The Christmas Card Page #3

Perfect timing,

Uncle Richard.

I know my cue, dottie.

Hey, the gang's all here!

How is it that you

always seem to arrive

after all the work is done,

and at the very instant

that the food is out?

Genius timing.

Richard...

Meet Cody Cullen.

A real, live hero.

Well, I don't

know about that.

Well, you'll be getting

to spend extra time

with this real, live hero.

Because he just agreed

to stay on

through the holidays

and help us...

I should say you...

- At the mill.

- Great!

I'll teach ya

everything I know.

Where's your sling?

Oh, Rosie,

you know I heal fast.

Well, might as well

eat while it's hot.

- Yeah, look out.

- Come on.

There's nothin'

for you.

Let us give thanks.

Thank you, lord,

for the meal we are

about to receive.

And thank you for

our family and friends

both old and new.

Please take care of those

far away from their homes

this day.

And during this

Christmas season,

please let us

all find peace.

Amen.

- 37!

- Hut!

You're all over it,

baby! Yeah!

- Yeah!

- Aah!

[All yelli

yeah.

Yeah, come on, Richard!

Why didn't you

sweat like that

when you worked for me?

37, hut, go!

Go back!

And he's

in the end zone!

Look at twinkle toes.

Dishes are done.

Oh, that's good.

Off sides, off sides!

Get back over here!

Boy, I wish I could play.

They'd probably kill me.

- Come on, dad.

- What?

The way Uncle Richard plays

we could use a referee.

That's an idea.

I'd love to

blow the whistle on him.

Come on.

- Hut!

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, he's offsides!

Whoa, ho ho!

That's not fair!

Ha ha!

Those kids are tough.

Bye, Henry!

Bye!

- Bye, Sammy!

- Merry Christmas!

See you in a few weeks.

Hey, you're up late.

Hey.

I was just gonna

get somethin' to drink.

Help yourself.

Hot chocolate.

Ooh.

Hm. Your parents

are great.

Aren't they?

They both know when to lead

and when to follow.

Neither feels the need

to compromise.

It's really inspiring.

I'd love to have that

with someone one day.

Got quite a few cards

to write there.

Oh, not really.

I already sent the ones to the

troops at Thanksgiving, so...

Now it's just friends

and... family.

It's a really

special thing that you do.

Not really.

It doesn't make that

big of a difference.

Faith,

it makes a huge difference.

In many ways

it saved my life.

My mom and I,

we made a card

for my dad when

he was in Vietnam.

I know he got the card.

And it meant

a lot to him.

Did he make it back?

Oh, no.

Well...

Getting a card

from someone you know

has got to have

a lot more meaning

than getting one

from a complete stranger.

I got a card once.

The words kept me going.

We pretty much

do all things wood.

Logging, lumber,

firewood,

Christmas trees.

Mostly cedar.

Some Doug fir,

little northern pine.

And, of course,

the last few weeks,

we've been selling

Christmas trees.

Definitely everyone's

favorite season.

Oh, yeah.

Someday, it'll

all go to faith.

Wow. What's all this for?

Woodworking.

The guys use it

whenever they get the urge.

Usually just

my brother-in-law Richard.

He's a master craftsman.

And since his wife died,

I guess he just likes

to pass the hours in here.

Let's go look at the office.

That way.

Hello, everybody.

Morning.

This is where the beauty and

brains of our outfit hang out.

Needless to say,

my chair is over there.

That doesn't mean

we don't let him buy us lunch.

Faith, our lovely daughter

sits over there

and handles all the accounting,

plus counting the dots.

Counting the dots,

what's that?

Hm, well...

- It's silly, really.

- Never mind.

- Good morning, all!

- Oh, no.

Armin messed up

the Hartland lumber order.

- Really?

- Yeah.

You know, he can't load logs,

and he can't load lumber.

- Yeah.

- My order says,

"1,200 board feet of cedar,"

and armin, he stacked up

about a thousand.

Oh, Richard. All right,

let's go work that out.

Faith, would you finish

the tour with Cody?

And be sure and show him

our magic spot.

Sure.

Come on, Richard.

Are you ready?

See ya!

Ok, this is our headrig,

our edger and resaw.

These cut the logs

into 3 sizes,

6 by 6, 6 by 4,

uh, 8 by 8.

And then the jackets go

up over the chipper

and down to the chip truck

for hauling.

The chips get used in

playgrounds and gardening mulch.

The rest goes

to electric plants.

If we didn't use every inch,

we wouldn't have a profit.

Come on, I'll show you

the best part of the tour.

You really love

working at the mill, don't you?

- Can you tell?

- Yeah.

I do. I love it.

One day I was gonna go away

and work in the city, but...

I love my mom, my dad,

I love the work we do,

I love being outside.

See? Look how beautiful

this place is.

This...

Is my parents' favorite

place in the whole world.

I can see why.

This is where my dad

proposed to my mom

before he left

for Vietnam.

When he was gone,

she came here every day

to pray for his safe return.

When he got back,

they were married here.

And they named me faith,

because they never lost faith

that they would always

be together and have a family.

...have the Miller delivery

a day later.

I hate it, but go ahead.

Anybody shoot at you?

Not today, dad.

Did you show him

our magic spot?

Oh, it was beautiful.

Mm-hm.

Why don't you take Cody

with you and check on our load?

Right.

Keep him out of trouble!

- You betcha!

- Talkin' to Cody.

- Ah hah hah hah.

- Uhh.

What's scary is,

he meant it.

I'm known to be a bit

reckless around here.

Kinda keeps things

exciting.

How long have you been

with the company?

Since high school.

I introduced my sister to the

boss' son for job security.

Looks like it worked.

- Didn't expect to see him.

- That's Paul.

Faith's very

long-distance boyfriend.

She's like job, waiting for him

to take things to the next level.

He's been moving

slower than molasses.

Oh, this is 1990.

Yeah, well,

use it later.

Hello!

What a surprise!

Oh!

Rosie, Luke.

How nice to see you, Paul.

- Paul.

- What are you doing here?

I wouldn't miss

Christmas with my girl.

You were supposed to be

traveling through Europe.

I know, but I'm going

to work out of the napa office

for a couple of weeks.

I'm so glad you're back!

I brought some

delicious wine back

to go with

your great cooking.

Wow! Then you better

come over for dinner tonight.

I'd love to.

If you don't mind, I'd like

to steal faith away for lunch.

- What do you think, boss?

- Can I take an early one?

- Well, uh...

- Have fun!

- We'll see you later!

- See you tonight.

Hey, there.

I could use that quarterback

arm of yours out in the mill.

Ok.

Um...

If you require a hammer,

I'm your man.

I got a little

woodworking project.

I was kinda hoping

you could help me out with it.

Sure.

All right.

- So he's staying here?

- In the house?

Yeah.

Well, do you know anything

about this sargeant-hero?

There are some twisted freaks

in the army, too, you know.

Your eyes are about

the same shade of green

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