Operation Southern Christmas: Part I

 

The original plan was to celebrate Christmas with my family up in Ohio. Approximately 1 1/2 weeks before Christmas, we found out that my dad had to have surgery on his ankle, thus making it impossible for him to travel up north. My parents were originally thinking that all 9 of us kids + spouses + 2 1/2 grandchildren would still be celebrating Christmas without them up north. The thought of this just broke my heart (as well as my other siblings hearts). Enter- Operation Southern Christmas.

As soon as my parents told everyone that they would not be up there for Christmas, the undercover operation began with many phone calls. The plan- move our entire Christmas celebration down South in just under a week. I am so thankful that all of my sibs were on board and had the same exact thought in mind. Even with tiny babes, my sibs were willing to trek 555 miles down south so that we could bless our parents and still make it a nice Christmas for them. Once everyone was on board, we had to tell my parents the exciting news. My sister and I found the perfect ornament while we were shopping in Atlanta. It said, "Christmas in the Mountains." When I came home from our Atlanta trip, with Jen on Skype, we had my parents open up the ornament and told them that we were moving Christmas down South so they could still be a part of it. My parents cried. They were so touched. 

 

The next phase of our Operation was a Christmas tree. My parents did not get a tree, due to the fact that they thought they would be in Ohio. When we decided to do Christmas down South, we realized that we needed a tree- a live tree. The Saturday before Christmas, Jen and I tackled this... by ourselves! We set out to find a tree and spontaneously bought the first one we say. Tree- check! Loaded in Justin's car- check! We went to Walmart to get a tree stand, lights and ornaments. Lights and ornaments- check! Tree stand- Walmart, Target, Lowes- all SOLD OUT! How on earth do you run out of tree stands before Christmas? Thankfully, a couple in our church had an extra one at their house and so we got a tree stand for free! That day, Jen and I rang the door bell and surprised my mom, holding a tree. Let's just say she was very surprised :) That night, after the house was clean and ready for the family to arrive, we strung the lights and decorated the tree. 

The next day, my dad came home from the hospital and the family started to roll into town....