When I was just five years old, the thing I wanted more than anything in the whole world was to be exactly like my mother. I thought she was the most beautiful person in the world. I loved watching her brush her hair or apply her makeup at her vanity. She had a perfect place for her make up, perfume, and jewelry in this vanity of hers. And I thought if I had a vanity with lipsticks and perfumes, perhaps I could be as pretty as she was. That year when I was five, I braved Santa’s lap (a daunting prospect, just check out my deer-in-headlights expression in the layout), to ask for a vanity.
On Christmas morning, the vanity was the first thing I saw: painted white, child sized, and ready to transform me into a cover girl. I couldn’t stop smiling all day! That gift was so special to me because it was so much more than a toy: it was my chance to become a lady just like my mother.
As a scrapbooker, I’m a big believer in stories. I also think one of the greatest gifts we can give each other is a chance to be uplifted when we share our stories. For the next week, I’d love to read your stories about a particularly memorable holiday—it would be a great gift to me, and I’m sure to all those who read this blog! Your story can be short and sweet. Please include the why, when, who and how of your special holiday memory. As my thanks, I’ll be choosing 10 lucky posters at random to receive a different kind of gift: your choice of any stamp set from our Spring 2009 catalog!
Now it’s your turn! I can hardly wait to read about the special gifts you’ve given and received, the lessons you’ve learned and the people you’ve touched. On December 30, I’ll announce the winners of the stamp sets, so post your holiday memory today!
Your flocked Christmas tree reminds me of the many years my family also had a flocked tree. Thanks for the thought.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memory is of the year we spent Christmas up north (Northern Michigan) in the woods. We had a trailor stuck out in the middle of some wooded property. There was no electricity or running water. We were going to have a real "Little House on the Prairie" Christmas. We strung popcorn and made paper loop garland for our little tree, and everything.
I KNEW I wasn't supposed to go out to the front to see the tree until morning. But during the middle of the night, I woke wanting a drink of water. I quietly walked to the kitchen...so near the front of the trailer. I was so tempted...I started to peek around the corner...when I suddenly (and I believe it to this very day) I hear BELLS!!! I knew it was Santa and if he caught me awake, I'd get nothing. I forgot the water, and flew back to bed and under the covers.
I just love sharing this story with my 5th graders every year!
My memorable holiday takes place over the course of a couple years. Joey the Elf. I don't remember how it got started but when I was younger, every year during December I would write letters to Joey the Elf. My mom helped me decorate an empty coffee can and we separated it with cardboard so there was an outbox and an inbox. I would write letters - he would write little letters back. I would find little footprints and gifts from him. I was so excited for Christmas every year to write to him!
ReplyDeleteUntil one day I was snooping around my older sister's room (like little sisters do) and discovered a shoe box under my sister's bed filled with MY letters to Joey the Elf :-( I was so crushed.
I would have to say my most memorable xmas would have to be in our apartment in Sunnyslope, Arizona. I was about six years old. I couldn't figure out how Santa could come to my house since we didnt have a chimney like "everyone else". My mom told me he just comes in the windows since we don't have a chimney. I remember going to bed that night being a little scared some jolly Santa might get stuck in the window. I stared at the window until I fell asleep. My parents bought me a Merlin that year too. Merlin was an electronic game that was popular in the 70's. I still remember my stocking and my mom still hangs it up to this day(but she doesnt fill it up anymore:()
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas that I thought would be the most difficult was, in fact, the best Christmas ever. My husband's business was only about a year old at the time and sales were quite disappointing. I was busy making things for our four children and doing what I could to make it a joyful season for them without spending very much money. We had two young teenagers who were trying hard to not be disappointed, and it broke my heart to not have something special for them under the tree.
ReplyDeleteOn Christmas morning there were extra packages under the tree - our oldest son and daughter had taken some money given to them by grandparents and used it to buy something special for their little brother and sister. Since then my husband's business has far exceeded out expectations, but my greatest reward and gift is having children who all love each other unselfishly.
The best Christmas I ever had acutally happened not too many years ago. I had been dating my current boyfriend for about a year, it was our first real Christmas together as the first Christmas we shard was only 14 days after we started dating.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, my boyfriend is not a huge Christmas fan, okay that's an over statement, he'd skip it all together if he could. So I showed up at his house before Christmas and had a couple of gifts for him and I placed them on the fireplace. Christmas Eve came and we had a nice quiet evening at home and then went in to bed. In the middle of the night I heard him get up, but didn't think too much of it as it wasn't unusual for him to get up in the middle of the night. I awoke awhile later and realized he still wasn't back to bed, that's odd. Well I got up to get a drink of water and noticed all the lights were on in the living room, but I really didn't think too much of it. Paul stopped me in the hallway and asked me what I was doing up and I told him I needed a drink and he said I'll get it for you go back to bed. So off to bed I went.
The next morning we woke up and Paul was acting very strange. He kept saying you better get up I heard Santa come last night. I kept telling him he was a dork go back to sleep. He just kept this up so after awhile we finally got up.
When I walked out into the living room Paul had pulled out a small ceramic Christmas tree and set it all up on the fireplace and decorated the living room. There beneath the tree were a couple of small wrapped gifts even.
The gifts turned out to be white elephant gifts, but it was the best Christmas I ever had. It was that he had put so much thought into it to make it special for me. I always pick on him now and tell him you can't beat that first Christmas we shared!
I don't have a specific holiday memory, but I sure miss the Christmas traditions when I was young.
ReplyDeleteMy brother, sister and I would get to open our presents, then have a great breakfast...with homemade chelsea buns. Then we'd play with our new toys for a while. We'd have a huge feast for lunch...ummm, candied yams, and the traditional fruit salad for dessert...with our Aunt's and Uncle and cousins, and of course Grandpa and Grandma. Then we would open more gifts, visiting and snacking on cookies...grandma's Lemon Bonbons were the best...and other treats. How we had room for supper, I'll never know. Before I knew it, it was time to pack up and go home, where I fell into bed so tired, and stuffed.
I absolutely love Christmas, it is my favorite holiday of the year! I can remember the excitement on Christmas Eve anxiously waiting for Santa to come. We would watch the late news to see if he was anywhere close to our town before we would look out the window up in the sky to see if we could see his sleigh then off to bed we went. It was extremely difficult to go to sleep and I can remember listening carefully to see if I could hear Santa come in. One night while I was trying so hard to keep my eyes closed tightly so I would fall asleep, I couldn't stand it anymore and I sneaked a peak at my bedroom doorway. To this day, I am sure I saw Santa in the dark there in my doorway looking in on me!!
ReplyDeleteI have always kept that excitement going with my daughters and we have a tradition of taking our girls out on Christmas Eve to see all the wonderful lights. We always look up in the sky to see if we can find Santa because if you don't believe in Santa, he doesn't come to your house. With that said, my daughters are now 17 and 22 and I hope they keep the spirit of Christmas alive as I have.
my best memories are the smells, walking out into the woods to get the christmas tree, and smelling fresh pine in the house.
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here - just giddy with an idea for a wonderful page to share with my Mom and Sister - thanks to your blog!!! When I was growing up in the Bahamas, it was tradition to have a formal Christmas dinner on Christmas night. My parents were both British and our table was always beautifully decorated with Christmas Crackers to match the table decor. My mother always made Traditional Christmas Plum Pudding with hard sauce for desert and we would pour brandy or rum over it and light it so that it would have a blue flame. It was beautiful. She always trimmed the pudding with a piece of Holly usually smuggled in from the States by a friend! But the best part was pulling those crackers after desert with my parents and grandparents. I have years of pictures with the family in their formal Christmas attire topped off with a paper found in the crackers...even the dogs wore one. It is a tradition we have carried on for 30+ years and I now share with my children who love to pull the crackers with their grandmother and aunt!
ReplyDeleteSo I am sitting here envisioning a layout with Evergreen paper and the Adoration stamps - lots of paper crowns!
Thank you, you have put a smile on my face again today!!!
My favorite Christmas was when I was a little girl..I was 7 years old. All I wanted that year a "Barbie Dream House." The large one, that had to be put together and had tons of rooms and furniture. So, on Christmas morning I woke up and was looking for that huge box. Well, I opened up my gifts and unfortunately, not one of them was the house. I was pretty sad, but didn't mean for it to be so obvious on my face and then my dad so..."oh..Santa left something in the basement.." Sure enough, I ran down the stairs and there is was....I was so excited, I cried....then as I sat there playing with the house, my mom brought down a big box and said "these are from mom and dad." It was all of the furniture to go inside! :) That was one of my greatest memories!
ReplyDeleteSanta would always come while we were sleeping and we would wake up before my dad would go in the barn at 5am. He would always chased us back upstair and tell us to go back to sleep. We would wait at the top of the steps, listening and waiting for him to go to the barn to milk the cows. Once we heard the door closed, down the steps we ran. Our gifts were never wrapped so we knew which ones were ours. After playing with them for awhile we would have some breakfast; a cold ham sandwich and homemade christmas cookies. It was the only breakfast we could eat cookies. I still enjoy my Christmas breakfast of ham and homemade cookies. I use the same cookie recipe my mom made.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memories of Christmas are when all our extended families would gather at "grandma's" house (over the mountain and through the woods, literally). Every Christmas Eve adults & children alike would gather around the living room & tree to play...you guessed it...BINGO! A huge family tradition I've tried to continue for years with my own family. Everyone would win a prize...some great toys & goodies for the kids and great gag gifts for the adults.
ReplyDeleteThis is a favorite memory of mine because there were so many of us and we were all laughing, sharing memories and just plain having fun! We would play for hours until all the year's collected prizes were gone.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!!
Suzie Gies-Lay
Madras, Oregon
My favorite Christmas memory was when we would spend a Saturday baking cookies for our friends. My 4 sisters, my mom and I would bake and bake! We each got to choose or favorite cookie recipe and then we got to ice/decorate them. Once we were done, we packaged them on plates and red/green saran wrap and deliver them to our friends at their homes... and naturally we were sing Christmas Carols. Even though we are living in different states, sisters and I are continuing this holiday tradition with our kids. :)
ReplyDeleteThsi was so fun sitting here and reading everyone's memories! :-) What a great idea Lynette! Thank You!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is our stockings - we always open those first and my son has always gotten up first (what kid doesn't?! ;-) ) and he would grab all the stockings and bring them in to bed with me and my husband or eventually just me after we divorced but I will be at his house - he's 25 now - this year and he and his wife will still do the same thing with my Mom and I. I can't wait :-)
But my favorite single memory of Christmas morning was 8 years ago. I had just bought my first house and it needed a # of upgrades. There were several large packages for me - one wrapped in a blanket! I was a bit afraid as the boys were about 18 then and no telling what they'd do. The pictures of me opening my brand new Eljer toilet,tank and seat are priceless!! Something I needed and did not want to spend my own money on but sure needed! HA!!! Leave it to boys to be inventive!
Thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone reading!
Wendy Taylor
Tucson, Arizona
My most memorable Christmas was last year -- 2007. My husband had just deployed for 2nd time...this time was Afghanistan (October) and would be gone for a year, and Zach was REALLY having a hard time w/this deployment since he was older and knew more about what was going on. Zach & I were decorating our tree and our Disney ornament fell and broke. I was crushed and broke down crying. We had gotten that ornament on our very first trip to Disney that we went on to celebrate Wes' return from his deployment to Iraq in 2005. For that one to break...broke my heart. Well, I had friend who went to Disney the following week; explained the story to them. Disney replaced that ornament and made a very special one for Zach and sent to us as a gift. It was their way of thanking Wes for his service and Zach & me for the sacrifice we make as a military family. I get emotional every time I think about it. So many times our sacrifices and the sacrifices of the military personnel go unnoticed -- especially when not in a military community (i.e., near a base).
ReplyDeleteHappy to report...Wes is home; we made our Return to Disney trip and have added another ornament to our tree.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Christmas is always a special time for me. All the preparations leading up to Christmas is my favorite time! I just love the hustle and bustle and wrapping!
ReplyDeleteI can remember as a kid being too anxious to sleep and never thinking morning would come! And when it finally did, my brother and I would get up really early and find all our treasures! The funniest part is when my older brother would come to wake me up because he had been so excited and preopend MY gifts! He would say, " Oh, you've got a cool new toy! Come and see what Santa brought you!" I guess he was so excited he got carried away!
Then we would curl up with a warm blanket next to the tree and our new gifts and sleep until Mom and Dad finally got up!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Jennifer Kammerer - SPokane
Growing up on a farm, I was accustomed to not having a lot of material things. Imagination was my toy. I never had dolls like the other girls I knew, but I made my own out of some rope I had found in my Dad's workshop.
ReplyDeleteOne Christmas when I was about 10, there was a HUGE wrapped gift under the tree. My Mom never put names on the gifts; I guess she knew we would keep messing with the gifts until they "accidently" came open. Later when the gifts were distributed, I found the HUGE gift was for me!
I ripped the wrapping off to find a striped case. Upon opening it, I found a Barbie doll with many outfits, complete with shoes! I hung all of the dresses on the little hangers inside the case and spent hours just staring at my gift, putting all of the outfits and carefully putting away the shoes and hats in the built-in drawers. I hadn't even asked for the doll but somehow my Mom knew that it was just what I wanted.
It is to this day one of my most precious memories and not just because of the doll. I knew that Mom went without things for herself, as she always seemed to do throughout my life, just so I could have that doll.
I have two... my first one I was six years old and there was some silly, girl toy that I desperately wanted. We always opened the gifts from my mom's parents on Christmas eve. My grandparents had gotten me that toy that year. I cried I was so excited. Not just becuase I got my toy, but becuase I felt SO loved that grandma would know what I wanted and get it for me.
ReplyDeleteMy second one was just two years ago. It was the first Christmas my husband and I were spending on our own and I was pregnant with our first baby. I was just a simple, sweet, quiet Christmas togehter. I loved spending the time with him and knowing that we were starting to build our own family and our own family traditions.
One of my favorite thoughts about Christmas was when I was old enough to learn that there really wasn't a Santa, but there was still hope in my heart that it wasn't true. I remember my family leaving our house to go to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve. I knew what was under the tree. I had already picked everything up, shaken it, guessed a hundred times, etc. So I knew what was there.
ReplyDeleteAfter our Christmas at "Nanaw & Pa's" house, we drove back to our house late that evening. We walked in and low and behold!!! There were EXTRA gifts that hadn't been there when we left!!! My heart started pounding, because in my mind, that was the proof that Santa really did exist! I mean, how else could those packages have appeared under our tree?
When I think about it now, so many years later, I seem to remember that my Daddy had to leave to go the store for something while we were at my grandparents. But I try not to think about that part for very long. I love my memory of believing in Santa for a little while longer.
One of my favorite Holiday memories is actually still in the works. I feel blessed each and every day. To the point of being overwhelmed even on some days. Here's the background...
ReplyDeleteMy husband found out a couple months ago that his job is relocating. We live in Oregon, in the suburbs of Portland. All except for the first 5 years of my life... we've been Oregonians. We love it here. Our family is here. Our "bestest" of friends are here. Once we found out about the location change of his job, moving to Eastern Idaho, we had to come to a very important decision. Either would prove to be a BIG change for our family. I'm currently a stay-at-home-mom and have enjoyed every moment of it. Well... most of the moments. ;) We weighed the option of "both getting a job and staying here so we are surrounded by friends & family" or "moving with his job into an unknown and very different world."
