When you don't part the waters I wish I could walk through.
When you don't give the answers, as I cry out to you.
I will trust in You.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

   Mandy sighed as she stepped out of the inn, shovel in her hand. Christmas Eve didn't mean she got off this year.

At least they got a white Christmas. She'd always loved snow, even if it did come with crazy temperatures.

As Mandy started to clear the front walk, she could hear the yelling from inside as Caleb and the kids tried to wrap Christmas gifts.

No one had reserved a room at the inn tonight, so it seemed like the Five of them would have their own celebration.

"Ann? Do you want some help?" Jason called.

Mandy grinned. "Sure!" She called back.

A minute later, Jason stepped outside with a shovel. "The kids are sure having a lot of fun in there." He commented.

   Mandy laughed, then smiled as she the trail her breath left in the cold air. "I'm sure Caleb is too. The last year we had Christmas together, Amilee was probably about two, and really wasn't interested in wrapping or buying gifts." She replied.

"Was he gone that many Christmases, or that many years?" Jason asked.

Mandy felt her smile slip. "That many years. That was the first time he was gone for that long, and we had no contact at all." She told Jason.

He nodded. "I never had to do that, luckily. The longest I was gone was a year."

"A year is still a long time." She replied.

   Jason didn't reply as he threw another scoop of snow in the already huge pile.

   Mandy looked up at the sky and smiled. "Even if it is cold, I love Wisconsin's cold, fresh winter air." She commented.

   "It is beautiful here." He agreed.

   "Where did you grow up?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

   "Florida, mostly. I moved around a lot, but I was mostly in that state." Jason answered.

   That made her giggle. "I'm sure Wisconsin is quite a change from Florida."

   He shrugged. "Yeah. I lived in Wisconsin for a couple years though, it isn't all that bad."

   "That's a raving review. I sure hope someone puts that one on our website. 'Liz's Inn - It wasn't all that bad'." Mandy teased.

"Well, maybe it was because I never came here. This place is great." He told her.

"Thanks. Caleb and I worked hard to make it special."

"Well, you did a great job. I think anyone who stays here once will have to come back again and again."

   Mandy smiled as she focused on her shoveling. 'This will be a good Christmas.' She thought, 'And for once, I don't have to do all the cooking.'