Merry Christmas!

There is something about this time of year.  It can create so much excitement and for some of us, a bit of sadness too.

I grew up with a family who loved to celebrate Christmas.  My mom knew how to make holidays special, but Christmas was by far the best.

I don’t remember the presents – except for the Barbie Camper Van that I was so excited to finally get! and the skis.  That didn’t come with proper footwear so they ended up in the garage for a long time.   I remember sneaking down the stairs in the middle of the night and seeing the camper van in the shadows and couldn’t even contain my excitement.  I must have been louder than I thought because my grandpa came out of his room and caught me snooping and sent me up to bed til morning.  But I couldn’t sleep after that.

The skis were a great idea too.  It was something I had learned to do in school – cross country skiing. I guess my parents thought I would love to continue at home. We had a lot of land, and plenty of room to ski.  The only problem was I didn’t have the proper boots.  I was determined to use them.  I used my regular boots, trying to snap it into the skis.  I think I may have even taped them on in an attempt to use them.  No luck.  My dad still laughs about it.

What I remember the most about Christmas as a kid was the build up.  The decorating the house.  Going to pick out the tree.  Always a real one.  Decorating the tree.  The ornaments – a lot handmade by us four kids.  The tinsel.  Making a string of popcorn.  Making our own chain to decorate the tree.

Watching Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman on tv.

Always taking the drive around the neighbourhood to see the lights.

Baking Christmas cookies.  I still bake the same ones.  We have sugar cookies and shortbread cookies and two other cookies my mom always made from a recipe one of my brothers brought home from school.

I remember the rush to clean the house because “company’s coming”.  Our grandparents always stayed with us on Christmas Eve.

We would go to bed early and fight so hard to go to sleep. afraid if we didn’t, Santa would fly over us.  I remember peaking out the window, looking at the sky, trying to find any sign of the magic to come.  Hopeful.  Eager.  Waiting so anxiously.

Christmas Day would start in the early morning hours.  We could not wait to wake up mom and dad and run downstairs to find out what was waiting for us.

The stockings were first.  So much excitement over the little things tucked inside.  Excitement even over the orange that was always there.

Presents were opened.  We snacked on chocolate and candy.  We played with the toys.  We wore our new socks, pj’s, or whatever was new to us.

Christmas Day was special.

There was the turkey, and the stuffing us kids would break the bread for.

The pickle tray.  The turnip we would be tricked into eating – saying it was squash.

The Christmas crackers with the paper hats and jokes or toys inside.

So many great memories.

My mom, brother and sister passed away in 1990.  I’ve been missing them ever since.  It’s not the same without them.  I often wonder what Christmas would be like if they were still here.

I haven’t baked my mom’s favourite cookies yet.  That’s the plan for later today.  I can hardly wait to wear her apron, and lock myself away in the kitchen.

My sixteen year old says “mom gets stressed at Christmas”.

I’m not sure if it’s stress if you love doing it.  I just want to make sure my kids feel the magic of Christmas that I felt when I was a kid and when I grew up.

Nothing like it.

I hope they always remember the build up to the holidays more than the presents under the tree.

I’m hard pressed to remember the gifts.  But I will forever remember the excitement and happiness I felt waiting for Christmas and in the day itself.

Something about this time of year that brings it all back in such a good way.

I realize how very lucky I was to grow up in such a loving home, where family always came first.

I see that in my kids.  I see their excitement over the preparations.  I see them get excited about sharing traditions.  I couldn’t be more proud.

Christmas can be a happy time, but I do realize that it can be downright hard as well.

We miss those that can’t be with us.  We grieve the broken relationships.  We long for how things could or should be.  We can get caught up in the materialism.  The need to buy more, get more, do more.

My wish for you is that this Christmas is a merry one.  I wish you peace and happiness – however that looks to you.   Take the pressure off yourself.  Do what you can.  Be kind to yourself and be kind to others.

Don’t set the bar too high.

Don’t expect the unreasonable.

“Expectation is the root of all heartache” – it’s a phrase I live by.

Reach out to someone who is hurting.  Be kind to those you pass in the store or in the street.  Not everyone loves this time of year and not everyone is celebrating.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.  I hope it is all that you want it to be. And here is to a brand new year – new decade.

I can’t wait to see what happens in 2020.

Categorised in: Afternoons

This post was written by Carrie Buchanan