We've come to the decision to MOVE! Why is this one of my favorite Holiday memories? I have had a lot of time to reflect on the meaning of our situation. I've asked myself questions like: Why is this happening to us? What is in store for us an individuals as well as a family? When you're stuck in a house... packing & cleaning for WEEKS... you get a LOT of time to THINK. :) AND, to top it off, we're actually leaving Oregon on Christmas Day. Sooo, I've come to this realization:
I am truly truly blessed. I have an incredible husband that tries his best every day to be a good dad and a good man. I have two HEALTHY boys. Both of them remind me, at least once a week, of why I am here as their mother. I have a family (my own and inlaws) that support me in decisions that I make. And for the first time in my life... I have friends. Good, solid, genuine, and loving friends. Friends that I don't want to say goodbye to. Friends that have been there in some of the hardest parts of my trials over the last couple of years. Friends that will always have a special place in my heart no matter the distance between us...
It might sound cliche, but I am grateful for the simplicity of life. Sometimes it takes the big things to happen for us to appreciate the little things we take for granted every day. I will never forget this Christmas. It may have taken a bit for me to fully notice and appreciate my blessings, but it's the best gift I could ever ask for.
I had such a wonderful childhood and now have a wonderful husband and family, that all of my Christmas memories are great! I love this season and everything it entails (except the stress...I make alot of handmade gifts and am always rushing to finish a thing or two). I'm a very blessed woman and so thankful for all of my "gifts".
ReplyDeleteI have many unique Christmas memories, but the most memorable one for me happen 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWe arrived home from church on Christmas morning to find our place on fire. We were living in the basement apartment at the time with our toddler and baby. There ended up being nothing left of the place (they figured the fire was started from mice at the wires) and we went to stay with my in-laws that night with just the clothes on our backs.
The out-pouring of help from friends, our church community, and people who happened to hear about it was absolutely astounding. Even through every store was closed, my kids had new clothes to wear that night and toys and diapers! The 'spirit of giving' was truly alive that day and I don't know how we could have gotten through it without so many wonderful people. We ended up having a wonderful celebration that I will always cherish.
That Christmas day I received my greatest presents - knowing how God truly does lovingly take care of us in our worst trials, and knowing just how much our family meant to people around us.
I have wonderful memories of Christmas growing up because my maternal grandmother always made it so special for all us kids. I have 7 siblings, and we would always get to spend Christmas Eve at her house and it was wonderful. BUT, my favorite Christmas memory was from February 5, 2005. Yes, I said Feb 5. Chriatmas of 2004, our son was serving in Iraq. It was his first deployment and he had just been on the front lines in the Battle of Fallujah. The war was intense and unrelenting, but God protected our son and he survived the Battle of Fallujah and other battles. He got word that he could be home as early as Feb 1, so we decided to have 2 Christmases. We left the tree up and left all his presents under the tree. He came HOME on Feb 4, 2005 and we had Christmas on Feb 5. We shared presents and I cooked the entire meal that I normally cook at Christmas, turkey, ham and all the trimmings you can imagine. Yep, that certainly was my very favorite Christmas of all. I made a very special scrapbook of our 2 Christmases, too. Last year, he was back in Iraq for his 2nd deployment, so we missed him again. This year - HE'S HOME in the states and is coming HOME for Christmas! His flight lands Monday afternoon and I can't wait!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this intivation to share, Jeannette! Merry Christmas!
Tricia Johnson
The best Christmas present I ever received was a big, beautiful barbie house that my parents spent weeks making from scratch. They built it out of wood paneling and decorated each room seperately. My mom even made little curtains for the windows. My sister and I spent countless hours over the next few years playing with our wonderful gift and for future birthdays and Christmases we received the furniture to go with it. For this reason I have always loved homemade gifts as I know how much I treasured the work my parents put into it. My only regret is that we didn't save it for my daughter to play with. At least it went to family though.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memory has to be Christmas 2002. This was the last Christmas I had with my Grandpa Jim. We were very close. He used to sit me on his lap and read or tell me wonderful stories about all kinds of things. He even took me to his work a few times (he was a construction superintendent for a local home builder).
ReplyDeleteMy Gpa Jim was around for all three of my girls as well. He loved holding the girls and reading to them like he did with me when I was their age.
I will never forget him and have a wonderful pictures of him. I have yet to scrap them as it still brings tears to my eyes to look at them. Maybe that is what I can do for him this year: scrap a book of just him and I and his great-grand-daughters. :)
Thank you Jeannette for all the wonderful things you do for us and providing us such great product to preserve our memories!!
Robin Mount
My favorite Christmas memories are any time we spend together.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact my siblings and I make a genuine attempt to be toqether for the holidays.
I have a large immediate family and even a larger extended family. So any time all or the majority of us are together is a true "Gift".
The time we spend together is filled with laughter, memories of our past, my moms and grandparents past.
I believe the best gift given and received is Family.
My most memorable holiday moment was about 7 years ago. My Mom who is widowed is on a very small fixed income was feeling put out that she wouldn't be able to afford much that Christmas. I reassured her that it is the thought that counts and to not worry so much about it.
ReplyDeleteChristmas morning we were opening our gifts. There was a small box from my Mom. Inside there were various craft supplies, some new some used, including yarn, crochet cotton, beads, craft paint - everything having to do with the type of crafts I'd been making at the time. I cried, it was the most thought gift I had ever received. My only regret is that I didn't take a photo of it to do a layout, this was in my pre-scrapbooking days!
Lisa
One of the most memorable Christmases for me was when my youngest was about 3. He is a special needs child so everything he learns to do is difficult and takes so long to master. Well, on this morning when his brothers were filling the giant trash bag with all the mess from opening the presents, my little guy grabbed a piece of paper and STOOD UP for the first time so he could put it in the bag (which was just about as tall as he was). I'm so thankful I had my camera on hand because I was able to get a picture of it when he did it a second time. That was the best gift I got that year :o)
ReplyDeleteThis Christmas is sure to be our most memorable. It's our first as "empty nesters" and our son's first as a US Marine. he is at Parris Island at the moment, but when he comes home i am sure to have lots of stories to scrap!
ReplyDeleteI think the best gift, or at least the dearest gift, was my bible that I received for Christmas 1976, with my name engraved.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I almost did not get that gift, as the gifts were under the tree and while my mom was at work, my brother and I "peeked" and saw all the items we were getting from her. So, she discovered that we had peeked, as we didn't exactly wrap them back the right way.....
She took the gifts back and left us only with our Bibles, It was a lesson learned as there were some items that I really wanted. I can't remember now, what they were, but I still have my bible.
Lois Chavez
I think the most memorable Christmas was when I was in 3rd grade and learned a lesson about snooping and syping. The only thing I wanted, really had to have, couldn't live without was the Barbie RV. So my Barbie could go camping. My brother was born in November of that year, and he slept in a bassinett in my parents room. One day before school on the pretense of looking for my shoes, I looked under the bassinette skirt and to my surprise I found the object I couldn't live without. Being me, I jumped up and down and was very excited about what I was getting for Christmas. My mom was very mad. I never should have been in her room, and there was no way my shoes were under the bassinett. That same year my brother who was 11 months older that me and knew all about everything suggested we sneak into the stairwell Christmas night to see what we could hear. We shared an upstairs bedroom, and had our own bathroom, and at the bottom of the stairs was and accordian door. Well, we had been sitting there for a while listending to people talking on the other side when he slipped and fell down about 3 steps knocking the accordian door if its track. Needless to say my mom was now very upset. Not only had I been caught snooping for Christmas presents, but I had also been caught spying on Santa Clause! Well, the next morning, there was no Barbie RV under the tree for me. I had pajamas, socks, and even ewww underwear! But no Barbie RV. I was heartbroken and my mom explained that if I had not been in her room, or sitting in the stairs doing things I shouldn't have been doing, I would have gotten a nice gift, but because I couldn't control myself, the toy was taken back to the store. I don't know what my brother received that year, it couldn't have been much different than what I got, after all, he's the one that broke the door. I never really snooped again on purpose, but I had the knack of finding things that were hidden.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory was when I was about 5 years old. I wanted desprately to get some "Go-Go" boots and a "Busy Buzz Buzz." Well, Santa came through and my Dad recorded the whole thing on his new "reel to reel" tape recorder. While this memory might not sound very exciting to most, it remains so vivid to me as we still have that tape recording and listen to it every year. Two very excited little girls in their Texas drawl yelling.."I GOT GO GO BOOTS AND A BUSY BUZZ BUZZ TOOOOOOO!!" I just fall out laughing every time I hear it. I think I'll go scrap that picture of the two little girls with cowboy hats and White Go-Go boots right now...Thanks for the opportunity to tell you about it!
ReplyDeleteHave a memorable holiday everyone!
Terrie Dodd
My favorite Christmas memory was of my eighth Christmas. My mom had recently remarried the man I would come to call "my dad," and we had moved from a small townhouse to a proper 3-bedroom Colonial in a nice neighborhood near school. Life was really coming together for me and I believe this was my last year before I spied my parents trucking presents down the stairs at midnight. When I rounded the corner into the living room that year, the presents almost reached the hall! I don't remember anything I received in a box that year, but I'll never forget the magic of seeing how Santa had provided that Christmas.
ReplyDeleteNow, as an adult with children of my own, I can only imagine how excited and satisfied my parents must have been to be able to provide like that for my sister and I that year in so many ways ... in Christmas gifts and most especially, the gift of family and stability and love for my sister and I.
Leslie from Rochester, NY
My parents tell me that I began writing when I was three years old, mostly about tadpoles, kittens, lambs, and nature all around me, and I've been writing ever since!
ReplyDeleteStorytelling a family heritage became very special to me as I grew up. I hung on the story words of my grandparents, just eating up their experiences! I filled notebooks with stories, both real and fantasy. So it isn't a surprise that the most special gift I've ever received was my own typewriter when I was a preteen--and it was such a surprise (because I thought the heavy box was filled with coal; I must have thought I had been VERY naughty that year by pushing my brother and sister around)!
Last December my story about the best gift was published, and this is the site if anyone is interested in reading it:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/wPage.asp?ContentID=208&IssueID=17
I'm happy to share, and wish everyone a very blessed Christmas!
Jane in Missouri
Thanks for sharing your memories with us Jeannette. Thank you also for the chance at blog candy.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories is from when I was qabout 5 years old. At the time my family lived in Hawaii which had been part of the United States for about 10 years.
Prior to Christmas day we went to the Kodak Hula Show and they had a shirtless, brown dancing Santa. I still have a picture of him. It was great fun to watch. That same year my parents took me to see Santa and his reindeers at the mall. These were actual reindeer! Someone had the idea to ship reindeer over to Hawaii for Christmas. As a child it was exciting and very magical to see the "real" Santa's reindeers and get a photo taken with Santa.
Happy Holidays!
Whenever I think of Christmas, I think of my mom. Her holiday decorations could be featured in a magazine! When I walk into her house, all the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas greet me like a warm blanket. Yet, she taught me early on that Christmas was far more than these outward displays of celebration. Christmas is about love and family. Regardless of how much or how little we have had over the years, those two remain constant. So, my favorite Christmas memories are the holidays that I get to spend with my mom. I leave for her new house in three days, and it doesn’t matter how old I get, I CAN’T WAIT!
ReplyDeleteAmy
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas I was 11 was memorable because that was the year I learned the joy of giving.
ReplyDeleteThere was a family in our small midwestern town that had 11 children. One of the girls was in my class at school so I was aware of the challenge they had to even clothe the family. My mother went to the parents and asked if they would be offended if our church supplied Christmas for them. The parents were so grateful!
The next couple of weeks Mother encouraged me to go through some of my own possessions and see if there was something I could contribute for the special Christmas gift. I was to be sure whatever I selected was in top notch condition and was something I would enjoy receiving if the situation were reversed. The summer before I had developed a great passion for Nancy Drew mystery books and had received some personal copies for my October birthday. The books were my choice to give away.
Then came the evening when everyone was to bring the gifts to the church. I remember vividly walking into the room that was filled with so many wrapped packages, food and other items too big to wrap. For the first time in my life I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the generosity of people for someone less fortunate. I was also grateful that my mother had provided an opportunity for me to share in the project.
Yes, it is nice to receive gifts, but even better has been to give since that time.
One of my most favorite Christmases was last Christmas. The boys always play Santa and pass out the presents. After we had all opened our presents, Carl asked what "that" ornament was on the tree. I asked which one as each of us get new ornaments for Christmas Eve. He plucked a gold ball from the tree and pitched it at me across the room and said "that one". It was a cheap plastic ball that comes apart. He had glued cotton to the inside and put a very pretty diamond ring inside. I never saw it coming and if the boys knew, they never said a word.
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable Christmas was the year Santa visited our house 4 days before Christmas! Why you may ask? Because my mother was scheduled for a C-section to deliver my baby brother on Christmas Eve. So we celebrated just like any Christmas but it was early and I was sworn to secrecy not to tell any of my friends because they had younger brothers and sisters who still believed in Santa and they wouldn't understand! (I was 10 - past the Santa age). So the best gift I got that year was a little brother - I was no longer an only child and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteYears ago when I was pregnant with my second daughter, money was very tight. I realized that we weren't going to be able to afford much of a Christmas especially not a real tree. So I found an artificial tree on sale for $15 and bought it. It was small but we were just happy to have a tree of any sort that year. Times were lean but we were happy to celebrate with a little tree, smaller gifts and homemade items. I still have that tree 12 years later and, although I can certainly afford a bigger and better tree, I still use my little tree. Each year when I take it out, that small tree reminds me that Christmas is about family, kindness, and giving, not about the size of the tree or expensive presents. My humble tree keeps me humble.
ReplyDeleteDear Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story and for giving us this gift from your heart. I love reading your blog.
My favorite Christmas story: Ever since I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a mom. That was my dream. After 7 years of marriage and 5 surgeries trying to achieve pregnancy, one week before Christmas a Dr. called us about a new born baby boy that was up for adoption. This special child is now our 25 year old son. What a blessing he has been to us all of these years. I will always treasure him as the best gift that God gave us that very special Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and stamping hugs,
Joyce Beenes
My favorite memory of Christmas when I was growing up was going to my grandmother's house every year. All of my relatives would meet over there for a celebration on Christmas Eve. We would have an assortment of soups and sandwiches, we would exchange gifts... and then our favorite part... trying to get up the icy and snowy driveway on our way home. Now that I'm grown, I wished we lived a little closer to "home" so we could continue on with the tradition!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little girl maybe 5years old. I wanted a barbie doll for Christmas. My mom said Santa had to make toys for all the children and that I might not get a Barbie doll this year (we were very poor). We went to church as we did every year on Christmas Eve I told Jesus I loved him and whatever I got was fine with me because it was his birthday not mine. Christmas Day my brother and I got up early and there were 2 presents under the tree. My dad said we could open our presents up and guess what one was. a Barbie doll I wanted it had several outfits with it and a case to carry everything. I never forgot that Christmas I didn't know until I was a teenager that my godmother (Aunt Irene) got me that Barbie doll. My Aunt passed away a few years ago and I was asked to say a few words about her this is one of many stories I told. My Aunt was a rough lady on the outside but had a kind heart. When I read your story I thought of that Christmas so long ago and it made me smile. So I want to thank you Jeanette for giving me a warm smile in my heart. Lavonne Summerlin
ReplyDeleteI was about 5 years old and Santa came to our house. My sisters (ages 8 and 10) sat next to Santa and I sat right on his lap.
ReplyDeleteSanta had a sash with bells on it. My bare legs (because I had a mini skirt on) were right on top of the sash with the bells.
All I could think of was the pain I felt sitting on those bells. I never said anything at the time because it was Santa. But right after he left I told my Mom about it.
