Memories of childhood Christmas

When I was little the traditions at our house were few. We always went out to the country side around our home place one week "seven days" before Christmas day and searched for the perfect Ceder tree to bring home and decorate. These are the green ceder trees with the weak little limbs and most had two tops in them, which meant they had been cut a previous year and grown back with a split top! We usually got one way too big, because they look so much smaller out in the field, than when we get it through the door and standing in our 8 foot ceiling living room. After we finally found the "TREE" we would hammer it to a tree stand that held a small amount of water. We then got out the small box of glass ornaments and string of big lights, they were the size of the night lights only in all colors, not just white. We would put foil muffin cups around the lights and make it a lot brighter. We usually had fewer ornaments each year because they would break so easily. My favorite ornament was the glass candy cane that was stripe with red and white and silver, it was 5 inches and was the size of a real candy cane. We always had multi color lights on the tree. After all the balls and lights were on, we would get ready to put the final ta da's on, the silver icicles....Dad would just throw them at the tree and let them fall as they would, Mom would lay each little strip by hand across the branch, so we had this smooth-messy deco tree. We did have a lighted star for the top of the tree, it had a light on each point and was usually way too heavy to put on the little twig of a top so we would have to use something else. The house would smell so strong of the ceder it was stiflings, but not something we ever had any other time of the year. After one week the tree was so dry it was falling all over the floor and had a lot of sticker type stuff on the floor. During the week that followed we would see a few presents appear for Grandmammie, Papaw, Granny, and various others, but none for us. On Christmas morning in the cold cold morning, we would wake up and sneak into our parents room to wake them up and go turn the heater on. Then there it would be the 3 presents Santa brought. We never had a clue what we would get, so some Christ masses we were really surprised, like the year I got a bow and arrow set....a real one, not a toy kind...What do I do with this???? I would ask myself. We also always got a nylon stocking (mom's that had got a run in it. It would have an Orange in the toe, an apple in the heel and then mixed nuts in the shell would be poured in to fill out the stocking and a knot was tied in the top to keep everything in its place. It was always fun, we didn't know anything different to compare it to, so we were excited with what we got .....all three of the presents.

Christmas at my church, 1954-1964

When I was small, I remember the church we attended as being very cold. The crackling of the small pebbles of gravel under the tires of our big old Buick was a sound that reminded us it was quite time as we prepared to enter the CHURCH. My sister and I understood the rules of obedience, but my brother,,, well lets just say he didn't like to be still or quite. I went to this church every sunday from birth until I was around ten. My cousins and neighbors were always there too. Maybe it is because the heat wasn't turned on until we all got there, or because it had only a room heater, I just know it was COLD. The floors didn't have any carpet and you could hear every step on the lanolin tiles. It was a small baptist church just up the highway from our house and it was built sometime in the forties with brick and a double front doors and a outside door on each side of the building. It was a baptist church and we always had a big cedar tree put up in the auditorium. We spent weeks creating candy canes out of pipe cleaners, garland out of construction paper or popcorn, and ornaments out of glitter and glue on Popsicle sticks or macaroni and sting to hold it all together and on the tree. It was covered from top to bottom with all the children's creative talent and a big Angel out of cheesecloth, that had been starched and dried over a form, adorned the top. This was the first time I got to smell spray snow, a scent one never forgets, and usually brings good memories of a time gone by. Between the spray snow and the fresh cut ceder tree, the church was full of Christmas Cheer! The rest of the rooms were Sunday school classes or restrooms. It had a big upright piano that rang out all the traditional Christmas songs along with the worship songs. When it was the last Sunday before Christmas, we would have Santa come and pass out presents for everyone in church. A doll, truck, top, jacks and a ball, hula hoop, and a porcelain tea set, were some of the special toys Santa gave out to all the children. Afterward we would have Kool-aid and cookies. I really enjoyed the closeness of a small church at holidays. I know we also sang songs and the preacher preached about the Holy Birth of Jesus. The Preacher lived in a small brick house next door to the church, I think that is where they should live. The church provided the home for them to live in and if you needed him, you knew where he lived. His door was always open and he was always available to be your encourager, friend, and answer any questions you had about your salvation. WHERE are those kind of churches and preachers anymore? Merry Christmas to you all.

