This is Phoebe's 5th Christmas. I am really excited each year for Teddy and Phoebe because the excitement in their face was always priceless. Unwrapping of the gifts, dinner with the family and celebrating Jesus' birth is what they are looking forward each year. But we have decided to celebrate this Christmas a little different. We had the usual family dinner with the rest of the family earlier than we usually do. We have to leave on the 24th of December for a different Christmas celebration.
I am surfing the net when I saw a blog about those babies in a certain orphanage. They are allowing the babies to celebrate Christmas outside of the orphanage. Yes, it is an amazing idea and I want to do it this year. I immediately inform Christian with my plans, and I am so glad that he supported me with this. He understand my goal with doing this, not just for my kids but also for a baby..an orphan.
I checked Teddy in his room to see if he got all things he needed for this trip. Once I told him that we will celebrate Christmas in a different place, he really gets excited. I also told him about the plans in my mind, and he is happy with it. I hope, Phoebe will understand it, too. She's just 5 years old, still our little princess but I am really not sure how she will react with this.
I am walking towards her room when I heard her talking to her doll.
"You know, Dolly, mom and dad decided to have a trip this Christmas. I don't know where, but they promised to tell me about it. Maybe later, they will tell me where and why."
I slowly opened her door and smile at my little baby.
"Mama!"
She ran towards me, lifting her arms. I carried her and I decided to have a talk with her about this trip.
"Hello Phoebe. Are you ready for this trip?"
"Yes mama. Can I bring my doll with us?"
"Of course Phoebe, you can."
And I received a big smile from my daughter.
"Sweetie, did you remember when your dad and I told you and Teddy that we need to leave before Christmas and we will celebrate it in a different way?"
"Yes Mama! I am really excited to go somewhere! Can you tell me where are we going?"
"Yes Phoebe, Mama will tell you. But before that, I need to tell you a very short story first. Can you do that Sweetie?"
"Yes Mama. What's story?"
She's so adorable with that curious look in her face. Her eyebrows almost touch each other. I hope my little girl will agree with our plans.
"Well, you know, there are many kids like you in the world. But unlike you and Teddy, some kids and even babies don't have their Mom and Dad."
"They don't have Mom and Dad like you and daddy? How come they don't have any and I got mine and Teddy?"
"Sweetie, did you remember that little girl you became friends with while we are waiting for Grandma Grace in the hospital? You saw her crying and you gave her your doll?"
"Yes, I can remember that. She won't stop from crying and when I gave her my doll she smiled at me."
"Yes, that's right. She's crying because she lost her parents. There are many reasons why, but you will understand it as you grow older. Back to what I am trying to tell you, we will go to a place where there are kids without their parents, just like the little girl in the hospital. The only difference is, there are babies, so they are still little. They don't know where their parents are now."
"Oh, that is sad Mama. I hope their parents will come back to them."
"Yes Phoebe, that is really sad, but you know, you can make one of them happy. Just like the little girl in the hospital."
"I need to give her my doll, too?"
She held her doll closer to her chest and hug it tight.
"No Sweetie, you don't have too. It will be your choice if you want to give it or not. But there is another way to make a baby happy."
"How mama?"
" Well, they will allow us to have a baby with us during the Christmas holiday, and we can return the baby after New Year. How does it sound to you, Phoebe?"
"Why should they allow giving us a baby? What if, her Mom or Dad will look for her and she's gone?"
A smile creep to my face, and there's a hope building inside me that phoebe will agree. I can feel her concern in the tone of her voice.
"We will not take away the baby, but because they are all living in a house, they are not experiencing celebrating Christmas with a family. So they allow the babies to be with a family during Christmas, because they think that the baby will feel the love and warmth of what a real family can give."
"And because we are family we can give it to a baby the same love?"
"Exactly Phoebe. We can have a baby to celebrate Christmas with us. Is it okay with you? Can you treat her as your own little sister or brother? And you can be a big sister then."
"Hmmm..but I am still your baby..do you want another baby?
"You will always be our little baby Sweetie. Nothing will change that."
"I have one more question Mama.."
"You can ask anything Phoebe."
" Can I choose the baby that we can be with?"
There's a big smile on my face when I heard her question. My kids know why we are celebrating Christmas and I am happy to know that they are willing to share our family with others.
"Of course you can Phoebe. So, do I get it right? You agree on mama's plan then?
"Yes Mama. I don't want o make a baby sad. And Dad always told me and ted that Christmas means giving and sharing. I can give my love to someone and I hope it will make them happy."
I hug my daughter and there's a feeling of pride in my part. I raised my kids with so much love and I am glad because they are not selfish. Christian and I made sure that even we can give them everything, they are still limitations, that it is still important to give and to share. Being a Grey is not easy, but having this kind of children are always priceless.
"Are you ready to meet our new baby, Phoebe?"
"Yes Mama."
And I get her things and lead her outside of her room. Teddy is now in the main room waiting for us. I can see Christian talking to someone on his phone. I think he is informing the orphanage management that we will be on our way. I am excited to see who will be the baby that we can get a chance to celebrate Christmas with.