The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out (24 page)

I set down the pitcher and hugged her tight. “Oh, Edesa,” I whispered in her ear. “
You
are the best Christmas gift our family ever had. I'm sorry I said something so silly.”

“So how do we do this thang?” Florida was saying. “Hand 'em out all at once?”

“No, no, no,” Stu protested. “Here, let's start with the beginning of the alphabet . . . that would be Adele. Adele, you give your gift to your Secret Sister, then she'll give her gift to her Secret Sister, and we'll just keep on like that. The person who gets a gift will be the next one to give one, got it?”

“All right.” Adele huffed to her feet, plucked a square envelope out of the tree branches, waved it a few times . . . and handed it to me.

I wanted to laugh. Adele got
my
name, and I got hers? Too funny. But I opened my envelope and pulled out a gift certificate from Adele's Hair and Nails. “‘To Jodi Baxter,'” I read. “‘Good for the fol-lowing . . . 'Whoa! She has hair color, haircut, hair set and brush-out, manicure,
and
spa pedicure all checked. Wahoo!” I waved it in the air, then jumped up to hug Adele. “Thanks, Adele!” I put a finger to her lips. “Now, don't you dare say how much I need all this!”

Everybody laughed.

I went to the tree and picked up my wrapped package. “Stu had a good idea for keeping our gift exchange moving, but . . . sorry.
My
Secret Sister is Adele, so the loop ends here.” I handed Adele the package. “Merry Christmas.”

Adele unwrapped the square box I'd used to disguise what was inside. “A candle,” she mused, reading the box. “How nice.” She started to set it aside.

“Open it, you ninny!” I said. “Don't trust the box.”

She opened the box . . . and pulled out the necklace I'd made. She looked at it a long moment, then smiled, showing the little gap between her front teeth. “MaDear's buttons,” she murmured. “I love it. Yes, I do.” She slipped it over her head, which was easy because I'd strung the multicolored buttons of all sizes and shapes on a stretchy cord. “Thanks, Jodi.” She seemed a little overcome.

Stu took over. “Okay, we have to start the loop again. Avis, you're the next A.”

Avis picked up the largest package under the tree, which seemed rather heavy, and handed it to Delores. “It's not very personal,” she apologized. “In fact, I was thinking mostly of your kids, but . . . ”

Delores opened the package. Her eyes widened. “A laptop computer? But Avis, that's too much!”

“Don't worry, Delores. I, um, didn't exactly pay for it. Peter upgraded his laptop, even though this one is perfectly good.” She rolled her eyes. “That's what happens when you're married to a computer geek. He's got to have the latest bells and whistles.”

Delores shook her head happily. “Oh! Ricardo and I have been praying about getting a computer for the kids, to do their home-work, to keep up with school. This is an answer to prayer!
Gloria a
Dios
!” She clapped her hands. “Now, it is my turn.” She retrieved a flat package from under the tree and handed it to Hoshi.

Hoshi eagerly opened the gift, pulling out an oblong white cot-ton cloth edged in lace, which looked as if it could decorate the center of a table or dresser top. Something had been embroidered around the inner edges. “
Sister
and
Friend
in English,” Hoshi murmured, turning the cloth. “Then
Hermana
and
Amiga
in Spanish. Then . . . ” Her eyes widened. “It is here in Japanese too!” She held up the cloth, and we all saw the Japanese word symbols, completely unintelligible to the rest of us.

“Did I get it right?” Delores made a hopeful grimace.

“Exactly right, my sister and my friend.” Hoshi gave Delores a warm hug.

Then it was Hoshi's turn. She presented a book about origami to Yo-Yo, along with squares of brightly colored paper. “Cool!” Yo-Yo said. “You mean, this will tell me how to make them cool birds and frogs and things you made for Nony that time?”

But once she'd admired the book,Yo-Yo got very quiet. “Yo-Yo?” Stu prodded. “Your turn.”

“Yeah. I know. But . . . well, I got Chanda's name. And . . .” Yo-Yo suddenly threw out her arms in frustration. “Chanda, ya already got everything money can buy! And I ain't good at no sewing or handmade stuff. So, well, I . . . ” She withdrew a crumpled envelope from her overall pocket. “Here. There's twenty bucks inside. I thought maybe you and me could go to the movies together sometime. You know,
do
something.”

Chanda's face broke wide with delight. “
Irie, mon!
One ting money can't buy is just spending time wit' me friends. So, now.Do you get to pick de movie or mi? You free next Saturday?”

Everyone clapped and hooted. A grin replaced Yo-Yo's anxious frown.

“Now mi!” Chanda fished a classy blue envelope out of the Christmas tree. “God been talkin' to mi 'bout money, dat it's too easy to give money wit'out giving miself. So, dis is for Ruth.”

Ruth sighed. “Just my luck. I could have used a million dollars or so.” She opened the envelope, then laughed. “But
this
I can use
.
” She read the handmade gift certificate. “‘This
certificate is good for one day at the zoo with Havah and Isaac.' And what's this?” She pulled out a fifty-dollar bill.

“Dat's for you and Ben to go out to dinner while
we
chasing your kids at de zoo!”

The rest of the gifts were exchanged with laughter, hugs, and a few tears. Ruth gave Nony a framed picture of all us Yadas that Ben had taken at Edesa's wedding—and ended up having to promise she'd get copies for all the rest of us too . . . Nony gave Florida a CD of South African worship music . . . Florida gave Edesa a coupon booklet that had been filled in with things like
“Babysit Gracie”
(there were a lot of those),
“Free advice”
(that got a laugh),
“Instant quiet if
the boys play their music too loud”
(“Oh, you'll need that one!” Becky Wallace said, rolling her eyes), and
“Hugs on demand.”
. . . Edesa gave Estelle a scroll tied with a ribbon that promised private Spanish lessons. “You will get many more jobs for elder care if you can speak some Spanish,” Edesa said knowingly . . . Estelle had sewn a set of kitchen curtains for Becky's new apartment, rendering Becky speechless . . . Becky gave Stu a certificate good for six hours of housecleaning, to be used in whatever combination Stu wanted. “That's to make up for all the times I drove you nuts leavin' dirty dishes in the sink and leavin' my wet towels on the bathroom floor.”

