Santa Gives His Own

This is a story that Grandma Call wrote for a Christmas booklet that Debbie Packer was putting together. Grandma thought it might be fun to post it on the blog.

Santa Gives His Own

By Dorma Call

Mr. and Mrs. Andersen were the perfect couple to play Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and they thoroughly enjoyed acting the part. So every year on Christmas Eve, they would dress up like the jolly, happy people that they were and play Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to some of the members of their Pocatello ward. This project always brought great joy and satisfaction to the couple and they did it until they could no longer get around to do it. They loved sharing the Christmas Spirit with others in this special way.

One year, just after dark on Christmas Eve, Gerald and Dorma Call had just gathered their children in the living room for a special evening together. As they looked upon their small children their hearts swelled with love for them. How dear and precious each child was to them, just as each is precious to Heavenly Father. Their eight children were such good boys and girls. How blessed they were to be the parents of such loving and kind children. Each of their children was excited for Christmas too. Dorma and Gerald hoped that they had taught each child the real meaning of Christmas, even though the commercialism was a part of the celebration too.

There was a knock on the door and the twins, James and JoAnn jumped up together and ran for the door. When they opened the door they were excited to see Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were invited into the warmth of the Call home and Santa Claus pulled out a really nice gift for each of the Call children. Evelyn and Connie were old enough to know about Santa Claus but were still as excited as the smaller children. Dorma and Gerald enjoyed the children's excitement. Their eyes twinkled as they secretly shared a knowing smile, recognizing Brother and Sister Andersen from the ward underneath all the costume and make-up. How thoughtful it was that the Andersen's would leave their own children on this special night and show such caring to others. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus had brought candy, nuts, and fruit as well as the nice gifts and they made themselves comfortable as they were in the Call home and visited with the family. Oh what a special Christmas that was for the Call family.

Shortly after Christmas, the ward was divided. The Call's and the Andersen's were now in different wards and the children of the two families grew up in different wards not knowing each other. Time passed and the children grew up.

When JoAnn Call was a senior in high school, she started dating Lynn Andersen, Mr. and Mrs. Santa's son. After Lynn and JoAnn were married, Dorma shared with her daughter the secret identity of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who had come to their home years ago when she was just small.

So the real Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus gave JoAnn their son for Christmas, although it was several years later.