Although it has been a long time since I spent Christmas in Kentucky some of my fondest memories are there. It was probably about 1963 and we were spending Christmas with my maternal grandparents in Letcher County, Kentucky. At the ripe old age of five my grandparents seemed very old. Their hair was white, with my grandpa's hair being as they call it today a "toilet seat" area. I don't remember how or when we actually went there for Christmas but the movies and pictures bring back the memories. At Ma & Pa's house (that is what we called these grandparents) they had no t.v. only a radio and I don't remember ever listening to it. This particular year, as I remember it, we all got dolls for Christmas. My mom always treated my sister Doris and I like twins, so we both got Thumbelina dolls my baby sister Sharon got a Pebbles doll. I don't remember what my sister Pat got, she is about 6 years older than me, so it is possible that she didn't get a doll. While watching the home movies I see my parents not really open any gifts, my grandparents did! My mom always made sure they had new jammies, slippers and sometimes a shirt or dress. While on the other hand all of the kids had several gifts! Dolls, buggies, games and clothes...those were always a favorite for any child.
As I am remembering all the past Christmas holidays, I think we did the same with our children. While being in the U.S. Army with my husband and traveling far away from family for about 12 years we learned how to make the holidays a great event for the kids. There were years that were a little lean on all the extra fluff that went along with the food. I hope our children remember those years with fondness. As parents we always tried to make the meal at Christmas a festive as we could afford. Teaching them the important fact that it was Jesus' birthday, we had cake (kids always loved birthday parties). Tradition was to have turkey at Thanksgiving and ham at Christmas with all the fixings. Although I know that we struggled to have all the fixings through the years, Each item on the table was to remind us of what God had provided.
One year in Texas, both of us working on minimum wage pay (about $4) we were selected a recipients of a food basket and toys for the kids from the Fire Department. At that time it was a little embarrassing to accept such charity, although the kids did not know where the gifts had arrived from, they just knew it was Christmas. To me it was all great memories of the kids, food, decorations and helping the kids to make things for each other for gifts. To this day the girls still do this and may I say are very creative in the gifts or ornaments that they make. I love home made gifts, nothing makes me happier than to receive a gift that someone has put their heart and time into.
This year 2013 all of the kids joined us at our home to celebrate Christmas! I was so excited to have all the kids, spouses and grand kids in one place. Funny thing though we didn't have the big meal with all the trimmings. As adults we have accepted the fact that we don't want to really all sit at a table (our house isn't big enough anyway) as long as there is food to eat and kids to play with all is well. The gifts under the tree were massive.....another thing the girls have learned also is to talk to the family, know them and we shop all year round for items that would be a perfect gift for that special family member. This year we did let them put wish lists on Amazon so we would have some clue for mainly the boys..their minds change constantly! The two older grandchildren joined in using their Kindles for the wish list. I feel so Blessed to have had all the family together. I want to thank all of our family and friends that made this a very special year. Praying for a prosperous 2014 and Blessings to all in need of Christs love!
One year in Texas, both of us working on minimum wage pay (about $4) we were selected a recipients of a food basket and toys for the kids from the Fire Department. At that time it was a little embarrassing to accept such charity, although the kids did not know where the gifts had arrived from, they just knew it was Christmas. To me it was all great memories of the kids, food, decorations and helping the kids to make things for each other for gifts. To this day the girls still do this and may I say are very creative in the gifts or ornaments that they make. I love home made gifts, nothing makes me happier than to receive a gift that someone has put their heart and time into.
This year 2013 all of the kids joined us at our home to celebrate Christmas! I was so excited to have all the kids, spouses and grand kids in one place. Funny thing though we didn't have the big meal with all the trimmings. As adults we have accepted the fact that we don't want to really all sit at a table (our house isn't big enough anyway) as long as there is food to eat and kids to play with all is well. The gifts under the tree were massive.....another thing the girls have learned also is to talk to the family, know them and we shop all year round for items that would be a perfect gift for that special family member. This year we did let them put wish lists on Amazon so we would have some clue for mainly the boys..their minds change constantly! The two older grandchildren joined in using their Kindles for the wish list. I feel so Blessed to have had all the family together. I want to thank all of our family and friends that made this a very special year. Praying for a prosperous 2014 and Blessings to all in need of Christs love!
