There is something about this time of year.\u00a0 It can create so much excitement and for some of us, a bit of sadness too.<\/p>\n
I grew up with a family who loved to celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 My mom knew how to make holidays special, but Christmas was by far the best.<\/p>\n
I don’t remember the presents – except for the Barbie Camper Van that I was so excited to finally get! and the skis.\u00a0 That didn’t come with proper footwear so they ended up in the garage for a long time.\u00a0 \u00a0I 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 But I couldn’t sleep after that.<\/p>\n
The skis were a great idea too.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The only problem was I didn’t have the proper boots.\u00a0 I was determined to use them.\u00a0 I used my regular boots, trying to snap it into the skis.\u00a0 I think I may have even taped them on in an attempt to use them.\u00a0 No luck.\u00a0 My dad still laughs about it.<\/p>\n
What I remember the most about Christmas as a kid was the build up.\u00a0 The decorating the house.\u00a0 Going to pick out the tree.\u00a0 Always a real one.\u00a0 Decorating the tree.\u00a0 The ornaments – a lot handmade by us four kids.\u00a0 The tinsel.\u00a0 Making a string of popcorn.\u00a0 Making our own chain to decorate the tree.<\/p>\n
Watching Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman on tv.<\/p>\n
Always taking the drive around the neighbourhood to see the lights.<\/p>\n
Baking Christmas cookies.\u00a0 I still bake the same ones.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
I remember the rush to clean the house because “company’s coming”.\u00a0 Our grandparents always stayed with us on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
We would go to bed early and fight so hard to go to sleep. afraid if we didn’t, Santa would fly over us.\u00a0 I remember peaking out the window, looking at the sky, trying to find any sign of the magic to come.\u00a0 Hopeful.\u00a0 Eager.\u00a0 Waiting so anxiously.<\/p>\n
Christmas Day would start in the early morning hours.\u00a0 We could not wait to wake up mom and dad and run downstairs to find out what was waiting for us.<\/p>\n
The stockings were first.\u00a0 So much excitement over the little things tucked inside.\u00a0 Excitement even over the orange that was always there.<\/p>\n
Presents were opened.\u00a0 We snacked on chocolate and candy.\u00a0 We played with the toys.\u00a0 We wore our new socks, pj’s, or whatever was new to us.<\/p>\n
Christmas Day was special.<\/p>\n
There was the turkey, and the stuffing us kids would break the bread for.<\/p>\n
The pickle tray.\u00a0 The turnip we would be tricked into eating – saying it was squash.<\/p>\n
The Christmas crackers with the paper hats and jokes or toys inside.<\/p>\n
So many great memories.<\/p>\n
My mom, brother and sister passed away in 1990.\u00a0 I’ve been missing them ever since.\u00a0 It’s not the same without them.\u00a0 I often wonder what Christmas would be like if they were still here.<\/p>\n
I haven’t baked my mom’s favourite cookies yet.\u00a0 That’s the plan for later today.\u00a0 I can hardly wait to wear her apron, and lock myself away in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
My sixteen year old says “mom gets stressed at Christmas”.<\/p>\n
I’m not sure if it’s stress if you love doing it.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
Nothing like it.<\/p>\n
I hope they always remember the build up to the holidays more than the presents under the tree.<\/p>\n
I’m hard pressed to remember the gifts.\u00a0 But I will forever remember the excitement and happiness I felt waiting for Christmas and in the day itself.<\/p>\n
Something about this time of year that brings it all back in such a good way.<\/p>\n
I realize how very lucky I was to grow up in such a loving home, where family always came first.<\/p>\n
I see that in my kids.\u00a0 I see their excitement over the preparations.\u00a0 I see them get excited about sharing traditions.\u00a0 I couldn’t be more proud.<\/p>\n
Christmas can be a happy time, but I do realize that it can be downright hard as well.<\/p>\n
We miss those that can’t be with us.\u00a0 We grieve the broken relationships.\u00a0 We long for how things could or should be.\u00a0 We can get caught up in the materialism.\u00a0 The need to buy more, get more, do more.<\/p>\n
My wish for you is that this Christmas is a merry one.\u00a0 I wish you peace and happiness – however that looks to you.\u00a0 \u00a0Take the pressure off yourself.\u00a0 Do what you can.\u00a0 Be kind to yourself and be kind to others.<\/p>\n
Don’t set the bar too high.<\/p>\n
Don’t expect the unreasonable.<\/p>\n
“Expectation is the root of all heartache” – it’s a phrase I live by.<\/p>\n
Reach out to someone who is hurting.\u00a0 Be kind to those you pass in the store or in the street.\u00a0 Not everyone loves this time of year and not everyone is celebrating.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas to you and your family.\u00a0 I hope it is all that you want it to be. And here is to a brand new year – new decade.<\/p>\n
I can’t wait to see what happens in 2020.<\/p>\n
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