#111 CHRISTMAS (Original air date: 12/17/96)
Written by: E.F.Wallengren Directed by: Michael Rhodes Produced by: Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen & R.J. Visciglia, Jr. Guest Cast:
Martin Woolridge Robert Guillaume Warren Dempsey James Callahan Lionel Woolridge Frantz Turner Denise Karen Ludwig The Greenes postpone their plans to go to California to visit Claire's favorite 4th grade teacher, Warren Dempsey, who is dying of cancer in her hometown of Moorpark, Pennsylvania. Mr. Dempsey asks Claire's forgiveness for being the cause of Claire and her mother being forced to leave town many years ago. But the fact that Claire's mother had been involved with Mr. Dempsey is news to Claire. Through flashbacks, we revisit the fragmented memories of Claire's childhood and the signals that she had either suppressed or failed to acknowledge until now. Meanwhile, the other members of the family split up to do some last minute Christmas shopping after drawing names from a hat. Hattie takes Nathaniel on a mission to decorate the trailer with all the trimmings. Dinah uses her Christmas money to locate Nathaniel's father--which is sort of like finding a needle in a haystack. And Josh is derailed from his shopping when he offers to buy a homeless man (Martin) a bowl of soup and winds up rushing him to the hospital which is in the midst of a strike. Christmas magic works its way through this episode as Josh saves Martin's life and Nathaniel gets his Christmas wish. Health, prosperity, and Season's Greetings from everyone at Promised Land.