Christmas

I have to share a Christmas story with my family. Two years ago was my first Christmas being single. I was fortunate enough to spend it with my son and daughter in law and her family in Ohio. Last year was my first year spending it at home but I had Kevin, Matt and Josh with me so I wasn't alone. This is where my story begins. It was Christmas Eve and Josh was asleep. Kevin, Matt and I were sitting up watching movies and I was finishing some of my wrapping and getting ready for bed. I looked up and noticed empty stockings. It was after midnight and I was exhausted. I couldn't believe I forgot to stuff the stockings and I didn't know what to do because I was also sure there were no stores open. I began to cry because I felt like I was a horrible mom, first because of the divorce, making the boys spend Christmas with one parent at a time and just not feeling like I could do anything right when all I wanted to do was make things memorable for my sons and then I forget the stockings. Matt and Kevin asked what was wrong and I told them. I also told them I was too tired and hopefully Josh wouldn't notice and I went to bed.
Christmas morning Josh got up and we all sat on the floor around the tree and I tried to avoid the topic of the stockings but Josh remembered we always open our stockings first. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat and said Santa didn't do stockings this year Josh. Josh pointed at the stockings and said, yes he did.
I looked at the stockings and they were filled. Tears rolled down my cheeks because I knew I wasn't a failure. Even though I couldn't do everything I wanted to do I knew Kevin and Matt where there to help. I was their mother and I must have taught these wonderful young men what it means to give. In the middle of the night the two of them combined their money and went to a gas station/convenience store and bought candy, toothbrushes and small toys for all of us.
This will not be a Christmas story that books will be written over or pass through generations but it was one of the most memorable Christmas' I have ever had.