Reflection of Christmas past Part ONE 2018

I previously wrote this in December on my facebook page and thought I would add it to my blog for safe keeping. 

As I sit here this morning sipping my cup of coffee, watching the lights twinkle on my tree, I reflect over my childhood at Christmas time. My parents made sure it was always such a magical time for us. In my younger years, our tree was in our basement which had a fireplace and was our playroom/mom’s sewing-craft room/piano room/bullet loading room. Yes, it really was all those things! 😊 But, at Christmas time it was my happy place. We had one of those huge record playing credenza’s that you could put 10 records in at a time and it was wired for the basement as well. (This was long before Bluetooth days) I would lie on the sofa, listen to record after record (Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby were my favorites), watch the lights twinkling and just be lost in the warmth of the season.

A few days before Christmas Day, my grandmother and Aunt Patsy would show up and their trunk would be loaded with gifts. My grandmother always gave us the Sears and Roebuck catalog every year. We would circle and initial away what we wanted. Looking back now, knowing she wasn’t wealthy by no means, I know she and Patsy must have saved and pinched pennies all year long to lavish us like they did. Between what they brought and what my parents added, our tree was surrounded with bright, colorful packages which drove us crazy with anticipation for Christmas morning.

I remember one Christmas in particular (now if you know me, you know I LOVE snow and pray for it every year) it snowed several inches Christmas Eve. When we woke up and saw the beautiful blanket of snow covering everything, I felt like I was living a dream. It was glorious! My heart felt like it would burst from my chest with sheer joy! Until....I was informed that no presents would be opened until Grandma arrived which meant my Dad had to shovel the driveway, drive to their house, help shovel their driveway and then bring Grandma, Grandpa and Patsy safely to our house. That turned into the longest Christmas morning ever!!! 🤪

Yes, I go all out with decorations. Yes, I put up a million trees (slight exaggeration). Yes, I do everything I can to make sure that my boys have the same cherished memories of childhood Christmas time that I do. I may not can give them every single thing they desire but I can give them the gift of family, time and memories that will last them much longer than any temporal gift under the tree. And best of all, Stacey Meeks and I give them Jesus. The real reason for this season!