My most favorite Christmas of all was Tyler Dan's first Christmas. He was eleven months old and we were able to go out to West Texas and spend some time with my dad's side of the family. It snowed, which I was completely ecstatic about, and Ty took his first steps in my grandparent's living room. We had my little black and white cocker spaniel Raider, and I had this little red and white sweater that I put on him when he went out in the snow...it was super cute. That was also the Christmas that we went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at the Methodist Church and then went and sang Christmas Carols at the nursing home where my great-grandmother was staying.
I have a lot of great pictures from that Christmas -- one that makes me smile is the one of all of us sitting in the living room, opening presents, and Ty and Raider are in the floor playing. Ty is trying to eat Raider's new bone, my Papa was in his chair, wearing his red "Christmas Shirt", my Mimi had on a fabulous green outfit with a Christmas tree on it -- she looked very pretty and stylish as she always did. My aunts, uncles & cousins were sitting around, laughing, smiling & everyone was healthy and happy. There was a ton of great food in the kitchen & peanut brittle in the Christmas tree cookie jar. It was just really a great time.
When we got back, we had Christmas with my sister and her husband. That was when Ty got his "Teddy" -- the brown stuffed bear that he slept with til he was about 8 or 9, and took every where he went. I made homemade dog treats for Raider, my sister's dog Missy, and my dad's shop dog Brown Dog --- that was a lot of fun & something that I haven't done since, though I do not know why. Maybe Maggie Mae will get some this Christmas!
Now, all these years later, our family has changed in so many ways, so I am glad that I have that memory. I believe it's what the holidays are all about -- making memories to look back on and being with family. Again, as always, I thank God for all my family and that I have the blessing of knowing that I am loved. A lot of people don't have that -- I am very lucky!!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Christmas Memories
I have been thinking a lot about Christmas and when I was a little girl growing up next door to my grandparents and surrounded by my dad's family. So, I thought that I would blog a little about that time and some of the memories I have.
The first memory I want to share is one that makes me smile and wistful, all at the same time. It took place when I was about 9 or 10 years old & it probably is something that most people wouldn't think twice about, but it meant the world to me, and has ever since.
We usually drew names on that side of the family and I honestly cannot remember who got my name that year. But, I do remember one special present that I received and it was totally unexpected. My Aunt Charlotte gave me a small bottle of "Tribe" parfume, which was in a black, pink and turquoise bottle and smelled amazing. It just really meant a lot to me because it wasn't expected and because it made me feel important to her and loved. But that is who my Aunt Charlotte was -- even if you had only just met her and spent maybe thirty seconds in her presence, you left feeling like you were one of the most important people on Earth. I have thought a lot about that Christmas over the years and that simple gesture which she had probably forgotten about. In fact, when I was recently going through some of my storage tubs, I found the empty bottle and smiled. One of the conversations we had had when I saw her last July was how she had downsized each time she moved. I thought to myself, "I can move a million times but that twenty year old bottle of parfume will always go with me."
As I sat at my sweet Aunt Charlotte's funeral a few weeks ago, I remembered that Christmas again, as well as the many other holidays I spent with her. As I saw all the people who were in attendance, I smiled because I realized that each one of them more than likely had a similar story to tell. A small act of kindness, thought of and forgotten in a moment, meant the world to someone else. I prayed that somehow I could be even half the woman she was and that I would be mindful of even the smallest gestures, even from strangers, and make a point of not getting caught up in the selfishness and greed that is the way of our world today by reciprocating any chance I had.
I often listen to, sing, or think of the song Homesick by Mercy Me, especially the lines "In Christ there are no goodbyes, and in Christ there is no end. So I'll hold onto Jesus, with all that I have, to see you again..." -- I love knowing that God promises that if we are faithful, we will spend eternity with him, and I love knowing that I will spend eternity with my aunt & that eternity in Heaven will be a million times better than any Christmas here on Earth!
The first memory I want to share is one that makes me smile and wistful, all at the same time. It took place when I was about 9 or 10 years old & it probably is something that most people wouldn't think twice about, but it meant the world to me, and has ever since.
We usually drew names on that side of the family and I honestly cannot remember who got my name that year. But, I do remember one special present that I received and it was totally unexpected. My Aunt Charlotte gave me a small bottle of "Tribe" parfume, which was in a black, pink and turquoise bottle and smelled amazing. It just really meant a lot to me because it wasn't expected and because it made me feel important to her and loved. But that is who my Aunt Charlotte was -- even if you had only just met her and spent maybe thirty seconds in her presence, you left feeling like you were one of the most important people on Earth. I have thought a lot about that Christmas over the years and that simple gesture which she had probably forgotten about. In fact, when I was recently going through some of my storage tubs, I found the empty bottle and smiled. One of the conversations we had had when I saw her last July was how she had downsized each time she moved. I thought to myself, "I can move a million times but that twenty year old bottle of parfume will always go with me."
As I sat at my sweet Aunt Charlotte's funeral a few weeks ago, I remembered that Christmas again, as well as the many other holidays I spent with her. As I saw all the people who were in attendance, I smiled because I realized that each one of them more than likely had a similar story to tell. A small act of kindness, thought of and forgotten in a moment, meant the world to someone else. I prayed that somehow I could be even half the woman she was and that I would be mindful of even the smallest gestures, even from strangers, and make a point of not getting caught up in the selfishness and greed that is the way of our world today by reciprocating any chance I had.
I often listen to, sing, or think of the song Homesick by Mercy Me, especially the lines "In Christ there are no goodbyes, and in Christ there is no end. So I'll hold onto Jesus, with all that I have, to see you again..." -- I love knowing that God promises that if we are faithful, we will spend eternity with him, and I love knowing that I will spend eternity with my aunt & that eternity in Heaven will be a million times better than any Christmas here on Earth!
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