Christian Living

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The Christmas Visitors
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


The winter of 2009-2010 began in the Oklahoma City area in earnest the day before Christmas close noon as light snow. Famed weather man, Gary England, was predicting severe storms for the metropolitan area. As early as 9:30 AM, people were leaving work or calling in that they would not be coming in. There were some people making last minute attempts get to the mall to make last minute gift purchases. As daylight slowly began to fade away around 3:00 PM, it became apparent that this was not an ordinary storm but a blizzard. Cars and large commercial trucks were going off Interstate 40 in either direction. Oklahomans, however, though stunned, recovered and moved into action helping families, friends and strangers.

A family, I’ll call the Kaskaske family, was prepared for the worse. Seven miles south of Interstate 40, Travis and Doris Kaskaske had stored enough food and water for two weeks; a month worth of wood for the wood burning stove and a generator with fuel for a week had stored enough food and water for two weeks; a month worth of wood for the wood burning stove and a generator with fuel for a week. As the winds and snow picked up, Doris Kaskaske called her three children inside as her husband entered the door covered with melting snow.

Turning on the television, the Kaskaske learned that the blizzard had caused numerous accident and the deaths of Samaritans helping mostly motorists. Within minutes, Doris had the evening meal prepared for her hungry family. As the family sat down, there was a loud pounding sound on the door. Without hesitation, Travis went to the door momentarily looking out the window near the door. It was a woman carrying what appeared to be a bundle. Quickly opening the door, Travis, without knowing who the woman was, permitted her to enter their home. “Come on in,” he said.

“Thank you,” the shivering, crying woman said, “my car stalled on the road before I could get home. I left work early to pick up my baby from daycare so I wouldn’t have to face this. I could carry this one shoulder bag and my baby. So that’s all I have.”

When the woman opened the blanket, she presented a crying girl. “I’m going to call my husband to tell him where we are. Maybe he can come and get us.”

Immediately, all members of the Kaskaske family left the table to get a look at the little one. “Aw, she’s cute!” the children stated.

“If he can’t make it,” Travis said, “you and your daughter can stay here overnight. Maybe the storm will be over by then.”

“Yes,” Doris said nodding her head. “You must be hungry. Please, sit down and have something to eat after you feed your baby. We’re having roast beef, new potatoes, corn and homemade hot rolls. How old is your daughter? What’s her name? She’s so cute! My kids love her!”
“She’s five months old. Her name is Linda. And thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”

“Oh, what’s your name? We’ve been talking so much about other things that I forgot to ask,” responded Doris.

“I’m Jackie Meyer. I live on the north side of Harrah. So we are not that far from here. I’m going to try to call my husband.”

“That can wait, Jackie. Sit down and eat. Christiana please get Mrs. Meyer a plate. As you can see, I have kids. Christiana is six. Kasey is three. Emily is two.”

After Jackie fed her daughter, the Kaskaskes and their guest sat down to their Christmas Eve meal. Once their meal was over, the dishes washed and put away, Jackie called her husband. She explained what had happened. She learned that several large tree branches had fallen and was blocking their driveway and their vehicles. She also learned that her husband was working feverously to remove the limbs. With night coming on and the weather increasingly getting worse, he didn’t seem to think that he would be able to make it but he would continue to try and give her a call to let her know what was he had accomplished.

“Looks like you’re here for the night, Jackie. And it’s Christmas Eve! We’ll use our guest room to put you and Linda up for the night.’

“Yeh!” shouted the Kaskaske child in unison with joy, “we’re gonna have a real baby in the house for Christmas!”

“Mrs. Jackie and baby Linda kinda remind me of Mary and Jesus, momma!” Christiana said with excitement.

The Kaskaske family’s response to Jackie and Linda brought tears to her eyes. “I don’t know what to say. You let a perfect stranger into your home with a crying baby! You’re all angels! As long as I live, I’ll never forget you—all of you!”

Doris Kaskaske spoke up: “What were we going to do? Make you walk miles away in bad weather and let you and your baby die? Don’t worry about a thing! You’re our Christmas gift, I believe sent to us by God Himself. Why else would you be here? Come on! Don’t cry, Jackie! You’re gonna make me cry if you don’t stop! We’ll make up the room for you and Linda now. You can sit down over there and take care of Linda.”

Within minutes, Kaskaske family members were moving blankets, sheets and baby things into their guest room. The children were laughing while asking many questions. “Will Mrs. Jackie and the baby be here for Christmas? Is Mrs. Jackie really Mary and is the baby really Jesus? Will they change over on Christmas day? Mommy, Mrs. Jackie is really pretty!” giggled Christiana.

Both families sat down to the grim television news. Everyone in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area were encouraged to stay off the highways and roads as blizzard conditions made travel hazardous and extremely dangerous and life threatening. Around 7:30 PM, Jackie received a call from her husband. He reported to her that he could not clear their driveway of the limbs and even if he could the weather and roads were so bad that he probably endanger himself and destroy a vehicle trying to travel in this weather. Though she felt bad about the situation, Jackie accepted that there was not much she or her husband could do under circumstances. After watching a few more minutes of television news and weather, the families retired amid the howling storm outside.

Early Christmas morning, when Travis opened the door, the storm raged on with winds so strong they nearly pushed him back into the house. News and weather reports were not much better than the night before. In fact, it was reported as worse than the day before. After talking to her husband, Jackie learned that he was continuing his effort to get her and their daughter to bring them home.

The Kaskaske home was filled with the voices of children picking through boxes and boxes of presents. “Look here, momma! There’s a present with Jackie’s name on it,” Christiana announced, “Here’s one for the baby, too!”

“Thank you,” as Jackie carefully unwrapped her gift. “It’s a hat and gloves!”

“And there are hand warmers inside the gloves,” added Doris. “There’s a nice, warm blanket for the baby.”

“Thank you! I’m sorry that I don’t have anything. You’re all precious,” Jackie slowly responded.

Throughout Christmas Day, Jackie’s husband called her to let her know of his progress. He informed her that he was still cutting and removing limbs as well as snow. Because of the conditions, no one has been able to help him. Jackie and Linda remained two additional days and nights before her husband was able get out of their house to travel the nearly 14 miles to the Kaskaske house.

On his arrival, Stephen Meyer, as thankful gesture, gave the Kaskaske family two bushel baskets of meats, vegetables, fruits and cheeses.

“Can we be friends?” asked Jackie.

“You bet! We already are!” responded Travis and Jackie Kaskaske.

“The snow storm, you and Linda were the bestest fun we have ever had for Christmas! Can Linda be my baby sister, please! I’ve always wanted another little sister. She’s so cute!” said Christiana.

“Can you stay some more?” asked Kasey.

“Yeh,” responded little Emily.

After exchanges of hugs, handshakes and tears, the Meyer family left but not for long. The bonds of these two families became stronger and long enduring after the Christmas Eve blizzard.

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