My Parents and Christmas

This week I went by my parents and helped them put up the Christmas Tree. They were really excited to have the help and to get it all out of the storage, until they couldn't find the decorations box. Mom just knew it was "GONE". When I got to their home, I suggested we look really good in every box that was in the storage area and maybe we could find them. Well, we did, in the forth box we opened. Dad thought I was putting too many ornaments on the tree and that it was going to fall through the floor. My daughter and I have always thought their tree looked something like the Christmas tree on Charlie Brown's Christmas show. Ha Ha. I ended up putting all the ornaments and four strings of lights and the smallest Angel on the top of the tree I have every seen. Then they decided to put up the Christmas Village on the mantel of the fireplace. That wasn't something I had remembered they had and had not planned to do, but why not. So we got it all out and it was all I could do to keep mom from climbing up and doing it herself. Dad stood in the back of the room and gave directions on exactly where each building needed to go.... a little to the right, no a little to the left, up a little.... ok that's it...! Whew, glad I had all the help! They haven't put out their christmas decorations up in two years, because they thought it was too much trouble. Now I think it was because no one acted interested if they put it out or not, me included. I don't really understand why they have to be encouraged to do something that is so simple and a normal cycle of life every year. They both said to the family a couple of years ago that it was time to stop giving gifts to each other and that it was too expensive and so they just weren't going to buy anybody anything, and they didn't want any gifts from anyone. This was really hard for me to accept. I am not rich and have a difficult time deciding on what to give others, but this took the cake. I honestly can't really remember what gift I received from my sister or brother a few years back, but I do have fond memories of exchanging the generosity of giving SOMETHING to people I have known all my life. I don't have a large family and the idea has made me feel empty inside, more than my pocket book. I can't get past the fact that it is so hard to get someone else a pair of house shoes for five dollars or a scarf or just something at a time when we are supposed to think of others as Jesus did for us so many years ago. Sure I could buy my own house shoes, scarf or most anything else that one could afford or need, it is just the thought that they made the effort and thought to give me something. My parents gave up a lot to make my life comfortable. Now that they are old it is hard not to think of them. It is hard to show a good example to my children to think of others when the Grandparents say to just not do it. This year my daughter has helped me to overcome this, at Thanksgiving we decided to collect money from each family member to purchase a gift for Mom and Dad and some extra money to buy "exchange gifts" for everyone in the family. I'm not sure how everyone is going to except this, so it will be interesting to say the least. If it doesn't work, I'm afraid it will be the last effort toward establishing a MERRY CHRISTMAS at the old home place.

After the Wedding of Angie and Brad

Well, the wedding was beautiful. The weather was rainy all day, but Brad and Angie were all smiles as they said "I do". It was a small wedding with only immediate family attending. The beauty of a wedding this size is amazing. I ask my cousin, Marla to help me with all the serving and cleaning, and she is a wonderful person. I can't thank her enough for all the times she has been there for me. I only hope she will reach out and ask me to help her when she needs me. The happy couple are in Cancun having fun and making honeymoon memories! I miss them and look forward to their return. My parents came and Mother looked so good. She hasn't been getting out since March when she broke her hip. Dad is needing his knees replaced and is having problems walking, but he was there and I was grateful they made the effort to attend. I can't think of any real problems we had at the wedding, which is a blessing. We went to Olive Garden for a dinner after the ceremony, where we all enjoyed some delicious food. I can't wait to see the photos and I will post some when they become available.

