Christmas Memory by Bethany Moss

When I look back on my 20 years of Christmas memories, my eighth year stands out among the rest. There was a lot in store for me and my family that year. I loved being in third grade, my mother was eight months pregnant with my little brother, Ben, and I got the gift I wanted most- a “My Size Barbie.”

A perk about my mother being pregnant was that I got to move rooms in our house. My parents decided to move me to what used to be the office, and turn my old room into a nursery since it was closer to their bedroom. My new room was at the very front of the house. Most of the time, this was a scary thing for me, as you already know, with my fear of burglars and being so close to the front door and huge window. However, that room turned out to be the best in the house when it came to Christmas Eve night. After me and my brother went to bed, my parents would stay up and set up the living room with last-minute presents for the morning to come. I could hear them. I heard them talking, laughing and I specifically remember hearing my dad set up my brother, Phillip’s, train set. I also heard some kind of air pump being used. It made me so excited, I could hardly sleep.
The next morning, Phillip and I were stunned when we walked into the living room- it looked like Toyland. Not only was there a train set up and running in the entryway, but there was a humongous inflatable moon bouncer in the middle of the living room. Phillip and I immediately hopped on and started jumping. After a few minutes of trying out the bouncer, I noticed something glorious standing on the fireplace. That’s right; I said standing. The “My Size Barbie” I had been wanting for so long was standing on the step of our fireplace with her arms out, waiting to greet me with an embrace. Now that I think about it, the set-up seems a little creepy, but it was perfect for my girly-girl, eight-year-old self. I immediately skipped over to her, named her Tasha on the spot, and brought her onto the moon bouncer to jump with me.
For the past several years, I have mostly gotten clothes for Christmas, which does not exactly call for jumping-up-and-down excitement. This year, however, my main Christmas present is the down payment for a study trip to Israel, which I have always wanted to go to, so there will be some celebrating going on. I already know I’m going, and I’m not expecting an oversized check propped against the fireplace, but I must admit, I am looking forward to how my parents will reveal the exciting news.