My Mom took a picture of my sister's and I with Santa and you can clearly see how those bells would have hurt!
Have a Merry Chritmas Everyone!
We have so many memories of the holidays..family coming together from near and far, sleepless nights fileld with anticipation of Santa's arrival, and now getting to share the magic of Christmas with my children.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my favorite memory would have to be from the first year my hubby, Mike, and I were dating. I lived in Northern CA just a short distance from MANY cut your own Christmas tree farms. When he came to visit for the weekend, we headed up to the foothills to find my perfect tree!
Now, I LOVE Christmas trees...the bigger the better, lots of lights and the scent..ohhhhh!!!!
So we headed off to find the PERFECT tree (14 years later Mike still takes me to find the PERFECT tree, even though we don't cut them down - he's a patient man)!! Several tree farms later we found it and Mike cut it down and hauled it down the hill to his truck and off we went to my apartment.
Well, let me tell you, those trees look MUCH smaller in the forest! You can imagine my surprise when the PERFECT tree took us half of my tiny living room and was too tall until Mike hacked a good 2 to 3 feet off the bottom. We still laugh at the way he had to cut one side into a wedge shape to actually fit in the corner of my living room!
The tree was beautiful and PERFECT!! It was our first tree and though it was probably much more sparsely decorated than I remember, it will always hold special memories for us. We hope to make the drive to Northern CA one year with our kids to cut down a tree - it too will be a perfect tree!
Merry Christmas to you Jeanette, David and your entire beautiful family!
Beth Naumann
Growing up in WA state my favorite Christmas memory was going out into the woods to chop down our Christmas tree. Every year mom would pack a thermos full of hot chocolate (always a little watered down for some reason)and we would brave the ice and snow to find that perfect tree.
ReplyDeleteOnce year my little sister and I knew we'd found the tree for us when we saw it came complete with a bird's nest! We had the perfect ornament for that tree: an obnoxious oranament that played electronic bird noises over and over and over again. We put it in the bird's nest and left it plugged in for as long as my parents could stand it!
Oh Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea. This really warms my heart! (Not easy to do, it's really cold here in Wisconsin).
My memories are all wonderful!
I loved that we did a Christmas program at school every Christmas eve. It was a really big deal. We got all dressed up. We had to be there at 4:30. We recited the story of Jesus birth and sang wonderful songs. I always tried out for an individual part and usually got one. We had close to 200 elementary kids in the program.
The anticipation of the rest of the night was so much fun. Santa always came to our house when we were at the program. On our way home, we would always search the skies for Rudolph's red nose. I'm not sure how many radio towers we passed, but I was certain I spotted him once or twice! We would come home and open presents and then have a yummy buffet.
My parents always tried to make it special for us! I will always treasure those memories with family.
Christmas is so exciting for children. I love to see their anticipation waiting for Santa to come. Then wake up Christmas morning to the thrill of the packages and what could possible be inside. My children are 18 and 20 now and they still get excited but not like when they believed in Santa. As a parent, I truly loved playing Santa Claus. Each year trying to buy just the right gift to make their every wish come true and keeping it hidden from them until Christmas morning. Each year having to find another hiding spot, so they would not peek. My husband and I stay awake late at night to make sure they were fully asleep before trying to be so quiet getting the gifts under the tree. The time we spend together was priceless, talking about past Christmas' and just enjoying the peace in the house late at night. And we always had to eat the cookies and carrots the kids left for Santa and his Reindeer - (cookies and carrots don't go together with cold milk). Christmas is exciting for all - just think how excited Joseph and Mary were on that first Christmas morning. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I can choose ONE, there are two that I hold close to my heart. :) The first one is from my childhood. Being a tall girl all the baby dolls were just never the right size. They were too small, too hard, or too flimsy. I wanted the perfect baby doll. This Christmas in particular I remember waiting and waiting. Christmas Eve was the only night we left the lights on the tree all night long. I just knew I had heard the bells, the sleigh or Santa's laugh -something had awoken me. So, I sneaked out to the living room and checked out under the tree, but I didn't see the baby doll. I saw a few other things that were just really cool, but not baby. I turned around to go back to my room before being caught. Right there in the big Lazyboy chair- there she was...Big Baby- Oh she was sooo pretty! She was dressed in pink and shew as big, she had a bonnet on. Oh my! I had to pick her up right then and hug on her. Then I quickly sat her down again, just as I had found her and ran off to bed. She never had another name...Big Baby it was. My sisters and I always fought over her because she was perfect. In fact, I STILL have her! She needs a make over bad! Some day she will get her make over! If you want to see a picture of her, come over to:
ReplyDeletehttp://timescapturedbyelaine.blogspot.com/
She's there with my niece!
My second favorite is being a mom and remembering the first time my son comes running in the living room...hearing the GASP of amazement of what all Santa left for him and then him running and jumping on our bed begging us to "GET UP RIGHT NOW AND COME SEE WHAT SANTA LEFT!"
Nothing is better in the whole wide world!
:) Thank you! Jeanette!
Elaine Cota
My favorite Christmas memories are the Christmas Eves we spent at my grandparents. They were both Polish and our Christmas Eve dinner was rooted in wonderful Polish traditions - from an additional place setting to welcome a stranger since no one should be alone on Christmas to sharing the oplatek (the Christmas wafer). We continue the tradition of sharing of the oplatek today even though my grandparents have passed on.
ReplyDeleteOne very special memory is how my grandmother would give us our Christmas envelope...as we got older she would get a little trickier. She started hiding it under our plate or under our napkin...somewhere on the table. One year we just couldn't find it - she had put it under the plate and under the tablecloth! I just love that silly memory.
This year my son's second grade class did Holidays Around the World reports. He chose Poland. His report brought back warm of my grandparents and Christmas Eves' with them.
I have never scrapbooked or journaled those beautiful memories but I will be for sure this year! Thank you for the inspiration!
When I was about 5 years old I wanted a Barbie Doll for Christmas, we were very poor. My mom said Santa had a lot of toys to make and I might not get a Barbie for Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve we always went to church the pastor talked about it being Jesses birthday and how he was born in a manger. We went home and to bed. The next morning we woke up and headed for the tree. I got a Barbie Doll, cloths and a case. Many years latter I found out that my Aunt who was my god mother bought it for me. A few years ago My Aunt passed away and I was asked to speak at her funeral. I told this story and many others it was more of a celebration of life. I am now married with 5 children, 15 grand children, and 5 great grand children. An I still have that Barbie doll, clothes and case. Christmas Eve we spend with our family all together. On Christmas eve we do what Jesus would want us to do. We volunteer to feed and deliver Christmas gifts to the poor. I think Jesus likes that he has blessed our family so many ways. Finding Close To My Heart is just one of many. The words Close To My Heart says it all.
ReplyDeleteOH my gosh,
ReplyDeleteI got so excited wrting my memory, I didn't get the date right. The real date was 1967 and not 1976.
I can remember one as a child, I received this Winnie the Pooh watch from my Dad (who is deceased now 6 years). I remember jumping up and down, I was so excited because I was such a Pooh fan and still am. Now my mom gives me Pooh ornaments each year to put on my tree. And, yes, I still have the watch after 25 years. Boy do I miss my Dad this time of year!
ReplyDeleteDonna Martin
On Saturday my husband and I took our 2 kids to Macy's on 34th St to see Santa Claus at Santaland. Then we walked up 5th Ave looking at the store windows to Rockefeller Center Tree to see the BIG tree. I'm trying to make this one memorable. This will be our first New York Christmas. The first for my kids and I to not be with our family in Utah.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memory is celebrating with my daughter when she was 3 years old...just old enough to realize something special was happening. Her face and gasps and laughter were the best gift I could ever receive!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that my most memorable Christmas would have been Year 2004. We were expecting the birth of our first child end of Dec 2004/Jan 2005 when unexpectantly, October 10th - we lost our little baby boy at 24 weeks. We were devestated. As you can all imagine, we weren't looking forward to the holidays. My husband and I decided to take a trip to Vegas towards the end of November only to find out on December 1st we were pregnant again!! Until the blood test confirmed this, we lived the next few days as though nothing was different ... the pain was still so fresh that we didn't want to be hurt again over a false positive. Well, our dr gave us the most wonderful present - it was true - we were given another chance! That Christmas was a bittersweet one for us and our family -- my husband gave me a Precious Memories 3 piece Baby Boy in a bed/cloud as a gift to remember our baby boy ... Turns out our baby boy gave us the best christmas present of all - his baby sister who is now just over 3 years old!
ReplyDeleteAlthough sad back then, my most memorable Christmas was when I was deployed in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm (1990). I cried myself to sleep that Christmas night because I missed my dad, mom, sister, and brothers SO MUCH. That memory long ago made me realize what is truly important every Christmas...the birth of my Savior and being with MY FAMILY. Five years later (1995), I celebrated Christmas with my (new) husband. Ten years later (2000), I celebrated Christmas with my (old ) husband and our new baby girl. Fifteen years later (2005), I celebrated Christmas with my really old, but great (;-))husband, daughter, son, and our new 2-year-old son from Russia (with love). I can't wait to find out what direction my Lord leads our family in 2010, but as long as it is together as a family, I know it will be simply perfect in my heart, soul, and mind! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday memory is visiting my aunt Isabelle. She had the nicest christmas trees and best all she decorated them with lots of candy canes and stringed pink popcorn that she allowed us to eat. For some reason, candy canes seemed to taste so much better back then!
ReplyDeleteThe best Christmas memory me for me would have to be last year. I only pick that one because that was the one and only Christmas that my mom spent with my daughter. She had always "bugged" me about when are you going to give me a grandchild so to see the two of them together was priceless and that moment will always be special to me.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite and most memorable Christmas was when I was in 1980, when I was just 5 years old. My parents were very poor. We didn't have enough money to buy a tree or any presents. We couldn't even afford to provide our own Christmas meal. Yet, it was the most amazing Christmas ever. I will never forget it.
ReplyDeleteWe couldn't afford to buy a tree and growing up on a small island, there wasn't any real "Christmas" trees to cut down. That didn't stop my dad. He had us all pretend to dress up cold, then we headed out as a family (my mother, 8 year old brother, 11 year old sister, and myself) into the large pasture behind our house and picked our a family "Christmas tree." It was small, about 5 feet and there weren't many branches on it. But, we decorated it with homemade ornaments and popcorn. It was an amazing tree.
We couldn't afford presents either. So, we participated in the Marines Toys For Tots program. Oh, it was so fun to watch that HUGE helicopter full of camoflauged marines land in a small field in our town. I had never seen anything like it! All the adults and children were mesmerized. I was one of the last children to receive a toy. When it was my turn, I walked up to the marine and he gave me a smile and told me he was saving something special just for me. I couldn't believe it. It was a Winnie The Pooh stuffed animal chair! I still have it.
And as for our Christmas meal, well, we couldn't afford a turkey or pies or anything like that. So, we got together with our church (many of us had little money) and had a big Christmas dinner at our pastors house. It was the first time I tried olives. I ran around all day with black olives on my finger tips. And to this day, no potluck or veggie tray is complete without them!
Thank you Jeanette for reminding me about this special Christmas memory. It's been so long since I've thought about it. Its definately a story I will be sharing with my children this Christmas.
How lovely to read all of these wonderful memories. My parents divorced when I was 7 years old, and all I ever wanted each Christmas was to be a family again. When I was 19 years old, I asked my Dad to come over and eat dinner with my Mom and I. I was really insistent this year, said to him,"I just want to spend one Christmas dinner with BOTH my parents. He along with my step-mom arrived that evening. The night went well and I fell asleep having had a very memorable Christmas. He suddenly died of a heart attack just 7 weeks after Christmas, at age 59. But one of my lasting memories of him was spending Christmas with him once again.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most favorite Christmas memories includes my dearest Grandad and a Christmas I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Kelowna, B.C Canada and entering this particular holiday we had no snow and I (a girl of 9) remember lamenting the fact that what kind of Christmas would we have without snow. We had always had snow and a Christmas without snow was a terrible tragedy. No tobagganing, building snowmen or snowforts with the family.
My grandad who always came to stay with us on Christmas arrived on Christmas Eve and in my adoration for him, told him my story of woe. I remember him listening very intenting and then he leaned forward and he told me in a very soft voice,"Wish hard little one and we'll go for a walk in it tomorrow." (I remember this as clear as day even though this was 35yrs ago)
Well, believing in my wise Grandad's words I went to bed that night wishing and praying not for Santa and presents, but snow!
When I awoke on Christmas Day I immediately went to my window and I was greeted by the most amazing sight. More than a foot of wonderful white snow had fallen during the night and it was still snowing! My Grandad greeted me that morning with a "get your boots on girl we are going for a walk."
I remember the feeling of delight and happiness, out with my Grandad my hand in his as we walked around in the snow. The best Christmas present ever!
My favorite Christmas was 5 years ago. It was my first Christmas being married, and my first time hosting Christmas eve.
ReplyDeleteEvery year (at least since I can remember), my mom's family gets together for Christmas Eve. It used to always be by my aunt's house, but since my Grandma stopped hosting Christmas Day (she didn't want all the work since she's getting older),my aunts had all just rotated hosting that night. However~since I was married and had my own place (even if it was a smallish apartment), I volunteered to have Christmas Eve. Now I just want to mention that until 2 years ago my mom had never hosted ANYTHING-- she said she didn't have the room, and besides she doesn't enjoy it (Now we make her host Easter brunch, but I help out!)
My aunts and my mom were so proud of me, they like to call me "Miss Crafty", and "Martha" (as in Martha Stewart) because of all the little extra touches I like to add, from hand made decorations, and presents, to stamping my own napkins and paper plates.
And so, 5years later, I am still hosting Christmas Eve- it has now become MY holiday-- and I love that!!
I definately enjoy reflecting back on all the fun family Christmas traditions we did when I was young. The fun little countdown teddy bear chart to Christmas, the empty manger we got to fill with straw by doing small acts of kindness to other family members to make sure Jesus had a comfy bed on Christmas morning and the waiting for the OK from Mom and Dad to come see the "sleigh wreck" Santa left.
ReplyDeleteThe fondest Christmas though would have to be the one last year with my own young children. My young daughter describing to me the signifigence of each nativity piece, and the unwavered faith she had that Santa would surely be bringing her and her little brother exactly what they wanted. Definately fun times!
My favorite Christmas was four years ago at my parents. There are six kids in my family, we are all married with several grandchildren now and everyone was at mom and dad's house. Several of us had given or received large gifts and there were so many gifts "under" the tree that you couldn't even get close! I felt and continue to feel very blessed to have such a caring family and am fortunate that we can spend time together.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories is when I was 16 years old. Little did I know that this would be my last Christmas with my "Pap". Our whole family gathered at my grandparents house in Altoona, PA where we celebrated Christmas to the tunes of Bing Crosby and the Andrew's Sisters. We laughed so much that Christmas and made so many memories. My sister, cousin, and I surrounded "Pap" as he sat in his chair. We were laughing and carrying on with him, and my mom got her camera and snapped a picture of us together. This is probably the last photo we have of us granddaughters with "Pap". It is one of my favorites to this day - and I treasure that picture as well as those Christmas memories. A few months later, "Pap" passed away after fighting an 8 yr. illness. I treasure that last Christmas with him - with our whole family together.
