The Ghost of Christmas Past

I was talking to my mother the other day about Christmas and why I love it.  The conversation wrapped around to not having a lot as I was growing up. Huh. I don't remember that.  Yeah as a kid I loved the gifts and I don't remember any shortage of them. What I remember is hiding in the bushes and trying not to giggle so we wouldn't get caught delivering gifts as drop and run.  I remember singing carols with my Mom's whole family. I remember waiting with my brothers and sisters to see what Santa brought.  There was Rudolph kisses left on our noses more than one Christmas eve. There was caroling in the cold and coming home to warm hot cocoa.  There was hugs and love. There was so much love.  I remember very few gifts. The one gift I remember most was a vanity table that used to be my grandmothers. It wasn't new and it wasn't expensive it was meaningful and beautiful.  Oranges filled the toe of our stocking every year, and I could sure count on peanuts in my stocking.  Christmas is my favorite time of year. Not for the gifts. Not for the snow. Not for the hustle and bustle. But there is a feeling of love and memories of warmth and family.  The lights are are like stars shining and leading the way back to a time when Christmas meant something a lot more simple.  Like one of my favorite Christmas songs says:

C is for the Christ child Born upon this day

H is Herald Angles in the night 










R is our Redeemer

                                     I means Israel

S is for the star that shone so bright

T is for three wise men, they who traveled far

M is for the Manger where he lay

A is all he stands for

S means shepherds came

And THAT's Why there is a Christmas day.

That's what my parents taught me. That's what I remember about Christmas growing up. 

  

19 December 2010

Finding Christmas

I'm a grinch.  There. I said it.  Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I really do.  I've just had a hard time getting excited about it and FEELING it. I've had to be shown.  Part of it is I just have seen some much negativity.   Christmas is supposed to be a positive thing. Where we remember to love each other, for one short season.  Instead you go shopping and there is pushing and shoving and cursing. I don't think I would want MY birthday celebrated that way. 

Yesterday I went to Golden Corral and found Christmas. I was noisy and people were grabbing food. I was actually almost finished eating.  I went to go get some brussel sprouts and cheese (shush I like them) and I heard a little voice behind me say "it's not our turn yet. We have to wait."  I quickly finished and turned around and saw two small children, a little girl and a little boy.  I stepped away and listened to what happened next.  "Now it's our turn. Come on up" she said patiently.    I returned to my table and watched as she served her little brother up some food and helped him, and protected him through the maze of adults who seemed oblivious to this small miracle.  The little boy said something about wanting candy or desert and she gently placed her arm around him "No we have to eat this first." She guided him and helped him pick out some fruits and veggies. They then disappeared from view, but not from my mind. My heart was touched and I felt Christmas for the first time this year. 

07 December 2010

Thanksgiving....

I was able to take 9 days off for Thanksgiving. I had so much fun I forgot to take pictures.

Sunday we packed and rested

Monday we drove down to my parents house. We thought it was going to be TERRIBLE weather but it was nice and relaxing.  When we got there Adam was TYE ERD  so he took a nap and I waited for my parents to get home from shopping. When they did I had a whole new wardrobe! Yay for early Christmas.  Adam got several really nice shirts as well. He really needed them. Thanks Mom and Dad. After that we went to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part one and Miah brought his cute little girlfriend. She's super sweet. I like her.

Tuesday we hung around and played games, and tried to make plans for the rest of the week.

Wednesday we made pies, I made my first pumpkin pie, everyone said it was yummy. We played more games and visited and hung out with the kids.

Thursday was the main event.  Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous.  My mom makes one mean turkey.  Everything was super yummy and mom and dad had invited a couple over that didn't have anywhere to go.  It was fun and there was a lot of laughter and yummy food.  Afterward we took family pictures, which I'm waiting for My sister to post on her blog (hint hint) and then we went to see TANGLED!! It was AWESOME.  You MUST see it. It was great there was laughing and happiness and tenderness.  It was great. Starting at Midnight we went shopping, by we I mean Kendra Becky Mom and myself.  We shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped. We came home around 8 AM and got some good deals.  It was A LOT of fun. I've never done the whole black friday deals thing.  There was about 30 to f45 minutes of shopping and the an hour or so in line it was nuts.

Friday I slept most of the day due to the not getting home til 8 AM thing.  Then we ate pizza that Kendra made and it was FABULOUS!!  We played games and I had to work for an hour so I went back to mom and dads and did that and then went to bed.

Saturday was a BLAST we went to go get Cafe Rio (yum) and then went to the washington rec center. It was A MAZE ING we watch people climb the wall, Shaunie did it about four times, and most everybody got to the top.  Neither Adam or I could do it, but we will....soon.  Then we went to the pool Area. It was Amazing! There was a play area for the bigger kids and a play area for the little kids/babies, there was a lazy river and a hydro tube (I'm anti that but that's another story on another blog) The kids had a blast. We went back to Mom's house and goofed around. We had BLTs for dinner and the kids were all tired so there was some snuggling and some visiting. Then I had to work another hour so I did that and then we packed up and left. 

All in all it was probably my favorite thanksgiving ever. I loved spending it with my wonderful husband and my awesome family.  I miss them so much.  Maybe we will be able to move back down next fall......

02 December 2010