The Wedding of Angie and Brad

My son, Brad, is getting married this Saturday, December 12,2009. He is 30 years old. It is to be at 3:00 at the Church of Christ in Henderson, in the Parlor. He met Angie in high school and wanted to date her then but was to bashful or afraid to ask her out, so time went by and he went to Firemans college, police college and finally finished an associate degree at Kilgore college in paramedics. He finally moved to Dallas worked for a Hospital up there and then decided to go overseas with a job for Kelloge, Brown, and Root, to see the world. He was a medic for the group in a forward operation base in the wilderness of Afghanistan called Worrier. While he was home on leave he met up with Angie and over the 5 months or so, they became good friends over the internet e mails. So when he finished his year of work over there he came home and they wanted to get married. So Sat. is the day. She is a sweet young lady and I think she is just the kind of person Brad needs. She ask me to go with her the other day to be fitted for the dress she had picked out and I was so excited to get the honor. It is a pretty dress and fits her very nicely. The weather has turned so very cold for here in Dec. I hope she doesn't get too cold in the halter style dress. She picked out a veil to go with the dress, but decided it was too expensive. I took note of the style and we went to the fabric store and found some net that just matched it. We couldn't find the ribbon to match so left without it. Later that day, I went back to the fabric store, bought the net, found some ribbon and went by the bridal store to make sure it matched her dress. I came home and made her a veil that she really likes. I told her she didn't have to wear it if she didn't like it, and I really meant it. It is hard to do things like that because they feel like they have to use it, even if they really didn't want to or like it. I hope she was honst and is happy with her decision to wear it. They picked up the marriage license monday and transfered over insurance on the cars. We are going by the church tomorrow just to look and get some ideas on decorations before the last day before the BIG DAY! I have found some accapella wedding songs and am in charge of the music. I pray this all comes together and it turns out to be beautiful. I went with them to pick out the wedding band for him today also. He liked one, but the only sizes they keep in stock is a ten. He wears an 8. They had two rings for him in a size 8, so he bought one simple white gold plain band and ordered the one he really liked, should be here in a couple of weeks. They had planned for all to go to Olive garden to eat after the wedding, but they won't make a reservation for all 24 of us, so we will have to just stand out and wait for a table....they are looking into something else. It is the holidays and I tried to warn them about a place to eat and the need for reservations during the weeks before Christmas. They are so in love...I am so happy for them. I haven't heard where they are going to stay after the wedding but they are off to Cancun for 5 days monday morning. Hopefully!!! More later.

The Beginning of a new hobbie!

Today I decided to create a place to write my thoughts down and not have to remember where I put it. I like the fact I don't have to find paper or pen or keep it in a book, it is nice to have a non physical place to keep it. I want to share some of my thoughts and memories of the past and the future, so here goes! This should be interesting. I recently got a mandolin from my Dad. He bought it from a mail order company who offered it with a free guitar. He got the guitar and I got the mandolin. I wanted it because my hands and fingers are so small I couldn't reach around the neck of a guitar so I thought I could play the mandolin. This has given me a new interest to share with my father. He loves to play and sing with his guitar. I have bought a CD of how to play the mandolin. I thought Dad could teach me, but he can't organize his ideas on where to start, so I thought I better get a book of lessons. The CD is really good and should last me a while since I don't know where to start. I got through several basic lessons of how to hold it,the pic, tuning it,and then finally a lesson on a scale and a song.... Yankee doodle. So, it took me a week to learn those two things. Mom and Dad are my only audience so when I went by today to show them what I had learned in a week, I expected a little praise.... well, Dad took it out of my hands and had to show me what he could do. He was better, but he can't read music so he only plays by ear. Just copy's cats songs and playing with others. He has a real talent when it comes to music. I think he is going to have to order his own mandolin so I can play with him. I can tell I am on my own on this little hobby, at least until I can play as good a Dad... HAHA. Practice practice practice then maybe I will be able to play with the BIG DOGS.....I will keep you posted on my progress.