ReplyDeleteI am very blessed to have grown up in a rural area surrounded by relatives. Every year at Christmas we would all gather at our house, my uncle’s house, or my grandparents house for Christmas dinner. The cousins would all bring their favorite presents and we would play the day away.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose one favorite Christmas memory, it would be the one when my sister didn’t believe in Santa anymore. That Christmas Eve we spent the night at my grandparents’ house. The next morning we were surprised by tracks in the snow left by Santa and a reindeer! Needless to say, we were both very excited. (We found out years later my uncle had walked his 4-H calf around so my sister would still believe!)
I have many precious memories of Christmas growing up in Massachusetts. I wish I had a photo of Uncle Frank and Aunt Madge as Santa and his helper up on the snowy roof of grandma's house!
ReplyDeleteBut pictures keep things alive - hold the stories in a remarkable way.
Almost 10 years ago (about the time I started stamping with DOTS),
my brother found an old reel of 16mm film in my parents attic. They were going to throw it out. He took it and had it converted to VHS. It was of my first Communion (40 years earlier)- everyone was in it! He sent it to me for Christmas that year. I watch it every year on Christmas - my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all gone now, but for the 6 minutes of that tape we are all together.
My three boys knew how much I treasured it, and they decided to make another. They took pictures from my albums and created a Christmas memory on a DVD with music. Every Christmas shot with Santa, cutting and decorating tress...20 years of Christmases.
It's why we scrapbook pictures!
One of my most memorable Christmas' ever was when I was a teenager. I asked my parents for a tape player boom box. This was the year that CD players had just entered the market. Well, to my surprise, my dad picked me out a CD boombox. I was so tickled that he went above and beyond my request and had gotten me something so "new" and "cool". Along with it he got me my first CD. A collection of songs from Billy Joel. I think that was more for him but I will always remember what my first CD was and how special I thought that Christmas was. That was almost 20 years ago now.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a police man in the town we grew up in. He worked the 7pm until 3 am shift, then came home and played Santa and was still up when we all got up.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best memories was the year I woke up and spied on him watching him put together a kitchen set for me. As the only girl with 4 brothers I got lots of boy hand me downs and family gifts were often more boy oriented too.
My kitchen set was made of cardboard and included a stove, refrigerator and pretend sink. It took my dad a long time to put it together but I remember he was smiling and singing softly the entire time.
I don't think I ever told him I sawe this
My favorite holiday moment has to be Christmas of 1997.
ReplyDeleteAt this time, I had been living in North Carolina for almost 3 years, while my parents lived in Michigan. I loved living “down south”, and was having a great time, so I was somewhat taken by surprise at the intense case of ‘homesickness’ that set in around mid-December. I remember watching one particular Maxwell House commercial….the one with the Older Brother stepping out of a taxi early in the morning; starting a pot of coffee; surprising his Parents as they come down the stairs…yeah, that one. Suddenly, I burst into tears and knew there truly was NO PLACE LIKE HOME. At that moment, I began planning my Christmas surprise.
I enlisted the help of my brother and some friends, begged for a few last minute days off, and packed my bags. To keep up the surprise, I called my parents from work on December 23rd, again telling them how sorry I was that I couldn’t get the time off to come visit, and told them I would try to call the following day to wish everyone “Merry Christmas.” Then, at midnight, when my shift ended, I got in my car and headed up to Michigan. I made it into town in the early afternoon on Christmas Eve. After a short nap and a refreshing shower, I was ready.
For our family, the only steadfast Christmas tradition is to celebrate Christmas Eve at Aunt Carolyn’s house. (For some cousins, this is the only time of the year we see each other, so it’s a pretty big deal.) I followed my brother over to my aunt’s house, and waited for him to get inside, then I called my parents. Once I got my mom on the phone, I asked her if Eric gave her the present I sent him from me. Eric told her he left it outside on the porch, so she had to come to the door to get it. While we were still on the phone, my mom opens the door to see me, standing there. Not one to express much enthusiasm, all she said was “Hi, Laura.” (Little bit of a let-down, but moving on…)
So, while I was unable to evoke much reaction from my mom, I certainly surprised the rest of my family. I walked inside and was greeted with several surprised and confused looks. I was in the kitchen when I heard my dad coming up the stairs from the basement. I stood still and stayed quiet, waiting for him to notice me. (In hindsight, I probably should not have surprised such an “old man”, especially so close to stairs.) He stumbled backwards a few times and clutched his heart. Now, THAT was the kind of reaction I was looking for!! He was so surprised, and so excited, and that made it all worth it.
Christmas December 1987. Probably one of the hardest christmases to get through. Back to December 7th 1987. I had the day off and my (now husband) fiance had to work, I figured I sneak away and start my shopping. Well I needed to get gifts for my parents which lived in Florida, we lived in Denver. I spent the entire day shopping and couldn't find a thing. I had also for some reason lost my spirit and didn't feel to well. Just a few days prior I had the most wonderful conversation with my Dad and he was so excited for my upcoming marriage in the spring, we would have our wedding and my Mom's 50th Birthday and their 32th Wedding anniversary...what a great week we had planned that next spring.....his last words to me on that conversation was, "I love you Tillie, you have made me so proud of you." back to Dec. 7th... So I got home around 5pm and my fiance came over for dinner. I was in the middle of preparing dinner when the phone rang. I asked Robert to answer it for me and he did. he turned white. I just couldn't imagine or be prepared for what was to come next. My father was just killed in an automobile accident. My world stopped. Where was my Mom? She was fine, she had decided to stay home instead that day. The single most horrible moment in time, my Rock, my father was gone. forever. We flew down to Florida the next morning...Robert had never met my family and here he was going to meet them under these circumstances. Coming from my background, strict Italian Catholic family the funeral was just like you'd imagine, screaming crying and just plain awful. Three days of viewing. I lived in a fog for a couple of weeks. We went back to Denver after 2 weeks. Then Christmas arrived. I couldn't even think of it. Didn't want to participate. Robert suprised me...He bought me an Angel for my tree to replace the star....said my Dad had asked him to purchase something special for me.....and that was what he did. I have always felt that Angel represented my father...It no longer sits on my tree...It now Graces my Credenza where I see it Everyday and reminded that my father is always with me, as my Heavenly father is as well. For such an awful circumstance I realized I had the best gift ever, my husband could have walked away and not dealt with such a trama for me, but instead he gave me great comfort and love. He gave me the time and space to deal with it. I am forever greatful I had such a lovely conversation with my father a few days prior, and forever greatful that my Heavenly Father gave me Robert to help me go through it. Thank you for listening.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memories are of my girls opening there stockings. it is tradition that they can open them anytime after they both got up.
ReplyDeleteOne year when they were about 8 and 10, the youngest woke her sister up at 2 in the morning. my house is fairly small so being a light sleeper i could hear everything that was going on, altho they didn't realize it.
they turned the tree lights on, got there stockings and sat in the hallway going crazy over the little trinkets, candy and surprises that come in the stockings. Money was tight, i worked 2 jobs while going to school to finish my degree, but to lay there and listen the giggles of delight and graditude of those small angels you'd of thought i spent a million dollors.
It made all the hard work and sacrifice worth it. debbie
My favorite Christmas memory was actually last year. My oldest daughter had been taking dance class for about a year and for Christmas I was taking her to see the Nutcracker. It was magical for both of us. As a musician the orchestra was incredible for me and my ballerina was just enthralled. Then to top it all off just a week later I was given 8 tickets to another performance. We got to share our love of ballet with my other two children and my friend Leslie and her children. Of all the children there my the 2 year old loved it the most. She still "ballets" in our house when she hears the music.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas is actually this year. My 10 year old daughter has a 'boyfriend'. The kids had been out of school since about 1230 on Monday due to ice and snow. They went back to school yesterday to finish out the week before Christmas. My daughter called to say she needed money for the afternoon's pizza party. When I took her the money I question whether or not she had asked her boyfriend what he would like for her to get him for Christmas. She said several of the other students in there class were saying that his house had burned on Monday. I was shocked and found the teacher to inquire about the 'rumors'. She stated that in fact their house had burned and they had lost most everything. They were inbetween insurances and did not have coverage on the home at the time of the fire.
ReplyDeleteI called his mom and expressed my remorse and sorrow for what had happened. She explained the situation and when I asked about both of the kids Christmas presents, she said all of the items for her daughter's Christmas had been destroyed, but 2 of the larger items she had gotten for her son were stored at her parents house.
I immediately went to my local chain store after discussing what types of things both of the kids liked and proceeded to get them items to have for Christmas. My work has been very sporadic and I haven't made much money in the past few months, but had done a couple of paying photoshoots last weekend and used that money to get their gifts. I knew that they needed that money much more than I did.
When I was at the school yesterday for the party I told him that we had presents for him and his sister and we could bring them by on Sunday afternoon if they were going to be home. He wanted us to bring them last night about 4pm. So as planned, we stopped by his grandparents house where they are staying now and brought in the presents. He and his sister were so happy. His sister said he was only wearing her pajamas when the fire started and she didn't have on shoes or socks. I just grabbed her up and gave her a big hug.
I realized this could have happened to any of us and that it was more important for those children to have presents and know that people loved them, more than I needed more scrapbooking supplies and stuff just because I 'wanted' them. I know that the children and their mom were touched that someone cared enough to think of them during this time of need.
oh my gosh, i have read every single story and the tears continue to stream down my face. how precious all your stories are...May God bless each and every one and your loved ones and may this christmas bring you all the love, peace and joy your hearts can hold. I am so grateful for this amazing group of people that share of themselves so that we are like family. Thank you for these wonderful tales of your lives.
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable Christmas would have to be...my husband and I were only married for 9 months before he had to go to Marine Boot Camp. I was so sad that we were not able to spend our first Christmas together. I ended up going over to my in-laws that morning, and out comes my m-i-l with a present in her arms for me. My hubby had gotten me something before he had left. I was so surprised and was touched by his thoughtfulness.
ReplyDeleteTanaia B.
Coming from such a large family ten kids in fact, Christmas was always a stretch on my parents budget. My favorite Christmas memories consist of my parents special homemade gifts we would receive as kids. My parents would use their gifts and talents to make Christmas extra special. The girls always got Christmas dresses sewn by my mom, and my dad always made us a special handmade wooden item. I remember the way our house smelled the month of December. Most houses smell of cookies and candies, but our house smelled of freshly cut pine to be built into a treasure. Closer to Christmas the smell would change to the smell of laquer and stain. My mothers sewing machine didn't stop until about 3 a.m. on Christmas morning. We never had to worry about our dresses not being finished.
ReplyDeleteOne year in particular my Dad made me and my little sister a kitchen hutch, and changing table for us to play house with. We played for hours with them. They were truly one of a kind gifts that nobody else had. As we got older, our nieces and nephews would play with them. When I had my first baby, my dad refinished it for me and it looked as new as the day I got it on Christmas morning.
My mother's handmade dresses were the best. We got to choose the pattern and material ourselves for our dresses. One year my mom made my sister a dress with ruffles, totally 80's style dress, anyway my cousin wanted a dress exactly like it, so my aunt wanting to fulfill her teenage daughters wish drove all over Northern Utah in search of the same dress. They never found it, because there was only one of its kind.
I have found as the years go by, that the greatest gift we can give someone is ourselves. My parents did that with their special handmade items. My family cherishes those special gifts of ones talents shared, and we enjoy sharing our gifts and talents with others.
It means more when one gives of their time, gifts, and talents than going to the store and plucking it off of the shelves. That is why I still insist on the special handmade gifts and cards for family, neighbors, and friends.
I am thankful for my parents great examples and hope I am teaching my kids that Christmas is about the giving and not receiving.
Merry Christmas Jeanette and everyone!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading all the touching and funny stories posted.
I have been blessed with a wonderful husband of almost 20 years and two beautiful children now 12 and 10 years old. I have had several special Christmas memories over the years but am choosing to post a light hearted memory.
When I was pregnant with our first child, due in January, I was "big as a house" during the Christmas season! As we were preparing the nursery I really wanted a bassinette that I had seen in the baby store. My husband had joked with me that a perfect place to hide a Christmas gift for me would be under our bed because I would never be able to get down there to peek at it. Well, as I am sure you have guessed, that's exactly what he did! He surprised me with the beautiful bassinette that both of our children used and told me after I opened it that I slept right on top of it for weeks!
Yes, every year, for the last 13 years, I have checked under the bed, just in case!
Mother's Day, 2004 was a very sad day for me. I was pretty "late" but I took a pregnancy test and it was negative... AGAIN. After 2 years of trying, I'd seen quite a few of those, and was starting to lose hope of ever having a child.
ReplyDeleteAbout a week later I got very sick, but thought it was just food poisoning. I'd also been extremely tired and crabby, but thought it was just nerves of finishing up classes to graduate from college. Finally, I took another pregnancy test and I couldn't even read it because of nerves. My husband had to, and he got confused about how it worked. I explained to him that 1 line meant negative, and 2 lines meant positive. He started shouting "WE HAVE 2 LINES!!! WE HAVE 2 LINES!!"
It was the best day of my life, and the following Father's Day became the best holiday ever. We took ultrasound pictures and framed them to surprise our dads with the news.
I loved being pregnant, and ever since our Sammie was born, every holiday has been joyful. She especially makes Christmas fun. We enjoy making her dreams come true.
Oops - I guess that wasn't a "Christmas Memory" but just a "holiday" memory.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memory was last year when we asked our 2 year old daughter what Christmas was all about. She piped up "why it's Jesus' birthday!" Then she asked if we could sing happy birthday to Jesus as part of our Christmas morning celebrations. We did and it has become a special tradition we will do every year.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I was 8 or 9 years old, which was a long time ago as I will be 60 in a few months, my grandmother gave me an autograph book, which was to use to collect autographs of famous people. My daddy, who was the only child on his father's side of the family, would always have everyone gather for Christmas Eve at our house. That Christmas I had my two great aunts and uncles, my grandmother and grandfather, my mother and daddy, and of course my brother and sister, sign my book. They all wrote cute little sayings in it. Although they are all gone now, except my brother and sister, I still look at that little book and smile and remember that special Christmas. Their's are the only autographs in my book because they were the special people in my life. They loved me and made me what I am today. Lyla Crawford
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories is from when I was 6. We lived in Orlando at that time and I was doubting that Santa existed. My parents took me shopping at Sears (back when it smelled like popcorn throughout the whole store - remember that?).
ReplyDeleteI saw the most beautiful winter coat I'd ever seen - a long, red "fur" coat with a white lined hood. In my eyes - gorgeous! (Remember, we lived in Orlando. Florida. Land of sunshine and palm trees. Not really a whole lot of need for a winter coat.)
I WANTED that coat with every fiber of my 6 year old being. I made sure my mom and dad knew I wanted it too. LOL. I remember Mom clearly telling me that she wasn't sure Santa could make a coat in his workshop. I told her if he really WAS Santa, he could make anything.
On Christmas morning, I woke to find the coat under our tree. I told my mom and dad that I knew Santa shopped at Sears! :D
Jeanette,I love the picture of you sitting on Santa's lap. It's so cute! He looks like "THE" Santa Clause.
ReplyDeleteOne of my very favorite Christmas memories was when I was a little girl, about 5 or 6 years old. My cousins came over to visit on Christmas Eve. While our parents were chatting in the kitchen, we build a fort with chairs and blankets in the living room right next to the Christmas tree. We decided we were going to spend the night in our fort so we wouldn't miss Santa comming.I remember being so excited! Although, when I woke up the next morning I was upstairs in my bed! :(
My favorite Christmas story.....
ReplyDeleteMy girls were 10 and 12
We had gone to Disney in October
and my girls had $40.00 they could spend on anything they wanted.
