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!

Count Your Blessings -- Day 22

I haven't been keeping up with this and there is a reason. But, regardless, today I am thankful for a safe trip back from West Texas. I am thankful that I got to spend time with my sister and niece. I am thankful that we got to eat at Cracker Barrel -- my all time favorite place to eat in all the world!! :) I am also thankful for my job which allowed me to buy the super cute Texas Tech Snowman Christmas wreath @ said Cracker Barrel, which will be proudly on display in my classroom. :) Finally, I am thankful that we are home, because that means I get to go get my sweet Maggie Mae tomorrow!! Yay!! :)

Count Your Blessings -- Day 11

Today, I am thankful for dreams. I had a dream last night about my Papa. It was Christmas and we were all together and he had on his red "Christmas" shirt. I feel like dreams are the closest thing we have to being able to be with the ones we love who have left us. I dream about my Mimi and Papa often. Even though I always wake up a little sad because reality sets in, I still feel like I have had a visit with them and it makes my heart smile to remember the good times. Even though I am not quite ready to leave this world, I know that someday I will get to spend eternity with them and I cannot wait!!!
 

Count Your Blessings -- Day 8 & 9

Well, I did not post last night because I felt really, really horrible. I came home and laid in my bed and was out by 8pm. But, I think all the rest did help because I felt better today, so I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for the time I did get to spend with Ty yesterday. We drove to Corsicana to run some errands, and even though I felt horrrible and was grouchy, he was still very sweet. He helped me buy groceries and even came home and put them away for me.

So, I am taking two "posts" to mention just how amazingly lucky and unbelievably blessed I feel to have my son in my life. I have never once regretted any decision I ever made regarding him and I am so glad that God chose me to be his mother. I was 19 and scared and didn't have a clue and questioned God more at that time than I ever have before or since. But, I understand truly what He meant when He said that all things work together for the greater good. I know I am obviously bias, but I have the best kid ever. Yeah, he is flawed...he doesn't like school that much and he doesn't do everything that I want him to do right then, but he loves God, he loves me and he is kind, considerate and compassionate. He truly is my best friend!!!

Count Your Blessings -- Day 4

When I have done the thankfulness posts in the past, I have always tried to find at least one thing from my day that I can be thankful for, that doesn't include the stuff that I thank God for everyday, such as my family and friends, my health, my job and the material things, like a car that runs, food to eat, a nice house, pretty clothes...all that kind of stuff. But there are just days when I have to set aside that rule and be extra thankful for certain things. Today is one of those days. I am glad I have such great friends. I am truly blessed by all my friends, who make me laugh, allow me to cry and accept me for who I am. I would be lost without them. Yay for friends!!!

Instead of a pic of me and my friends, I thought I would post a pic of my favorite show about friends. Well, actually, "it's a show about nothing"...but their random conversations remind of a few I have had with some of my friends over the years!! Also, I love how even at the very end, they were still together!

Count Your Blessings, Name them one by one...Day One

The past few years, I have taken time in November to post things that I am grateful for as my status on Facebook. However, in all fairness, I try to do that all the time, so I won't be known as a Debbie Downer to all my Facebook friends! It's so easy to get caught up in the everyday disappointments and discouragements that bombard us, but if we do take just those five extra minutes out of our day to reflect on what is good, it truly does restore a broken spirit. So, shout out to Brooke for giving me the idea to blog it instead of just post a status! Yay for friends!!! :)

I got the title for this series of posts from one of my favorite songs we sing at church. It is one of the very first hymns I can remember singing and it always makes me feel peaceful inside. I know that I am blessed beyond anything that I deserve and I am truly thankful to God for all that he has given me. So, with that being said...

Day 1
Today, I had to take Ty to the doctor for a follow up visit regarding his concussion. By the time we actually got to the doctor, I was in a pretty foul mood due to a series of incidents, which truly, in the grand scheme of things, weren't that big of a deal. I just chose to let them bother me.  I was a little grouchy when we ate lunch at Chili's where even the Cajun Shrimp didn't lighten my mood, and then...

...we made a brief, unplanned side trip Home Depot.

We walked in and my first sight was the plethora of artificial Christmas trees on display, along with all the yard and other types of holiday decorations for sale. I literally felt my soul smile. It was my first (of many, I am sure) Chevy Chase seasonal moments. Ya know, the one in Christmas Vacation where he had worked so hard putting up the lights and was too goofy to realize the power source was in the garage. So he finally gets the lights to work on the house and the choir sings "hallelujuah" & tears of joy stream down his face.

In a sense, that is what happened to me.

My disposition changed immediately and I began to be glad that I was enjoying a beautiful day with my healthy, "concussed" child instead of being separated from him while we were at school. I pondered on the fact that four christmases from now, he will be one semester away from leaving me for good! I also thought how we should never take a day for granted because there are many people that are no longer in my life that I would give anything to just spend five minutes with again. So, I sucked it up & ultimately found the cutest musical Ferris wheel with all these adorably tiny little animals on it that plays about eight different Christmas tunes. Of course I purchased it and it is now proudly on display amongst the Fall decor -- I am seriously considering busting out the Christmas for my room and the bathroom like -- this weekend!! I never think that we have enough time to enjoy the Christmas decorations as it is.

So, for day one, I am thankful for the fact that stores are so anxious to capitalize on any monetary gain, that they don't even wait for Halloween to end before they bust out all the holiday decorations. Granted I have been perusing the aisles at Wal-Mart for a few weeks now, but today was different. Looking at the decor, smelling the winter scented candles and listening to my iTunes created cd's of Christmas cheer on the way home did me some good -- on a day when I really needed it.

Here is a snapshot of my musical Ferris wheel -- it is my new favorite decoration!!