Christmas Memories Post 2

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!!

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!

Thanksgiving for One

This year will be a first for me. I will be cooking a Thanksgiving meal for me, myself and I. Why? See, I am a picky eater and as I get older, I become even more and more picky. It's nothing that I am doing intentionally, I just really have a hard time eating certain foods now. It's all mental, I know and I am honestly scared there will come a day when I refuse to eat anything thing at all, and I will end up in some institution rocking back and forth saying the word "peas" sixty-three times in a row, washing my hands one hundred and thirty times before turning the lights on and off fifty-seven times.

This year, I decided I would sponsor a turkey from the Farm Sanctuary. His name is Payton and he lives on a 300-acre no kill sanctuary in California. He is super cute! So, I can rest easy that there will be one less defenceless animal out there in a crowded, feces infested cage with broken legs because they cannot support the weight of their super growth hormone injected bodies. Yes, I know the Bible says that animals were put here for human consumption, and never have I ever tried to make anyone feel guilty about eating meat. I just believe that for me, I feel better physically and emotionally if I do not.

I really blame my Mimi for this -- when I was around eight, we were driving to Muleshoe and we passed by the slaughter house. I asked her what it was and she told me, going into lengthy detail about the process. Of course, it made me super sad and I didn't eat a lot of red meat from then on. Every once in a while, I do get a craving for a big juicy burger, but it generally is when my hormones are being crazy. In 8th grade, I stopped eating pork all together -- no bacon, ham or pork chops and I really don't miss it. It was then that I started with the turkey bacon because it was supposed to be better for you and I would occasionally eat chicken. It has really just been in the last few years that my tastes have changed and I really just like veggies. I especially love eating raw veggies. And, honestly, to me the black bean veggie burger and the veggie bacon are better than the real stuff. I do like shrimp and salmon, but that's about all the seafood I can handle. And, surprisingly enough, the more veggies I eat, the less I am liking pasta. It makes me feel really heavy and gross when I eat it. Now, if I could just feel that way about chocolate and cheese enchiladas, I wouldn't have to worry about my weight ever again!! :)

All I can say is that God made me special -- he understands me if no one else does and I'm okay with that.

So, what does this all have to do with Thanksgiving? Well, my family, as much as they love me and don't make fun of me when I cry about how mean the food industry is to the poor, helpless cow, chicken, pig or turkey, they like meat. So, I told my mom she could have Thanksgiving dinner back. I am just going to fix me some pasta probably with some fresh veggies and they can have whatever they want and I won't have to pay for it or eat it.

 I am a devout holiday traditionalist, so this a huge step for me. But, I'm telling myself it will be okay and I am looking forward to it! Sponsoring turkeys will just become my new tradition.

For those who are curious, here is a picture of the turkey I am sponsoring. I haven't received my certificate in the mail yet...so this is just the pic off the website. But, maybe next Thanksgiving, I can go visit him. That'd be super fun!!