Of course the first day they found these puppets on a string. I said girls we have 10 more days here there maybe something else. lets what and see. Well that's all they talked about the hold trip, So the that night I told the girls we will go back to the store and get them on our way out. So the next morning we loaded the car as for we where heading back home, First we had 1 stop to the store ( girls where so excited trying to deicide which one they were going to get.
Well we get to the store, and they are closed for the day. The girls were so disappointed....I was disappointed also they wanted those so bad. and of course that all I heard about on the 2 day drive home.
Then I told my husband I think I have the name of the store on the video camera. I called the store to see if they could shipped them to me....YES!!!!! So I order the monkey and ostriches and save them till Christmas. I wrapped them in special paper that said special delivery and hide them behind the tree ( remember my girls are 10- 12
do they still believe in Santa Clause) So after all the gifts where open, the father said hey who presents are those behind the tree, well the girls said it for us,
they opened it and my youngest said to her sister I TOLD YOU THERE IS A SANTA CLAUSE.........That was the last year they believed
Lisa
Every year growing up my family would celebrate Christmas Eve with a big spread of treats that included my mom’s yummy sausage rolls, cookies, punch and all sorts of other homemade goodies. We read the Christmas story and sang Christmas songs but the most memorable part of the evening was the “entertainment” from the kids. My sisters, brother and I would put on a little play. Sometimes we would create our own script and other times we would perform a popular story such as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Since my brother was the youngest, and the only boy out of 8 children, he ended up with some pretty funny roles. We dressed him up as Alistair Cooke for our Masterpiece Theatre production. We put boxes on him and dressed him up as a robot for our “Christmas of the Future” play. The most memorable for me was when we dressed him up as the Grinch’s dog Max. We turned him into the Grinch’s reindeer and pushed him down the stairs on a “crazy carpet” (a flexible plastic sled that goes really fast). He banged into the wall that was at the bottom of the stairs. Ahhhhh the memories. I also remember when my sisters came home from college for Christmas and sang Bob and Doug Mackenzie’s 12 Days of Christmas. Jeanette, you should talk to Tracy Liu about that one!
ReplyDeleteOne special tradition that we had without fail every year was the setting of the Christmas Eve traps by my Dad. As we four children started getting into grade school, we also started getting up earlier and earlier to try and see if Santa had come yet. My Dad and Mom, however, would sometimes still be wrapping presents or assembling different gifts late into the night (I seem to have inherited that tradition also!). They didn't want their children, who still fervently believed in Santa, to see their parents putting everything out, so my Dad one year devised a series of 'traps' to alert him and my Mom of impending Christmas doom, which, of course, would be us kids catching them in the act of playing Santa. They were just simple little things to make noise--a string tied to a broom handle to make it fall down, or some fishing line (by far the best, that stuff's invisible at night) attached to some cans to rattle, or a large sheet hanging up over the doorway which would give us away with a large shadow no matter what we did! Even after we got "too old for Santa Clause" my Dad still set the traps on Christmas Eve and we still tried to find a way to uncover and get past all of them. It was so exciting, all four of us sitting up and trying to sneak past without getting caught; even as teenagers. I don't think we ever beat him. Now that I'm an adult, my only regret is that I have no pictures of them (the traps) to scrapbook!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young teen our church used to go visit the people in the elderly home in our town. There was one man that I will never forget. He used to tell me how one year for Christmas he got a stick of peppermint and a paper cap pistol. He talked so lovingly about this and his eyes would just sparkle as he told me the story. He had alzheimer's and would tell me this story over and over but I never tired of hearing it. He just captured the spirit of Christmas to me. He was so thankful and so humble. He made me more thankful for the gifts and blessings in my life. My favorite memory was visiting these older people and learning how the little things in life are so important.
ReplyDeleteMy most recent holiday gift came this past Thanksgiving. My brother was able to purchase my grandfather's first car a few years ago. He and my dad spent many hours talking about and fixing it up. This past July, after having fixed it enough to get it running, my dad was able to drive it in the Old Settler's Parade in the hometown where he grew up. The look of pride and the excitement my dad felt was noticed by all of us.
ReplyDeleteThe special memory comes in that my dad took the time to write about this family treasure, his memories as a boy and included the story up to the present time. My mom said he worked on the original draft by hand for days. Then he meticulously rewrote it for the final draft. My brother, sister and I each got our own copies including photos from the past, and the present. The most special part of this gift, is that it comes from the heart, shares stories I didn't know before, and is in my dad's own handwriting--not computer generated. He is 78 years old and this story will be able to be told to his great grandchildren and beyond.
My most memorable Christmas was the Christmas of 1996. I come from a very large family (7 half-brothers, 2 half-sisters and a twin sister) some of whom live out of state. Needless to say, we are not all together for holidays.
ReplyDeleteMy brother from Florida was able to come home for Christmas that year. All day Christmas Eve, my dad kept trying to call my sister in Connecticut but couldn't get a hold of her. My dad had made a comment that she was probably on her way to Ohio. I don't know why he would even have thought that because she had not been home in probably 20 years for Christmas.
Dad must have been psychic that day because at 7:30 p.m. in walks my sister, her DH and her youngest DD. My dad was so happy, had tears in his eyes and could hardly get any words out. That was the first time in at least 20 years that my dad's eight kids had been together for Christmas.
We will never have another Christmas like that as my dad passed away in 2003. I am glad he had that Christmas in 1996 because it meant so much to him.
My favorite Christmas memory is from last year. My 3 year old nephew, when asked what he wanted for Christmas would always say: I want a 'lectric g'tar just like uncle Steph! We decided to get hime a real 'lectric g'tar, kid sized with amp and all! When he saw the guitar, he was jumping and cheering while laughing and crying tears of joy (let me remind you that he's THREE!)There was not one dry eye in the room! He was so happy! It's deep emotions that make Christmas so special! This year, he said he wanted a small hockey stick with NHL plastic pucks. (we celebrated Christmas last night) When he saw it, he was once again very emotional! It just goes to show, that it doesn't matter wether you spend 300$ (guitar) or 7$ (hockey stick) a childs love is priceless!
ReplyDeleteJeanette,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story about braving Santa to ask for your dressing table!
I have a favorite story about my daughter. It was when she was 8 and we attended a caroling party at the home of a friend of a friend. The hosts had arranged for a Santa to be there, and pass out gifts from his bag to the children, including my daughter. When she sat on his lap and looked up into his eyes, and he asked her deepest wish for Christmas, she replied "peace on earth". The room fell suddenly silent as people looked back and forth at each other, whispering "who is that child?". I'll never, ever forget that moment as it still makes me cry tears of joy and pride.
Thanks for letting me share.
Sharli Frederksen
CTMH - Arizona
My favorite Christmas memory is actually a very recent one. It was last year, when my children got to experience Christmas the way I had always hoped it would be for them. My parents always made Christmas so memorable, and I wanted to pass that magic along to my children. Last year they were only 3 1/2 and 1 year, but they certainly got the hang of it!
ReplyDeletePiles of gifts, some unwrapped ready to go, some specially covered in Santa paper with bows and ribbons, waited for them downstairs. Santa had left special pajamas for each of them on their beds, ready to wear for the "rippin' and tearin'", as we call it! My daughter passed out the presents and then got to work. It made me so happy that I cried tears of joy to watch both children experience the magic of Christmas that my parents had given me over my childhood. I look forward to many more memories like this as my children grow older and I can continue to make the Santa Magic that I still believe in!
My memorable Christmas just happened last night (Dec 20th). Yesterday evening my entire family (on Mom's side there are 30 of us)all gathered for our yearly Christmas gathering. Usually held at my Aunties large home.
ReplyDeleteThe venue changed a bit at the last minute as we have had very foul weather here in Oregon this past week. We were to meet at Grammy's house this year. As we all crammed and I mean crammed into her little tiny house (about 600 sq ft), the chatting, laughing and loving began immediatley amongst all of us. Nobody cared that we were packed in like sardines.
Someone said "how long has it been since we have all been together in this house?" I swear that a pin could have dropped as silence waved through her tiny house. I said "we haven't been all together here since Grampy died 10 years ago." It seemed as though everyone started talking all at once of all the memories that we have had in Grammy's tiny house.
I am so grateful that every single event that we get to share with my 81 years old Grandmother is an event that I will remember well year after year. I love it that we were able to share this time with her in her home and bring Grampy back for this very special time as well.
Growing up we had many traditions in our home. My mom was a stay-at-home mom whom many referred to as a mix of Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Cunningham and June Cleaver! She handmade all our stockings and the tree skirt. Every year we baked and decorated cookies to hang on our Chrismtas tree. And the house was decorated with all our favorite decorations year after year.
ReplyDeleteWhen we all got older and started families of our own, my mom still decorated her house, but every year she put out less and less. One year she put a new tree skirt on her tree. I was devasted! The handmade one with Santa, his elves and a sled full of toys was gone! She explained that over the years it had simply fallen apart. She didn't seem upset about it at all. But she must have understood how upset I was. For on Christmas day I opened a present from her...my very own tree skirt, complete with Santa, his elves and a sled full of toys! She made me the exact same tree skirt that had been under our tree my whole childhood. Now my children will have that memory when they get older. It was the most special gift I have ever received.
Growing up we had many traditions in our home. My mom was a stay-at-home mom whom many referred to as a mix of Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Cunningham and June Cleaver! She handmade all our stockings and the tree skirt. Every year we baked and decorated cookies to hang on our Chrismtas tree. And the house was decorated with all our favorite decorations year after year.
ReplyDeleteWhen we all got older and started families of our own, my mom still decorated her house, but every year she put out less and less. One year she put a new tree skirt on her tree. I was devasted! The handmade one with Santa, his elves and a sled full of toys was gone! She explained that over the years it had simply fallen apart. She didn't seem upset about it at all. But she must have understood how upset I was. For on Christmas day I opened a present from her...my very own tree skirt, complete with Santa, his elves and a sled full of toys! She made me the exact same tree skirt that had been under our tree my whole childhood. Now my children will have that memory when they get older. It was the most special gift I have ever received.
My favorite Christmas memory is of all of the family parties we had in Cleveland, Ohio. My Grandmother still lives in the area and we have tried, even as we get older and move on with life, to get together at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memoires of these get-togethers of about 35 people crammed into one house are:
Making bets with my cousins on who will spill something on Aunt Sharie's white carpet; Finding the pickle in the Christmas tree; Seeing the joy in a new cousin's face when they realize they get to pick first in the gift exchange because they are the youngest; the hilarity of finding out who is REALLY older/younger than who during the gift exchange which starts with the youngest picking and ends with the oldest (Gram.)
I love my family and Christmas is just not Christmas unless I am spending it with at least one of my wonderful family members.
My Most Memorable Christmas would have to be the very 1st Christmas, I spent away from my family. My husband had joined the Army when he lost his job back home and there wasn't much else for work around.We went from N.Dakota to Savannah Ga.I got pregnant almost immediately upon moving there.To make a long story short. Here I was 20 yrs old with two boys that were 2& 3yrs old and due to give birth as the holidays approached. I was feeling very depressed and knew others had to be too, that couldn't go home for christmas. I told my husband if anyone he knew of that was in the same situation to invite them over for Christmas dinner. Well needless to say my daughter decided to make her appearance on the 23rd of December.I had planned ahead of time to have a minor surgery performed immediately after the birth of my daughter so that was done on the morning of the 24th. Christmas morning Santa delievered my brand new daughter to my room in a special made stocking. I had to do a lot of convincing to get my Dr to let us go home that day, as I had other children at home that still needed christmas.I figured my husband would of had the sense to cancel any vistor's he'd previously invited with my permission. Well he didn't, nor did he bother to do any of the last few days of housework. I got home to a dirty house, and invited guests that would be arriving shortly.I got through the housework,making the big dinner,trying to put on a bright face for everyone, clean up after and opening presents with my sons.I was sitting in the livingroom alone later that evening,crying for my family and all I didn't have that christmas without them.Hurting phyiscally more than I imagined possible from way overdoing it, when my oldest son came out of his room ( I thought he was asleep) he found me crying in the chair, crawled into my lap, wiped my tears and said" Mama don't cry it was the best christmas ever,we have a new sister" Leave it to a child to teach me,just because you don't have everyone you love around you sometimes,the ones that are, are building special memories also. So to this day,25 yrs later I hang my stocking that my daughter came to me in, every christmas to remind me of all I have been blessed with.
ReplyDeleteMichele Baker
My favorite memory would have to be Christmas Eve at my late grandmother's. We had a traditional Italian 7 fishes meal, with all my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins-27 of us! Everyone spoke to everyone, no family feuds to worry about, we all got along. It also amazed me that my grandmother always had a gift under her tree for each and everyone of us!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Jeannette! This was fun! Jennifer K
I would have to say off the subject of Christmas. My mom and dad and I would go to Potato Lake for a summer vacation for many years. One year this particular summer my mom and dad invited some friends. N?ow they came along with their son that was a year younger than me but was on the swim team. For the longest time all I heard about from my mom was how their son David was on the swim team and how well he could swim and all. Now it was never my mom and dad to actually brag about their own kids. Well anyway that summer David and I did a lot of swimming. Toward the middle of the first week we decided that we were going to swim across the lake and back! Our parents thought that we were nuts. Expecially mine because "David was so good and on the swim team." Well I finally proved myself to the when I swam the entire distance! Needless to say David did not make it and climbed into the boat that our dads were running beside us just to make sure we were safe. This has been over 35 years ago but we all still talk about the swim and how I actually made it and David on the swim team did not!
ReplyDeleteDenise Wells
My favorite Christmas memory is when I was about 6 or 7.
ReplyDeleteIt was the year the Cabbage Patch Kids came out and were the hottest toy around. At the time my dad was an auto mechanic, it was just him and I and we didn't have much but each other (although he NEVER made me feel like we didn't have what we needed).
My dad had one of his customers make me a "cabbage patch doll" for a gift that year, knowing he couldn't get his hands on one. It had blonde hair and hazel eyes, just like me. :)
He told me many many years later, he traded fixing that customers car for my doll.
I will never forget that Christmas. We also, Christmas eve night, sat around the lit tree and played board games until it was bedtime. :)
My favorite Christmas was when I was about 7. We went to North Carolina to visit my grandparents and it snowed on Christmas Eve! We woke up to a white Christmas which in Texas (where we lived) never happened. The gift that I received was the gift of time from my grandfather. He spent the entire day pulling me up and down the street on a sled and then even helped defeat my older brother and cousin in a snowball war. I have never ever forgotten it (even 30 years later!)
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas is a special time for our family. We don't have any specific traditions, but having 3 young children makes the holidays exciting. They are filled with wonder and joy that is just too contagious. We love seeing their faces on Christmas morning! It is our time to slow down and appreciate everything around us.
ReplyDeleteIt was Christmas & I had just turned 16years old & I really really wanted a mountain bike. An orange one to be precise! I knew there was no way, my divorced mom could afford a bike for me.
ReplyDeleteChristmas morning though there was a knock on the door & as we opened the door there stood an orange mountain bike!
We saw a Santa running away down the street too. LOL
I knew it was a family friend & I felt bad for my mom that she couldn't buy it. But thankful to the family friend & boy, did I love that bike!
My favorite Christmas memory is just of me and my little brother and sister staying up after we'd gone to bed, just talking about all the presents that Santa would leave us. Then, of course, drifting off to sleep and waking each other up in the middle of the night to sneak into the living room to see what our presents were. Now, I get to have that same feeling of anticipation, but it's not for me, it's for my kids.
ReplyDeleteJeanette - what a wonderful idea! It has been a real treat reading everyone's memories!
