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| Christmas Memories and Traditions |
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Following my divorce in 2003, our family Christmas traditions flew out the window. The kids didn't want to keep doing the same thing, because it reminded them that their Dad wasn't there. It was hard for us all, and somehow in the last 5 years, we never established any new traditions. This year (having remarried) things are a little different, and I would like to begin some new traditions and make some new memories with my kids and my new extended family. Won't you please share your favorite Christmas memory or tradition?
Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens
Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”
~ Dr. Suess, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1957
God Bless Us, Everyone!
Carol
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| To add a comment to "Christmas Memories and Traditions" |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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| What a nice Christmas blog! We always drive someplace to look at Christmas lights, and we also go to see train gardens, usually in local volunteer fire depts. There's also the Christmas concert at my parents' church. |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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| This is me and Allan's 4th Christmas together. After marrying him I regained another family and his parents. Even though it's not the same the empty years I spent alone after losing my parents, 2 painful divorces, and ever wondering if I would die alone........God has moved mountains for me and continues to every day. I know now and understand why "unanswered prayers" are sometimes the best prayers given from him. We can't see the big picture or know the future but boy does he show us in HIS TIME! We will be going down Christmas Eve to see Allan's parents and spend time with his brother and his family as well. Thanks for this blog. |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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| We used to always go look at lights, have a taco eating contest, let the boys buy one ornament each year, read the christmas story together on christmas eve ( from luke) |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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As a kid, we opened a present Christmas Eve, which was my parent's anniversary also. We had this decorative three bell musical thingy that blinked one light for each bell then all three at once while it played three instrumental carols. I was hypnotized by it. Mom always put tangerines in our stockings and that was a pretty big deal to me, as I don't remember getting them any other time of the year. God wasn't a part of my daily life growing up. When my kids were small, He was front and center of my life so I made sure they got the meaning from the get go. Cocoa and cookies for Santa and caroling in the neighborhood. Prayers and Charlie Brown Christmas was never left out. I have two ornaments a friend made for Theo and Landon in 1984. They are clothespin soldiers with their names and date. I put them up every year although I have lost many, these make me feel Christmas best. |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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| The way, I would like to change our traditions is doing for others that can't do anything for me in return. We've sent years giving selfishly to get, I honestly think we've missed the real meaning of Christmas. Our church, Praise Temple has sought out people in the community that have no connection to our church to be a blessing too.This has been really to me, the true meaning of Christmas. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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| I asked my kids what made it feel like Christmas to them... (this was several years ago) and their responses were: reading Luke chapter 2 on Christmas eve, staying in our jammies on Christmas morning -- having "reindeer milk" (eggnog), hot buttered apple cider, cocoa, and snacks -- and just enjoying being "us" for those first few hours. No pressure, no rushing around. Then, later in the day, playing "secret agents" for Jesus by surprising people who would be spending Christmas alone -- with a hug, a small gift and a big "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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We would go to Church and we would always be in the Christmas Pageant. It was great...
We always had to go feed the cows and chickens before we could eat on Christmas Eve. Then my sister and I would go through Pop's sock drawer and each of us would get one of us his skinny old socks and hang it up.
At midnight I would try to remember to wake so I could go listen to my dogs talk. I never did make it. Rats!!
That was the best part of all of it. The mystery of it all. Oh, and I would look for the brightest star. In the Texas Pandhandle you can see forever. Yup. |
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| December 22, 2008 |
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Ya' know? I was always a bigger kid than my kids. I was talking to one of my daughters the other day and we laughed about the times we spent on Christmas day. She told me that her and my daughter Michelle used to go down in my cellar and play with their toys when my ex-wife and I were not around. It was such a surprise to me. I missed a good deal of Christmases when I let that home. It hurts a great deal. I used to set up some lights and use my "super eight" camera to record the great day. She told me how they used to go crazy waiting for me to set up. So, my dear lady. Do just what you can. Make the day the best it can be. you are a family. Make what ever memories that you can. You may feel off guard. But, they will always remember what you and your new husband did every year. Trust me.I know what I'm talking about.
You seem to have some guilt because you are divorced. They love you no less because of it. And you can be sure God loves you also. Please have a Merry Christmas!! God bless!!! |
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| December 23, 2008 |
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Our Christmas traditions:
Christmas Eve night, my bro and I open one gift.
Christmas morning we have cinnamon rolls and wassail(non alchoholic of course) while opening presents. Our extended family lives to far away, so it's just my parents, brother and I. So we've made traditions :)
Merry Christmas!!! |
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| December 23, 2008 |
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WOW! These are so great! Thank you, everyone, for sharing your hearts.
Mike...Looking at the Christmas lights is fun! We live in a rural area, so it's not as easy as it was when we lived closer in to ATL, but we also still like to go see lights. Thanks!
Lynne...You are right, and God's timing is always the best. Bless you, my kindred spirit!
Cindy Lou...I LOVE the taco eating contest...what fun! My boys would be able to eat me under the table with that one. I also get my kids an ornament every year...so they can have some on the tree when they leave home, unlike my first married Christmas!
Juanita...Charlie Brown is an important part of our Christmas, too! I guess maybe we do have more traditions than I thought!
Praise...Absolutely! We must remember the real reason, and teach our children, so that they don't get caught up in all the secular hoopla. It is great that you all seek out the unchurched.
GrammyB...SECRET AGENTS FOR JESUS! How much fun is that? Might just give that one a try!
Miz Joey...We used Dad's skinny old socks, too. Got an orange and a toothbrush in it!
Golden...I think that's the best kind of Dad to have...one that's a big kid on Christmas. I also used to find my toys when I was a kid. One year, my Mom forgot to put one of them out. After I got up and saw it wasn't there, I went and woke up my parents and told them they had forgotten one of the gifts! i then reminded them where they had hidden it! Thanks so much for the encouraging words. There is some guilt there, because I see how it devastated my kids. I lay that guilt at the foot of the cross regularly...got to stop taking it back! God Bless You!
Scarlett..I always got those Lifesaver Books, too! I gave them to my kids for awhile, but they never ate them and I'd end up throwing them away, so I stopped buying them. I also love to color at age 47! How funny.
JesusFreak...We open one gift on Christmas Eve too, although sometimes it turns into more!
Thanks again to all of you for the great ideas and the smiles! Merry Christmas! |
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| December 23, 2008 |
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Two years ago I started a new tradition with my son and yougest sister. We make something. The first year we tried to make candy canes from scratch. They didn't turn out, but we have sweet memories of making them. Last year we put together a gingerbread house. This year we're making cookies to share with neighbors and family. Each year the tradition starts with us thinking and talking about what we want to do. I love that it's not too rigid...that we don't have to make the same thing each year. We have fun and it brings us close together. |
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| December 23, 2008 |
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| Kristi...Those are great traditions! I bet candy canes are hard to make. God Bless! |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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| So... we need to hear from you... |
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| January 03, 2009 |
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| About my Christmas? It was great! We're working on "blending" our families and our traditions, but overall, all went well! |
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