There was only one gift left under the tree. Stu retrieved it and stood in front of Avis. “Well. I think it is very appropriate that Avis should be the final one to receive a gift. Last but not least, you know. As our fearless leader, the one who has kept us all in line and forged a path for us to follow, our elder stateswoman—”

“Oh, stop.” Avis rolled her eyes.

Stu, barely concealing a grin, handed her the gaily wrapped package. Avis opened it and pulled out a large pink T-shirt. And then she started to laugh. “Oh! Stu, you didn't! Where am I going to wear
this
?”

“What? Show us!” we all cried.

Avis turned the T-shirt around. It read in fancy script:
“I'm too
Sexy to be Fifty.”

At that point, we all lost it. Amid hoots and laughter, we threw out suggestions: “To school, of course!” . . . “Could be a nightshirt.” . . . “Peter will like it!” . . . “Wear it to embarrass your kids.” Still laughing, we finally broke for refreshments and to let Chanda cut her lemon birthday cake.

Thirty minutes later, as the others headed back toward the living room to begin our sharing and prayer time, I blew out the dining room candles that were drowning in their own wax, checked on Patches and Peanut in Josh's old bedroom (cuddled together in a pile of black, white, and orange fur), and refilled the pitcher of ice water. Padding silently down the hall with the pitcher, I stopped in the living room archway. Nonyameko was sharing with the rest of the sisters what she had already told me at the Heartland Café, the sorrows and joys of the pathway God had placed before her and Mark . . .

That's it, isn't it, Lord? A pathway with both sorrow and joy.

My eyes caressed the heads of all my Yada Yada sisters listening intently to Nony's story. Each one had a story—a story that was only beginning, whether it was twenty-something Yo-Yo, worried about the half brothers she'd been raising since she was a teenager, or Ruth, becoming a mother for the first time at fifty! Of twins!

Oh, the challenges each one in that room faced! Yet each one had so much to give. Hoshi, bless her, wanted to give back to inter-national students what she'd been given—friendship and a new life in Jesus. Estelle, who came to us from Manna House, wasn't exactly a spring chicken, and yet she had such a heart to care for the homebound elderly.

As I looked at each face around the circle, I realized just how much each one had already given, not only to this group, not only to others . . . but to me.

My eyes blurred.
Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for giving Yada
Yada to me as companions on this journey of faith—
Well, you were a hard nut to crack, Jodi Baxter,
said the Voice in my spirit
. Religious types always are. You needed sisters like Florida
and Yo-Yo and Adele to break through the churchy facade that stood
between Me and you.

Yeah, I know.

But I need to ask you something, Jodi.
God's Spirit was gentle, but insistent.
What if I send all of these sisters to serve Me elsewhere, and
they're not here to prop you up? What will you do then?

I didn't want to think about that. But for some reason, I wasn't afraid.
I don't know . . . but I know I can trust You, Lord. I have Your
Word to guide me, and You've given me the weapons of praise and
prayer.

That's right, Jodi. Even though friends and family may leave you, I
will never leave you nor forsake you. That's a promise.

“Hey, Jodi! Put down that pitcher and come join us. We're going to lay hands on Nony and pray for her before we hear from the rest.”

I obeyed, joy pushing a smile onto my face. For this evening, this moment, my heart and this house was full. And the Yada Yada Prayer Group was doing what we did best . . .

Pray.

A note from the author:

This novella marks the end of the Yada Yada series. I never
imagined it would be more than one novel, much less seven! It
has certainly been a life-changing journey for me. God has
taught me so much in the writing. Sometimes I felt as if I
were on a roller coaster, just hanging on for the ride! Thank
you, faithful sister-friends, for sharing the journey with me.
I'd love to hear what it's meant for you. You can contact me
through our website:
www.daveneta.com
. God BLESS you!

Sincerely,

P.S. But just in case you're wondering . . . Yes, I'm working on a
new series (due to premier in Spring 2009) with a cast of new
characters. But remember the old camp song, “Make new
friends, but keep the old . . .”? You'll find some of your old Yada
Yada friends woven into the new series too! Visit my website to
sign up for updates. See you next time around.

Reading Group Guide

1. The Yada Yada Prayer Group wants to celebrate and get “decked out”—nothing wrong with that! When was the last time you really got “decked out”? What do you consider the joys and pitfalls of getting “decked out”?

2. Besides weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays, what are some
other
events or milestones (often overlooked) that deserve celebration?

3. The Manna House women's shelter provides a backdrop for much of this story. Have you ever volunteered at a shelter or food pantry for those without basic necessities? Share your experience. In what ways did volunteering change
you
?

4. Jodi found “Mr. Tallahassee” (Amanda's schoolmate) extremely annoying, but God told her to sow seeds of friend-ship anyway. Are your children's friends welcome at your house—whether they are five, fifteen, or twenty-five? How could you make your home more hospitable toward guests of all ages?

5. When Jodi realized she knew one of the youths who snatched her purse, do you think she did the right thing by
not
reporting it to the police? Why or why not?

6. How do you feel about Edesa's decision to keep Carmelita's orphaned child, even though she and Josh weren't married yet? What risks was she taking?

7. Josh told his parents God used the story of Joseph to speak to him about marrying Edesa
now
and accepting the child too. Has a story from the Bible ever spoken to your specific circumstances? In what way?