ReplyDeleteChristmas to me means spending time with my family. As are many others, I am currently serving in the military - the Army. Being away from home at Christmas has been a part of that life from time to time. I realized a few years ago that spending Christmas with my family is more important than working, so as long as I'm in the States, I will always spend Christmas at home with family.
Some of my fondest memories as a child are of my grandparents always being with us on Christmas morning. I can remember my Grandpa putting my new scarf, hat, and mittens on and being silly. It's the simple, little things that make Christmas so special when spent with family. Also, now that I have a niece, my mom has made a point to teach her the true meaning of Christmas, so each year they bake a birthday cake for Jesus. Again, something so simple that means so much! I am truly blessed to be able to spend Christmas at home this year, even though crutches and ice don't mix very well! lol
Jenny-May Olson
I love the memories I am creating with my daughters by being the owner/organizer of the Children's Christmas store. It is my way of paying it forward and I work really hard all year ong trying to gather up donations etc. i love that my girls help me put together gifts and help the kids shop.
ReplyDeletethis year's was a success and Next year will be better - 5th yr Anniversary - http://www.goodtidings4u.com - I would love to have you check out my website (i just created it), it will have more added after the season and of course this years pictures!! giving back and having the kids understand that is the real meaning behind what i want the girls to experience. They also go through their toys and put a bunch together to donate to make way for Santa's delivery - this is voluntarily and so much fun!
hugs and thanks for allowing me to be part of the CTMH family- now I better place my order!!!
The year was 1995,Flagstaff, AZ. My daughters were 11 & 13 at the time. My then (now-ex) husband did the unmentionable and I became a single parent. with working for a year, it became rough as I was fighting to keep my home out out foreclosure because he hadn't paid for months the mortgage. My daughter was having such a hard time emotionally living there, she told me they would give up their Christmas if we could move. We put up our home and sold it, with little money left over we could move. As i was taking their presents off of layaway so we could have food, the lady asked why... Since I worked there they kinda knew what had happened. My daughter told her we needed the money to live and why.. Well.. the memorable part is Christmas Eve, here comes these ladies from work with loads of presents for my girls. They were thrilled and i was ever so happy to know others cared. It was an emotional Christmas. From that day on, when we got totally on our feet, my girls earned money yearly to buy for other girls their age presents off of the angel tree. We still remember that Christmas and those ladies who cared.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories is the year my husband and I moved into our first apartment. I had just graduated from college and my husband was also attending the same school. We were young and didn't have much, but were so excited we had our own place to call home. It was a little one bedroom apartment that we moved into about 2 weeks before Christmas. We didn't have much money and didn't even have a Christmas tree. I drew a picture of a tree and taped it on the wall.
ReplyDeleteFourteen years later and we now have 2 kids, 2 cats, 2 dogs and a four bedroom house. How did we ever make it in that small little apartment? Over the years we have had wonderful holidays together. This year we are looking forward to Christmas morning. I love watching the kids open their presents from Santa. The excitement on their faces puts a great feeling in my heart. I will have my camera in my hand and will take lots of pictures. Scrapbooking Christmas memories are so fun and easy to do!!!
My favorite Christmas memory was when I was 5 years old. I have always had a close relationship with my parents, but especially my Dad. He was a firefighter and not always around because of his work schedule, but he was my hero. One of my earliest memories was when I was 2 and helped Dad make Christmas cutout cookies for Santa and still make cookies together today. What I wanted most that year I was 5 was a baking set with my own cookie cutters and rolling pin. Well I was a very shy child and the thought of going and sitting on Santa’s lap was terrifying. So one night close to Christmas, Santa came to visit. I heard someone walking in the roof and a jolly Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! I ran to the window and to my surprise there was santa all dressed in his red suit, I was so excited that Santa came to my house. Santa knocks on the door and I open it and invited Santa in. Of course we had cookies and milk for Santa. I stood there talking to Santa and telling him what I wanted, and then gave him a hug, there was something familiar about him, it was just like talking to my Dad. After that year, I was not so shy around Santa. Years later I discovered it was my Dad as Santa that year. And I did get the rolling pin with the cookie cutter that year. It was the best Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up my grandparent did not have a lot of extra money. With twelve grandchildren, it was difficult for my grandmother to buy us gifts for Christmas so we received home made gifts. I remember thinking her gifts were not as great as my store bought gifts. None the less I put a smile on my face and thanked my grandmother for the gift. One year I received a home made stuffed bunny. My grandmother was a fantastic sewer and she made my bunny with hand made clothing that had crochet that she had saved from a pillow my great grandmother had made many years ago. A few years later, my cousins and I all wrote a letter to my grandmother about our most favorite gift from our grandmother and gave them to her that Christmas. I wrote about the home made bunny, yet looking back I still did not appreciate the magnitude of this gift. Last year my grandmother died a day after her 84th birthday. At her funeral the pastor read passages from some of the letters we wrote to my grandmother about our favorite gift from her. It was then I realized what a special gift my home made bunny was that my grandmother had made me. For this gift is not one that got broken or wore out. I still have this bunny that was made with generations of love and I am able to pass this onto my daughter who was born after my grandmother's death; and she will know what a crafty, wonderfully loving great grandmother she had.
ReplyDeleteJeanette,
ReplyDeleteI just love this photo of you! It reminded me of all of those years I sat on Santa's lap. My father worked at a paper mill and every year his company would put on a party for all of the workers children. My dad would take my older sister and I to the party and we'd get to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas. I'll never forget those parties. They were the best times I shared with my siter and dad.
Thank you for triggering those memories.
I found these photos the other day and I can't wait to get them in my scrapbooks!
Holly V.
Jeanette, I was just telling someone my special Christmas memory!
ReplyDeleteI was in the 3rd grade and my teacher (one of my all time favorite teachers, by the way) had a Christmas project for us. We were all going to make birds nests with a little bird and eggs in it! I remember being so excited taking it home to show my mother. And the greatest moment for me was when my mother placed my bird's nest in the Christmas tree! (Simple pleasures) I would sit in the living room every evening and look at the tree with my beautiful bird's nest in it.
The bird's nest is long gone, but I still put a bird in my tree every year and reminisce. It still makes me smile.
My favorite Christmas memory comes from just 5 years ago. My husband and I had been wanting very much to bring a child into our lives and were in the process of adoption. We were thinking it was going to take several months for us to complete the process and get our child from Guatemala- however, God had other plans. Just a few days before a Christmas, our agency phoned and said they just had gotten the placement of a baby girl and would we be interested? We couldn't get to them fast enough!!! When we picked our daughter up at the foster family, they had her dressed and sitting under the Christmas tree. I have the picture of her at 2 weeks of age sitting beside the tree lights and to this day it remains one of my most cherished pictures and memories. Needless to say, it is also scrapbooked!!!
ReplyDeleteI think if I forget everything else in my life, I'll never forget that special Christmas.
My favorite Christmas was when I was in high school. We did a gift exchange within my group of friends.One of my friends, Matt, couldn't affored to go in on the gift exchange, as he did not have a job like the rest of us did, and had lots of siblings to buy for. So I got for him and his best friend Baksetball tickets. I knew he was at his best friends that evening so I drove over and gave them their gifts that I had wrapped in boxes. The expression on the boys faces still is ingrained in my mind, and makes me smile to this day! It has so far been my most favorite gift that I have given, even more so then seeing my own kids faces on christmas morning. I remember that they both held their tickets all night with this awed look on their faces. I thinking giving IS the best gift of all...and I have the proof.
ReplyDelete~Sharon L.
My daughters are grown now and have children of their own. I have wonderful memories of all the Christmases with them while they were growing up, especially when they were small, when the excitement and anticipation of Christmas and Santa was almost unbearable (for both them and me)! What fun it was to plan and scheme to come up with the perfect gifts for them, even those years when it took a lot of creative financing!
ReplyDeleteOne specific memory is the year they were 3 and 4. Both were angels in the Christmas pageant at church. My younger daughter couldn't tolerate red punch or Kool-Aid. On this particular night of the pageant, I was not working with the kids behind the scenes and was actually getting to watch the pageant. Before the pageant, someone gave Renee some red punch (ignoring her "big" 4-year old sister telling them she couldnt' have red punch). As all the angels, shepherds, sheep and donkey surrounded the manger, Renee threw up in the manger -- yep, it was the red punch! We had a real baby playing the part of Baby Jesus, and fortunately, he was a little fussy at the time. His older sister was playing the part of Mary, and she was holding him. I dashed up the aisle and grabbed my little angel, while a friend went up with me to grab the manger. Needless to say, that's the most memorable pageant the church as ever had!!
Merry Christmas to everyone!
-- Sherry
My Chrsitmas Memory is Special....
ReplyDeleteMy son was due on Dec 25th of 2005. I was so excited to possibly have a shild born on the same day as Jesus! I couldn't wait for Christmas that year!
On Chrsitmas Day I waited around hoping the contractions would start. Finally around 7pm they did! I had more and more until I had my husband take me to the ER. It was a Sunday night and there was not a huge crowd. The staff examined me and told me that they believed it was just Braxton Hicks and that I should go home, afterall, they said, Only 5% of all babies are actually born on their due dates. So, much to my dismay I went home. I was kind of bummed but what could I do?
The days went on and it got to be New Years Eve. I celebrated with friends and family and had finally learned that babies come on their own and usually when you least expect it.
I shared a kiss with my husband when the clock struck 12am and we went to bed. I awoke about an hour later to strong contractions. I figured they were just the same ole Braxton Hicks again, but they wouldn't go away. By 6:30am I had figured maybe this was real and I should just go to the hospital.
It didn't hit me that it was New Years Day until I arrived and the nurse told me that they did not have a New Years Baby yet. I thought, Whoa!! Maybe this could be my son!
At 12:10pm on January 1,2006 my son Jake Owen entered the world and was the first New Years Baby! We got many great gifts and even a savings bond from the hospital. But nothing compares to the gift of a beautiful baby who shares his birthday with the celebrations of the whole world! It was a season I will never forget.
Love, Meredith Wogan (TN)
When we first moved to Utah, we were quite desolate, we lived with a lady my dad worked with until we found a place of our own, and that was a big favor to do for a family of 9 with one on the way. We came from Cali, needing a fresh start, so that was the reason we were just here and not sure what to do. Someone overheard my mom at walmart saying that Christmas was non existent that year, that we couldn't even afford a tree ( in Cali my gpa would always cut one down for us ) and asked my mom why. She explained our situation and so the person said they knew someone who had connections and could atleast get us a tree so took down our phone number and address. As far as I knew ( and I was the oldest of eight, so quite in the know even for being only 10 years old ) we didn't hear from that lady, but we had already discussed that Christmas would be about being together and were ok with it ( well as ok as kids can be :), the younger ones didn't quite understand that Santa was going to pull a no show ) My mom went into labor on the 23rd and had my sister the next morning and wanted to spend christmas with all of us since that was all that we had that year so came home that afternoon. We were getting ready for bed, read the nativity story in our scriptures when there was a knock at the door. All I remember after that was people upon people filling our little apt/house with a tree bigger than we had ever had and then filled our entire front room with gifts. My mom kept asking who are you guys, how did you know, and no one would answer but with a merry christmas and that they loved us and wanted to welcome us to Utah. We never did find out who blessed us so immensely that year, but 14 years later as I am writing it now, it still brings tears to my eyes to remember the love shared that year.
ReplyDelete~C
There are so many wonderful memories. But the minute I finished reading your post I knew which one I was going to write about. When I was a freshman in high school, my family was going through a really hard time. My father had lost is job and had been out of work for quite awhile. It was just before Christmas and a good friend of the family was over visiting when we heard a knock at the door. When I anwered the door there was a large gift bag. inside the gift bag there were red apples. No one was at the door. I remember telling everyone inside that someone had left us a some apples. As I put the bag of apples on th counter I took a closer look at the apples and notices that instead of leaves someone had tied money to each apple. They had folded the money so that it appeared to be leaves. I screamed and picked one up and showed my family. My mother just started crying. We never found out who left that bag of apples, but it truly was a Christmas blessing.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom had a wonderful way of giving unique Christmas gifts. A year before she passed away, she had her wedding dress made into angels for my sister & I and her granddaughters. They are beautiful and a very special memory. I have a picture of her holding an angel & some day I will be able to scrap this wonderful memory so my children will know about this special angel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your life with us & inviting us to do the same. Take care of yourself & glad you're feeling better.
When things get sooo crazy before Christmas, with all my prep and my retail job, I like to think about Christmases when I was young.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I were always so excited waiting for Christmas. It took a lot of "you have to go to bed so Santa can come" to even get us to bed.
Always in the middle of the night, I would wake up. I would creep out to the living room as quiet as can be to peek at everything under the tree!
I snuck back to bed to sleep until about 3 or 4 a.m. when I couldn't sleep anymore and would sneak into my sisters room to see if they were awake. I did this about every hour until they were awake or I couldn't stand it any longer and I woke them.
We would play board games until now all 3 of us couldn't stand it anymore and we would stand at my mom's bed and stare at her until she woke up and let us have our presents.
We did this for many, many years. Sometimes, I'm too tired now and sleep until morning, but sometimes I get lucky and go and do it all the same with my 8 year old nephew!
One of my favorite Christmas memories is the year my Mom had to be Santa. Dad was stationed overseas for a year and we could not go, so it was Mom and five little ones at home. In the late 1950s, times were tight for an enlisted Air Force sergeant Dad and a stay at home Mom so Christmas was usually filled with a lot of family however, not a lot of toys so when we saw all the great toys under the tree that year we thought for sure we were rich.
ReplyDeleteLast year I finally created a beautiful layout for the great photos. When I showed the layout to Mom, she explained Christmas that year would have been no different however, she was introduced to direct sales through a toy company and if you signed up and had three parties, you were able to keep the kit -- which became our Christmas presents. It was so much fun to share the memories from my perspective and hers. It was also fun to find out that my Mom had been in party planning before me!!
I've got several fav Christmas memories but the best is the year I was 10 years old. I had started to suspect that there was no Santa although my parents refused to admit it. So being the clever girl I was, I figured out a way to "catch" my parents. I waited until late on Christmas Eve and just before bed, I stuck a letter in my stocking asking Santa for a few VERY specific items (a blank cassette tape and a specific 45 record among a couple of others). I thought that if there was no Santa and it was my parents then they would not be able to come up with the items on such short notice. Well, imagine my utter shock when I woke up Christmas morning to find the exact items I had asked for in my stocking!!!! I was stunned. It absolutely renewed my faith that there was a Santa and I believed for at least another couple of years (arguing with my friends that he did in fact exist! lol). Years later, my mom admitted that they went into a panic when they saw my letter on Christmas Eve. They rushed all over the house looking for a blank cassette eventually finding one in a "teach yourself French" kit and they had to unwrap one of my presents to get the 45 record out. My parents really came through that year!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory of Christmas as an adult was the year I was pregnant with our 2nd of 4 children. My husband bought me a Kitchen Aide mixer because I had mentioned to him that I envisioned myself as a class mom, always baking for the piles of children that would eventually hang out with our kids at our house after school. He really understood who I saw myself growing into as a mom. It was a wonderful surprise!
