“Later that evening Elaine walked into the kitchen with Jasmine. Mrs. Berpeck was preparing dinner.
“What does relief society mean?”
“Oh hello Elaine, Relief society is a class that all the women eighteen and above go to after sacrament meeting.
“What’s Sacrament meeting?”
“That’s a meeting at the beginning of church where everyone gathers to hear people speak and they pass the Sacrament.”
“What’s the Sacrament?”
“Wow young lady there is a lot you don’t know about but how about you ask your questions over the dinner table. That will give us something to talk about.”
“Okay.” Elaine said with a sigh. “When will dinner be done?”
“All these questions.” Marcia said with a smile. “Just in a few minutes, I’ll call you and Jasmine when it’s ready and you can help set the table.”
“Okay, sounds wonderful!”
“Come on Elaine let’s play with my horses. We can pretend we’re princesess that are riding horses.”
“Alright that sounds magnificent!”
“Girls time for dinner!”
“Coming mom!” The three girls said at the same time.
“Just as Elaine ran down the stairs with Jasmine Bill walked in. He was holding a bundle of presents.
“I have some last minute presents to put under the tree.” He said with a grin.
“How did you wrap them so quickly?” Jasmine asked in wonder.
“I had the store wrap them for me.”
“What’s in the other bag?” Elaine asked.
“Magical things.”
“Will we ever get to see them?”
“Tomorrow you will, I promise! Let me just go put this in a special spot and I’ll join you in a minute. Okay?”
“Okay.” Everyone said as he placed some presents under the tree and put the bag in the master bedroom.
Mrs. Berpeck made a wonderful meal that contained homemade chicken noodle soup and breadsticks.
After the thank you and your welcomes were spoken everyone pitched in to clean up dinner. Then everyone gathered in the living room for scripture study and prayer. While they were eating at the dinner table Elaine had learned all about church and what the scriptures were and of course who Jesus, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost were. They all agreed that they should start at the beginning of the Book of Mormon so that Elaine could read along with them. As they took turns reading Elaine was fascinated. She listened with all her heart and souls content and made them read on and on. Although at one point everyone agreed that if they wanted to do the Christmas Eve rituals then they would have to stop. They all got comfortable on the couches as a stack of beautifully wrapped presents was pulled out from behind the cedar chest. They all grabbed the one with their name on it and sat back in their spots.
“Alright we’ll open them in order form youngest to oldest, alright?” Mrs. Berpeck said with a smile. “Between Jasmine and Elaine we need to figure out who’s the youngest. So Elaine your birthday is May twenty sixth and Jasmine yours is September ninth. So Jasmine you go first.”
Jasmine ripped oped the wrapping paper to reveal a rectangular box with a snowman on it. She opened the box with no care in the world and pulled out the bright purple footie pajamas with little pink poodles covering it. She giggled with delight as she hugged her mom and dad.
“Can I put them on now?”
“Wait till everyone is done opening theirs.”
“Okay, it’s your turn Elaine.” Jasmine said as she curled up on the couch next to Elaine.
Elaine ripped the wrapping paper open a little less crazy as Jasmine had done hers. She looked at the funny reindeer on her box as she giggled and slid the lid off. Her pajamas were the same as jasmines but they were pink. Elaine loved the color pink. A huge grin spread across her face as she jumped up and down. She hugged Marcia and Bill tightly.
“Thank you so much! I love them!”
“I’m glad! I wasn’t sure if you wanted blue or pink but I picked pink.”
“Pink is my favorite color!”
