up? We want to see the angel and not be afraid!” So many voices at once created the perfect storm—which was equal to the one outside. So we all trooped upstairs to find robes, scarves, and sandals. David grabbed his stuffed “Lambie” which he still slept with at night. “This can be the lamb that sleeps by Jesus,” he said. For the next hour, they playacted being shepherds tending their flocks at night when the angel of the Lord appeared. Then they journeyed to see baby Jesus and were appropriately awestruck. Katy gave stage directions from the couch. I used that time to see if I could see Caleb from the second floor window—but couldn’t. I tried calling him on his cell phone, but heard it ringing in our room. So I began cleaning the boys’ rooms and putting toys away. I saw their walkie talkies and took them with me thinking they might come in handy. I even found fresh batteries for each of them.
I heard the boys shouting Caleb’s name. He’d finished shoveling all the way to the barn and the animals were all just fine. He’d fed them and broken the water and left them with new hay. Once dad saw the boys’ costumes, he asked them, “Well who wants to bundle up after lunch and go to the barn and make shepherd’s staffs?” Every boys’ hand was in the air and it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room with all of their whooping! Caleb looked at me and grinned. I knew he was giving me a much-needed break.
Grilled cheeses for everyone and the boys were bundled up and gone. Caleb had stoked the fire and Katy had settled in with a good book. I went to lay down. I was determined to be well-rested when this baby came. But I couldn’t get comfortable.
The boys came in with their new shepherd staffs and showed Katy & I how perfectly they’d sanded them. “I sanded and sanded this part,” Henry said, “and then I helped Matthew and David sand theirs!” Big brother pride was popping out of his eyes. Then they had to show dad—with new shepherd’s staffs in hand—their play. We laughed as Matthew tripped over his robe in his haste to see the new baby Jesus. Then dad took the staffs away as the boys started a sword fight at the end.
Caleb went to feed the animals after dinner. “Please take your cell phone this time,” I begged. “When I couldn’t see you out the window and then when it took so long to shovel, I was worried. I want to be able to know what’s going on.” So he did. The boys were on their sleeping bags in front of the fire playing Candy Land—still in their shepherd’s costumes sans the staffs.
Caleb had been gone about ten minutes when my cell phone rang. I heard him say, “Merry, I need you…” *static.* The phone was dead. I tried calling twice but my phone was now saying, “No service.” I went into the living room as I was putting on my coat, scarf, hat, boots, and gloves and tried to appear calm. “Katy, Caleb needs me in the barn.” She knew. My eyes always gave me away. “Go—GO,” she said, “the boys and I will be fine. But take this throw and this blanket—you don’t know what he needs.” I remembered the walkie talkies! I ran to grab them and told Katy to call me if she needed me and I’d do the same. I told her if there was a need, she could send Henry out. ”Make sure Henry is bundled well if we need him. And I promise to be careful,” I told her.
I opened the door to wind and ice which cut across my face. I shielded myself with the blanket and stepped out. I was trying to be so careful, but my big belly just made everything awkward. I finally opened the door to the barn and said, “Caleb,” and my eyes got big and I doubled over. Caleb rushed to me and pulled me into the barn and closed the door. I couldn’t move. A contraction hit so hard it took my breath away.
“Caleb, I think the baby is coming.” I moaned.
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