ReplyDeleteI guess I can say I don't have one christmas memory that stands out more than the others, just that the older I get, the more I look forward to the holiday. We now have 4 children, with our 5th on the way; and it just becomes more exciting and magical every year to see the joy on their faces that the season brings. They have so much excitement leading up to the holidays - the reason for the season, the beauty of snow, the mystery behind Santa, the cookies, getting to spend time with grandpas & grandmas & aunts & uncles. And certainly the excitement of getting to open all those presents they have gone through (to see how many were for each of them, of course), and shook to try to figure out what's in them -for the last month. There is nothing better than spending this time of year with loved ones & family. My sister was in a very bad accident 1 1/2 years ago in July, and I feel so fortunate that she is still here to celebrate the holidays with us. I guess instead of having a previous favorite christmas memory, I enjoy them all; and am truly blessed & look forward to each one to come!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Memory reminds me of Christmas Cookies. Every year when I was growing up, it was a tradition to make Christmas Sugar Cookies on Christmas Eve. My mom would bake the cookies and we would spread out wax paper down the long the bar. We mixed up different colors of icing in little white bowls and set out all the red, green and multi-color sprinkles. Then my sisters and I (4 of us) would sit at the bar all day adding icing and 'embellishments' to the cookies. There were 4 particular large red cookie cutters that I remember - a boy, a Santa with a pack on his back, a tree and a pig (? - never understood the meaning of that one!). My sisters and I have all grown up, married and have kids (almost grown too!) but this tradition has carried on in each of our families. Every year, we get together at my mom & dads and each year we always bring our tin of 'embellished' sugar cookies to compare!
ReplyDeleteThis is a memory I have of last year's Christmas. I was so very proud of my son. We had had a very rough fall (my husband had a traumatic brain injury, from which he had made much recovery and is now 100% recovered and we are so grateful for. For myself and my kids, this was the best Christmas present of all. My children both told their dad that over and over.) and my children had dealt with so much more than they ever should've at 8 and 6.
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas and his birthday, my son so badly wanted a Wii. Well, they were in such high demand and a little more pricey than we like to spend. We explained to him that because of these reasons, we didn't want him to get his hopes up. Well, thru the help of many family members, we were able to get him his Wii and a couple games to go with it. He was so excited, as he opened it and so very sweet and grateful about it all.
We opened it up and very shortly after, it would start to turn itself off. After a call to Nintendo customer service, it was decided that we had a defective Wii and would have to send it back for repairs. My son sent it back with us and waited patiently for it to return, hoping to have it back for his birthday in early Jan. He was very sweet about the whole thing, saying that wasn't what Christmas was all about and he still got to spend time with his family over his break. And we did lots of fun things over break. We made some wonderful memories as a family, just appreciating the time that we spent together.
My son never once complained about not being able to use his new toy over the two weeks he had off. All he said about it was that he was just glad that he had gotten a Wii at all. He truly appreciated all that we had done to make this holiday wish come true for him.
He got it back the day after his birthday and was excited as ever. I was so proud of him, behaving in such a patient and kind manner. Never complaining, always happy. I will forever be grateful for seeing this side of my son. I am so proud of both my children, being so grateful for family and their dad last Christmas. I felt that they understood what Christmas truly is about. Last Christmas was truly one of the best Christmases ever for our family.
I have a couple of fun Christmas memories..When I was five and heard the reindeer on the roof and Santa say "Ho, Ho, Ho..." 1976 - The year we decorated the entire tree in red/white/blue to celebrate the bicentennial. The whole family was together and we had the hugest tree with tons of presents around it...
ReplyDeleteBut the best Christmas memory was Christmas 1987...the year my hubby proposed. 20 years of marriage and he still makes me feel like I am the most special woman in the world.
My favorite memory is from when I was 8. My dad passed away in September and Christmas looked like it would be gloomy. A saint helped our family through a tough year by doing the 12 days of Christmas for us. Each nigt we would be so excited to see what our elf would leave us next. It helped us forget some of the gloom, and remember what the true meaning of Christmas was all about.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memories revolve around watching and helping my grandmother bake Christmas goodies. She made so many different cookies,pastries, and candies. The kitchen always smelled so wonderful. I remember being so excited the Christmas I was 5 because Santa brought me an EZ Bake Oven and I could bake just like Grandma! She taught me everything she knows about cooking and baking and today I count it as one of my most precious gifts/talents. I carry on the baking tradition with my own family. We make plates of different cookies and candies to share with our neighbors and friends.
ReplyDeleteexcenduMy favorite Chistmas memories from when I was a child include talking my dad into letting us unwrap a gift on christmas eve. Every year he would proudly proclaim that no gifts would be opened until Christmas morning, but every year on Christmas eve we would start begging around noon and by evening we had him convinced that we could open one gift. He has been gone for over 20 years now but I still smile each Christmas eve and remember what a big push over he was.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up we did Celebrate Christmas, but we never had a tree or a lot of presents and Santa did not come to our house. Don't get me wrong this is not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteSome of my wonderful memories include our many family Christmas dinners with all the aunts, uncle, cozens, & grandparents.
One memory that I have tried to share with my child, is decorating sugar cookies. My mother did this at every holiday, but Christmas was even more fun because she made so many different ones, stars, bells, holly, & Santa faces. Along with cookies my mother decorated a birthday cake for every birthday, and even made my wedding cake.
So by far the best Christmas gift anyone can have is Family & the memories that you make with them.
Merry Christmas Jeanette, and may you’re New Year be filled with many blessings.
Hi Jeanette, Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
ReplyDeleteI would like to say this years Christmas memories will live on in my life forever. Our church is giving Christmas back to Christ, through this, my family and I have learned so much about what Christmas is really about, Giving! I pray that all will remember this and be reminded to go out of your way and give whatever you can to others. Even little things!
Merry Christmas to everyone!
My favorite Christmas memory is of 1975. I was 5 years old, and my grandmother (my favorite person in the world) had died in August, just before my birthday. We were a farm family, and Dad also drove a semi for a grain elevator. We never seemed to have much money for extras, so Christmas was always special when we got a few new things.
ReplyDeleteThis year, all the stops were blown out. I remember every single gift I got, and there were way more than usual. I even remember some of what my brothers and sisters got. I best remember how we would all sit for hours playing with my brother's battle ship with the helicopter that really flew around it.
To this day, I don't know how my dad managed to pay for all those things that year. I think he was trying to make us all feel a little less sad about Grandma, and gave us the best he could. I think all the time spent together in the following year playing with those things was the best medicine he could have given to us.
My favorite holiday memories are both happy and sad; the ones that mean the most to me are gifts that I have received that cannot be wrapped up in a pretty package. I was named after my Grandmother, who was a wonderful, loving person who had a way of always making me feel safe no matter how scared or worried I was about my world. Her hugs,her kisses, her laughter, her ability to dance the Irish jig, her Irish accent, her famous chocolate cake, the wonderful smells from her kitchen and her sitting either on the porch or in her chair in the front window of the home sewing and waiting upon our arrival. I lost my Grandmother around Christmas time;she had been ill in the hospital and had advanced Alzheimers. The gift I remember was sent from up above to all of us; on our last visit to her, she sat up with such clarity of mind and knew each one of us and talked to us as if she had never been ill. It was the most precious and wonderful gift I realized when we received the call early the next morning from the hospital telling us that she had passed on from this world. Some 25 years later, I still cry when I remember this because I still miss her so but know that she is up there with the angels doing the Irish jig to everyone's delight.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of sentimental Christmas memories, but this one is more on the funnier side:
ReplyDeleteYears ago, at my then-boyfriend, now-husband's company Christmas party, we got the bad end of a White Elephant gift exchange- we brought a $20 gift card; we got a Dollar Store paint-it-yourself plastic snowman bobble-head kit. And what are we going to do with THIS?
So as a joke on Christmas Eve, we wrapped it up and gave it to my sister (she is very artsy, and it really was a joke)! Well, next year, wouldn't you know, she gives us a completely painted plastic snowman bobble-head! We proudly displayed it until the following year, where it mysteriously ended up wrapped under the tree again! It has been going back and forth, even looping in my poor sister's then-boyfriend (Yes, Now-Husband), sometimes with clothes -think old Crystal Barbie's dress cut down the middle and taped on with scotch tape- sometimes with a little extra, sometimes with paint chipped off...
Since we have both moved out of our home state, I am not sure what ever happened to the Paint-It-Yourself Snowman Bobble-head... I may have to go digging through my old Christmas decorations to see if I can find him and regift once again!
Christmas is my favorite time of year, so I have lots of Christmas memories. I especially cherish every Christmas with my kids. Seeing it through their eyes always reminds me of my many blessings. I have two other memories I'd like to share.
ReplyDeleteThe first is Christmas 1998. On December 26th, Mike and I got married. Since it was so close to CHristmas, we got to spend the holidays with ALL our extended families. It was so special to have everyone we loved close by, and it made our wedding that much more special.
The other memory I have to share is a Close To My Heart one that says exactly why I scrapbook and why I love this company. A year ago September we lost my grandmother. It was a very emotional time, but also the first time we'd all been together in many years. We had lots of laughs, and lots of tears. For Christmas, I decided to make my grandfather, my mom and all my uncles each a 9x9 showcase album with a family theme. The first picture was my grandparents wedding picture and the quote, "Because two people fell in love". The rest of the album was filled with family quotes and pictures of the family together. Each person called me seperately Christmas Day to tell me how much their whole family cried and how much the album meant to them. My cousin said I should have warned them to open it last because after that no one wanted to open anything else :) No one else in my family scrapbooks, so they were very moved that I would create something like that for them. It was a great reminder that scrapbooking is more than just paper and embellishments, it's preserving the memories that makes it special.
Thank you Jeanette for always being an inspiration and leading such a wonderful company.
One of my most memorable Christmases was when I was 17. I had graduated early, and as part of our family custom, I spent the summer with my grandfather, and worked at his friend’s mini golf course. The summer turned to fall, and I was still there, 3 hours from home.
ReplyDeleteChristmas arrived and all of my new friends and coworkers left for a ski trip, and since I was the only one who could work on Christmas, I needed to stay in town to open up GolfLand. I was only 17, so it was going to be kind of a fun adventure for me.
On Christmas Eve I left the golf course and realized that I was all alone. (My grandfather was even gone) I called a few friends in town, but they all had plans with their families. I finally found a friend who was going to hang out with his neighbor. The 3 of us got together and watched a TV channel that was broadcasting Christmas songs while a Yule log burned. We ate TV dinners, I baked cookies, and we reminisced about our better, less pathetic, Christmases of our past, as we watched that Yule log burn.
That Christmas Eve was pretty sad. I was grateful that I wasn’t all alone that night. Christmas is supposed to be shared by family and friends. I learned that at 17, I still wasn’t ready to grow up and have Christmas by myself. And, as sad as that was, I didn’t think I would ever have another Christmas like that. And I never have.
The next morning I arrived at the golf course. To my surprise, I discovered that many people like to play mini golf with their families on Christmas day. I visited home a week later and my family had a do-over Christmas just for me.
I still think about that TV Yule log every year.
Here's to many happier Christmases,
Starr :)
Merry Christmas! My favorite Christmas memory was Christmas of 1985. I was 14 and my mom's parents came to spend Christmas with us. They had been married 39 years and it was their first Christmas away from home.
ReplyDeleteI started a tradition the year before, where I would get up at 5:30 Christmas morning, stoke the fire, plug in the Christmas lights, light a couple of candles and then lay down in front of the fire to wait until 6:00. At 6:00 I would not turn on any lights in the house, but go from room to room with a lit candle to wake everyone up. We would oohh and aahh over how pretty the tree was and then turn on the lights and open our gifts.
My Granparents thought that was a lovely way to start Christmas and still remember it to this day.
That year I received a scrapbook from my mom. It was nothing fancy, just pictures and some journalling of my life up to that point. It was done in a sticky photo album and had no decoration, but I loved it and spent hours pouring over the pictures and remembering the events. It even had extra pages so I could carry on where she had left off.
As the years passed, the pictures started falling out, so earlier this year I took it apart to redo, including photocopies of Mom's comments to put in the new book alongside my memories.
Elizabeth Munter
My favorite Christmas memory happened when I was 7 or 8. My mother always spent days sewing doll or Barbie clothes in the final days before Christmas. This Christmas, however, mom burned her hands (both of them) on bacon grease one week before Christmas. Her hands were bandaged in gauze and she couldn't use them. I knew I would not get the doll wardrobe as usual. Imagine my surprise when I woke up on Christmas morning and had a 16" ballerina doll with the most amazing costumes! It had been mom's doll aa a little girl and she had called grandma to send it to me for Christmas. It still is a very special doll to me.
ReplyDeleteThis year was also the start of my current favorite Christmas tradition - homemade pizza for Christmas dinner! Dad had to cook and he definitely was not going to make the big, fancy dinner. We had so much fun with it, that we kept it and when I got married, I introduced to my new family.
Merry Christmas to all!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories as a child was the trip home from celebrating at my grandparents on Christmas Eve. Dad would always have the radio tuned to the station that tracked Santa's travels as he dropped his gifts all over the world. We had to make sure we made it home and in bed before he got to Ohio!
As an adult, 1996 was memorable because on Dec. 23 I was married to a wonderful man after being divorced for 8 years. We left the day after Christmas for a wonderful honeymoon cruise to Hawaii! He passed away in 2001, but I have been blessed again with a loving husband to celebrate the season with family and friends.
I have always loved Christmas. When we had our first child, we didn't have much money. He was 2 months old for Christmas and we wrapped some stuff we had received for baby shower gifts so it would look like we had presents on for Christmas. My husband went to the store one day and bought a present for the baby and wrapped it and put it under the tree. It drove me crazy because I knew everything else to our son. The baby woke up at 4:00 a.m. to eat. He would usually go back to sleep while nursing so half through feeding him I gave him a bath to keep him awake then told my husband he wouldn't go back to sleep so he might as well get up because we were opening presents now. My husband was a good sport and got up with us. It turned out to be a rattle. It had a light blue handle and a white little chime-y sounding spinny top. My son is 17 now and I told him this story this week. I think it helped him confirm that I am a little crazy.
ReplyDeleteTanya Isbell
for me Christmas is always about family. One of the funniest memories was when my son was about 2, after opening all his presents, he spent hours Playing with an empty box...ignoring all the new toys.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to all!
My first christmas with my husband was special. We decided to buy ourselves an ornament..it is a house with the words "our first christmas" the light turns on and off on a couple kissing..anyway we have put it on our tree for 18 years and still love it...
ReplyDeletemary summerhays
etiwanda, california
As a child my favorite memory is getting some really fun barbie stuff. I stayed up late playing with it. I was probably in the fourth grade, and was an early to bed child. So to stay up late wasn't like me. It was so fun to play with new stuff, and have rooms of furniture for my barbies.
ReplyDeleteAs an adult I have many favorites. With five kiddos it seems there are highlights every year. As they are getting older, it is hard to not start new traditions ourselves. We have many that I have been doing since I was little with my aunts and uncles. But it is almost time to start some traditions with my kids.
Shannon
www.hopebloomsmn.org
I have so many wonderful Christmas memories from our family gatherings growing up, to the new family gatherings I married into. We created a wonderful Christmas memory this year in fact. This Christmas season has been extra special to me. You'd think it would not be as favorable as some years but it's the best one now.
ReplyDeleteYou see my husband lost his job. He's been home with us since early November. We've done our rounds with the unemployment office -- approved but checks hadn't come in yet until the week before Christmas.
That week before Christmas was the beginning of a HUGE snow storm for our area. None like we have EVER seen with record breaking amounts of snow for us. Before we were "snow in" I received an invite from the inlaws to come learn how to make the Family Christmas Candies -- Rocky Road to be exact. I was so excited -- SNOW was not about to keep me away. I've been asking for the invite for YEARS now. We had a snow day from school and so did the inlaws (who live 40 minutes away). So we loaded up the truck and headed in. That was a fun day!
The Christmas budget was tight this year. I had set aside money for my boys gifts and fortunately my youngest is only 2.5 so I was able to buy him gifts on sale during the year. He was easy to buy for. My oldest is about to turn 12 -- much harder. I was able to sell some things on craiglist and have enough to buy him something he NEVER expected. He was prepared to receive very little and was fine with it. My kids are not selfish or greedy.
My husband and I just bought a few necessities for each other so we'd have something under the tree and my oldest spent his own money on gifts this year by his choice and did so eagerly.
It was the best Christmas. My oldest was so excited with the unexpected gift he received and my youngest -- well this is the first year he is understanding what is going on - so he was such a delight to watch. They enjoyed each and every gift they received and thanked us so much through out.
It was a joy to spend the day together, snowed in. We had over 2 feet of snow with even larger snow drifts for Christmas. We usually get maybe 3-6 inches. The record for the Portland area was 15 inches I think back in 1968.
I just really took such pleasure in watching my family. My husband had worked nights for the last 18 years -- he wasn't tired from a shift the night before and didn't have to sleep before heading in again. We truly enjoyed each other despite the economy, weather and our current financial position. I wouldn't trade it for anything!
My most memorable Christmas holiday is the one we have just celebrated. Last year we were waiting to find out who our littlest baby was going to be, and earlier this year we traveled to Ethiopia to meet Amilia. Having her home with us, and feeling that our family is now complete brought more meaning to the holiday than I've ever felt before.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little girl My mom, brother and me always spent christmas night at my aunts house with her 5 kids and our grandmother. After celebrating my birthday which is christmas eve we would settle in for the night, the kiddos going to bed while grandma, mom and auntie (which is what we called my aunt) would stay up late into the night wrapping gifts. OH the anticipation, we could never go to sleep. In the morning you should have seen the tree with ALL the presents for 7 kids and 3 adults. It was truly a unbeleivalbe sight to see the presents sat at least 4 feet from the tree, my aunt would get really close to the gifts and pick out gifts and call the name on the tag, each kid would find a spot to honker down and unwrap all those presents. I remember those christmas's very well and love to tell the story of how our tree looked each year. I miss those years together, but the memories bring me great joy.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memory is when I was 8 years old and all I wanted for Christmas was a Chrissy Doll (she's the one who's hair grew when you pushed her belly button). My mom had pretty much convinced me I wasn't going to be getting her because there were other things I needed or that were more practical. I woke up Christmas morning and there she was under the tree! I was so surprised!
ReplyDeleteI still have that doll to this day. I have kept her because of the significance of receiving her, which made a believer out of me.
This year I asked my preteen son if he still believed. I was curious because he hadn't mentioned much about it and was at that age where I wasn't sure. His reply was "some people believe and some people don't, I think what makes Christmas special is when you believe in your heart".
I couldn't agree more!
I remember the excitement I experienced waking up very early on Christmas morning, before anyone else was awake, just knowing it was early...but too early to get up yet. I remember savoring the thought of what would be under the tree and the wonderful things we would do on this special day. I remember the smells of Christmas dinner in the oven and the sounds of family and friends laughing and sharing stories.
ReplyDeleteOne Christmas that was especially memorable for me was the year I got a sewing machine from my folks. WOW! Talk about exciting. I sewed many a wonderful outfit on that machine.
Thanks Jeanette for stirring up these memories - my family Christmas' bring back wonderful memories and I hope to build those wonderful memories for my family as well. Blessings!
I remember the Christmas that my mother took an old cardboard suitcase and covered it with contact paper and filled it with baby clothes for my favorite doll. Some of the clothes had been mine when I was a baby and some were my sister's. I kept that suitcase for years and as I grew older I filled it with new treasures.
ReplyDeleteEvery year at my daycare center, we have what we call "Change for Children." The first 3 weeks of December, we have buckets in every classroom for collecting pocket change. We also have a bake sale of which the proceeds go to our little fundraiser.
ReplyDeleteThe week of Christmas we use that money to make someone's holiday a little bit brighter; we purchase clothes, and toys for them, wrap them up, and deliver the gifts to their home.
Last year we chose to help the family of a child from my classroom. It was so special to know that even though the Mom was really sick with her chemo (and possibly dying,) and couldn't get gifts for her kids that year, that they didn't have to go without Christmas that year--a time when they needed to celebrate it the most. I was so honored to be one of the teachers who did the shopping for them that year.
That family doesn't come to our center anymore, but the last I heard, the mom is recovering, and doing much better. I like to think that the Christmas we gave that family last year gave the mom a reason to fight her cancer, and hope to see more Christmases with her children.
This isn't actually my own memory, but a story about what great people my sister and brother-in-law are. A few years ago, my brother-in-law got out the ladder, and climbed up onto their roof around midnight on Christmas Eve. Their tradition had been to sneak up there, and make reindeer hoof prints, and sleigh tracks on the roof to show their children on Christmas morning. As he was getting back onto the ladder to get down, it slipped, and he went crashing down onto their driveway injuring his arm and shoulder.
ReplyDeleteNot realizing how badly he was hurt, they got him inside - iced it, took a few Tylenol and tried to get some sleep. Finding himself in a fair bit of pain come the morning - they called into their local hospital to ask if they thought he should come in. Being a small town, there was no doctor at the hospital - just one on call. They decided that they didn't want to interrupt him enjoying Christmas with his family, and so waited until the following morning to go in to the Emergency department. Sure enough, my brother-in-law had broken his shoulder in several places, and had to be in a cast for several months. The trouble that he had gone to, to make Christmas memories for his children has always touched me, as well as their consideration for the doctor, to allow him to be with his own family on a special day. I'm lucky to have such great family around me!
My favorite Christmas memory is when my oldest daughter was just two and a half years old. We had very little, in fact, no furniture in our living room, just the tree set up with a few presents underneath. I saved grocery money for a couple of months to buy what we called the "little red car," for her Santa gift. On Christmas morning, we said a prayer around our bed, then my husband, myself, and my daughter walked into the living room to see what Santa had left. When my daughter saw the car, she stopped, gasped, turned, and looked up at me, and with such awe in her voice, that I'll never forget, she said slowly, "Oh, mommy, it's so beautiful." When I said, "It's for you," I expected her to run and climb inside. Instead, she turned and gave me the biggest hug her little body could give, and said sincerely, "Thank you, oh thank you." To be that grateful every Christmas for whatever we receive is what I always want to remember each Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas memory is of my kids and I spending Christmas Eve together since my divorce 5 years ago. It is so nice to be able to have one special day a year that we can be together no matter what.
ReplyDeleteShannon Wittig
sameiam2003@yahoo.com
I don't know if I have a particular one from when I was growing up. I think my Christmas memories that are most memorable are those that I see my daughter having.
ReplyDeleteShe is 6 this year and just seeing her excitement over everything is amazing! Maybe because we didn't have any special traditions, I try to make it that much more special for her.We "tracked" Santa on the internet, she received an "electronic" greeting from Santa. When I told her that Santa was only hours away from us (we were tracking him online) she jumped off the couch and up the stairs because she needed to get to bed!
It is through the eyes of our children that I think we realize what Christmas is all about.
The moment I remember the most was when I was about 8 years old on Christmas eve. I was playing in the living room and looked up at the window only to find Santa Clause looking back at me...I started yelling "Santa is here, Santa is here" and next thing I knew my parents were running down the hallway wondering what I was talking about.....turns out someone had dressed up like Santa Claus and was going around from house to house!! Oh to be a child again!!!
ReplyDeleteMy fondest Christmas memory was when I had deployed home for a two week exodus, during training from the armed forces during Christmas in 1993.
ReplyDeleteMy Daddy had so many items on the agenda for us to attend during my visit home.
It started with a trip into Manhatten where my father stood in as best man for his long time friend Robert. I remember wearing my dress greens for the occasion.
This was no ordinary wedding, as it took place on the eve of mayor elect Rudy Giuliani's inaguration in Graci Mansion. To preside the wedding vows that evening was Mayor David N. Dinkens. During the services I had never seen so many reporters and dignataries in one place. It was an extravagant event. The memory of that night has stayed with me forever. It was a rare experience for me to be blessed with.
It was also the eve of New Yorks finest Police Academy recruits release for the holidays. They lined the streets in celebration of the holiday season. Excited to of met their challenges and be spending Christmas with their loved ones just as I was.
The next morning my Daddy took me to the World Trade Center where I was surrounded by the most awe inspiring people that were the epic center of our world finances. I remember riding the elevator up to the top as a tourist. Though it was a long ride to say the least, I can honestly say that my experience there would be more significant after the events of 09/11/2001.
After we departed our few days in Manhatten, he then took me on a skiing trip just the two of us to Mount Windham and Mount Hunter. The mountains and beauty were so breathtaking just as the quaint cottage like accomadations we stayed at during the weekend.
I have to admit since my parents seperated as a little girl my skiing skills needed retraining. (It is not like learning how to ride a bike and you never forget!) After a few falls and inexperience I decided to take in the views of the enchanted surroundings and play lounge bunny the rest of the second day. (More hot chocolate please?)
Though my Daddy continues to be an inspiration and provide me with the most incredible Christmas experiences from Manhatten to Philadelphia on the door steps of Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, and the famous Philidelphia art museum. I have to honestly say that though I never asked for these enrichment history lessons. My Daddy made sure that I had these experiences and memories for me to pass on to my children one day. I am so thankful for them as it is a rare oppurtunity to do these things. I always took them for granted. Now I deeply appreciate the memories and history that is rooted in them now.
Thank you so much Jeanette for an oppurtunity to share them with others. Without this pondering question or a moment of reflection, I would of held them and not been so inspired to share them and know that now they have become apart of my dearest and fondest moments with my Daddy!
I would have to say that my most memorable Christmas moment was when I was 5 yrs old. My dad was taking me to school (Back when Kindergarten was only 1/2 a day). Anyway I went in the afternoon and on the way to school I heard Bells. I looked up in the sky and swore I saw Santa and the reindeer flying by. My Dad just smiled at me and said of course that is what you saw. They were just taking the sleigh for a test drive!
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas I remember the most is when I was 19yrs old. It was the last Christmas I had with my mother. I had been married a few months and lived in Virginia, (my family lived in North Carolina). My mother had been sick most of her life but was nearing the end of her battle with Lupus. She had gone into Kidney failure in late August and was on Dialysis every few days. I came home the day before Christmas to find my beautiful 37year old mother in a wheel chair and looking every bit 50 years old. I held back tears in front of her and would go off to the bathroom to cry a little so I could go on. We spent the day preparing a lovely Christmas dinner because Mama would not have Christmas without lots of great food, even though she was not allowed to eat hardly any of it. Christmas Eve was spent in front of a fire talking about years gone by and catching up with the entire family. Early the next morning my younger sister woke me up and wanted us to get up. I went to the living room where I heard music. Mama, even though she was barely able to get around had spent the entire night preparing the presents just like she had done since we were babies and had fallen asleep in her rocking chair. I kneeled down in front of her and wispered in her ear, Mama, Santa came can we get up? Just like I had done for years. She woke with a huge smile and told us like she had always done, let Christmas begin. She always made Christmas morning so great! The tree would be packed with gifts and Santa's gifts were always put together and ready to play with. It was just so magical and beautiful. I didn't know it at the time but Christmas would never be the same because she would not be here for anymore. My mother died that following Febuary 1st. When I had my first child, and Christmas came, I heard my mother's voice in my head telling me to make Christmas as special as she did for me. I strive every year to create that magical special feeling for my girls that my mother created for my family.
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable Christmas was our first year in Canada- 1980. We had moved from England that summer and things were starting to get a little better for my Mom, brother and myself. My Aunt took us shopping for a present for my Mom's Christmas present and we had $50.00 to spend which seemed huge to my brother and I. My mother had always sewn toys, clothes and such to help make ends meet when we were in England, so my Aunt suggested that we look at getting her a sewing machine. My brother and I were so excited, but when we went into the store we noticed that the sewing machines were so much more than we had. The owner of the store said that she had a second hand one in the back for exactly $50.00 so we bought it. My brother and I were so excited that we could hardly sleep Christmas Eve. Christmas morning came around and we were more excited for my Mom to open her present, than we were for our own. She was so happy to have received a sewing machine, that my brother and I both teared up.
ReplyDeleteAbout 5 years ago my brother and I were discussing that Christmas with my Mom. She finally admitted to us that she had been in the store earlier in the week to put a deposit on the machine. The store owner, my Aunt and my Mom had set up the whole thing. My brother and I were dumbfounded. To this day though we will never forget how good it felt to give that present to my Mom. It truly is better to give than to receive.
Jane Bergeron
My most memorable and favorite Christmas was the Christmas of 1982. My mom had been ill for the previous 3 years and, it had been touch and go each time she was in the hospital. My brother and his wife live in NC. My brother and I waivered back and forth as to whether they should come up for Christmas as we didn't want Mom to think that we thought it would be her last Christmas. We finally decided that they should come.
ReplyDeleteSo, to make it look like it was just one big celebration, we invited my husband's parents and some other good friends and we had a ball! Thankfully, we had one more Christmas after that with Mom. And, I'm forever grateful for both of those Christmases.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love everyone of them. We spend Christmas with family every year. But my favorite one was the year my daughter was born (1995), that has made them all even more special. The glow in her eyes as she opens her presents, as we drive around looking at Christmas lights, her excitement when the cookies are ready, it is something I will always cherish.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little, we would spend Chritmas Eve at my Grandparent's house (Dad's side), my uncles and their families also came over. They would make clam chowder for the adults and chili for the kids.
ReplyDeleteWe would be there until about 9 pm, then we would pile in the car and drive 2 hours to my aunt's house (Mom's side). Mom's parents, brothers and sisters would all be there. On the drive up there we would listen to the radio to hear where Santa was.
It would be almost midnight before all the kids would go to bed. The kids would get up around 4 am to open presents to see what Santa brought us. We couldn't go into the living room until the adults were up. We spent almost an hour waking up the adults (found out years later, they didn't go to bed until after 2 am). They would get up long enough for us to open our presents and then they would go back to bed.
All of us kids would stay up playing with our toys. It was so much fun.
Thank You Jeanette for the memories.
Karen Smith
My Mom & I were just talking about this the other day. One of my favorite Christmas memories was from not too long ago, Christmas Eve. That year my Mom put in extra hours at her work and didn't have any of the presents wrapped yet for anyone. Everyone else was in bed but her & I and we had a wrapping party. We drank hot cocoa, talked of Christmas past, thoroughly checked out everything she bought and wrapped all night. The lights were dim, the Christmas music was on and my Mom and I spent 6 hours just the 2 of us. Since we hadn't done that in years, it was very special time for both of us!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember any specific Christmases from my childhood but once I started dating my highschool sweetheart Christmas sure changed for me. He comes from a huge family and their tradition was to celebrate Christmas Eve with extended family. I always felt so included and that celebration quickly became my favorite time of year. Years later when he asked me to marry him we chose December 24th as the date we would be married. That Christmas Eve, 17 years ago was beautiful is so many ways. The weather was perfect and mild with a light dusting of snow falling. We had a wonderful evening service followed by dinner and a whole night of celebration with more than 100 of our closest family and friends, many of whom we'd rarely see over the holidays normally....and there was even a visit from Santa Claus. My mother-in-law had jokingly sent an invitation to our wedding c/o Santa Claus which ended up being redirected by the postal service to one of the local service clubs who arranged for a Santa Claus to pay us a surprise visit. The night was perfect in everyway!
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