As I read all the wonderful entries on this blog, it makes me feel so nostalgic, thinking of my Christmases through the years. Not surprisingly, my mother was the central figure of all the Christmas preparations when I was a kid. She did a great job though letting all the children contribute to the Christmas decorating, however it came out. She was always so appreciative and encouraging. Thinking back now I can hear her voice directing action in the kitchen like a conductor leads an orchestra, everything coming together at just the right time. So capable and resilient. So loving in every which way.
Prior to marrying my father, my mother lived an exciting life as a single career women during WWII, working for the FBI on both coasts and having lots of off-hours fun at the beach with the other women and the agents. As a kid, I used to try to picture that part of her life, having a little trouble reconciling it with the model homemaker side of her I knew.
Through the last ten years, my relationship with my mother has changed. Little by little her memory has been stripped away by the thief known as Alzheimer's disease. It has progressed slowly with a variety of stages, and a lesson for me in each step: patience, courage, understanding, and a humble gratitude and admiration for my sister who is her primary care-giver.
My Mom, happily, is still central to my Christmas. Each November my sisters and I discuss when and where to visit considering what would be least disorienting to her. Usually the visit is brief but sweet. Her cheery eyes and warm smile take me back to my childhood and I comforted by just sitting close to her. She's lost those memories of WWII and the Great Depression. She no longer tells me stories of the men returning from war and of the 1938 hurricane. In fact, she no longer knows my name or recognizes me as her daughter. She delights in entertainment and toys designed for children. Stripped of most memory, agility and many basic abilities, she who has been my greatest source of love and comfort, has be come like a infant in many ways. Yet the comfort and love are still there. I feel it when I smell her and when I hear her voice. I see my mother like the Christ child: Jesus was vulnerable baby that night of his birth, yet the source of eternal comfort and joy. When I am with my Mom, I feel closer to Jesus.
Jackie Farrell
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Christmas Eve Event
Christmas for us has always been a time for gathering family and enjoying the time together. For the past 27 yrs, we've been getting family together to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. It'd be our parents, siblings, inlaws, neices and nephews- and close friends gathered together in one place once a year. The night was so anticipated and enjoyed on so many levels. The friends would flow through on their way to other events, but always seemed to linger at our house as part of our "family". We'd gather these people and share food, hugs and time together. We even leave our guests (those who didn't want to join us) and go off to the Christmas Eve service, come back and rejoin the festive crowd.
We've evolved into doing a gift swap and it really isn't about the gift as much as it's about the time together and the comedic attempts to come up with a gift to make everyone laugh. It's a pretty humorously creative crowd. I've tried to cancel it or even modify it- DENIED by the group. So, I guess it stays as is.
As the years have gone on, the nieces and nephews and our children now consider it a "must do" event. With everyone going in so many different directions and now living all over the U.S. and Europe, Christmas Eve is one of those events that they really try to be home for. It's still one of the only times we all just get together and share time, laughs, and love. I wouldn't trade it for any store bought gift that the Ad wizards are trying to sell me. My family is my greatest blessing and I love taking Christ's birthday as the day to celebrate these great gifts simultaneously.
Merry Christmas to you all- Nancy Hill
We've evolved into doing a gift swap and it really isn't about the gift as much as it's about the time together and the comedic attempts to come up with a gift to make everyone laugh. It's a pretty humorously creative crowd. I've tried to cancel it or even modify it- DENIED by the group. So, I guess it stays as is.
As the years have gone on, the nieces and nephews and our children now consider it a "must do" event. With everyone going in so many different directions and now living all over the U.S. and Europe, Christmas Eve is one of those events that they really try to be home for. It's still one of the only times we all just get together and share time, laughs, and love. I wouldn't trade it for any store bought gift that the Ad wizards are trying to sell me. My family is my greatest blessing and I love taking Christ's birthday as the day to celebrate these great gifts simultaneously.
Merry Christmas to you all- Nancy Hill
Music for the season
Listening to great Christian music seems to be a necessity at Christmas time. I did some searching online and found what I consider a top inspirational station ( KTIS.fm/christmas out of Minnesota.) I'm listening now while I cleanup around the house.Along with the music there are call-ins from listeners sharing their Christmas stories.This station plays music the majority of the time so you can tune in and listen whenever you need a lift! I would recommend it for those who like light contemporary and a variety of styles.
Judy Mello
Judy Mello
A Canine Christmas Analogy
I too have many similar traditions listed here. We have a manger scene that moves its shepherds and wisemen closer to the manger. They don’t make the long distance around the livingroom but make their way across a bureau we have in the dining room. The scenery has grown. I add animals, rocks, plants and angels each year. It has always been the preparation of Christmas to me. I enjoy getting ready for it. The time spent with the children making gingerbread houses, crafting for gifts. So too, I enjoy the time I can reflect on what Jesus did for us. There is a story told by Chuck Missler relaying a dream a friend of his, John, had. He is being shown the universe. They are approaching a planet and he is a bit puzzled. What is special about this planet? God says, Look closer. As they get closer he sees the planet is inhabited by all dogs. Now he is even more confused and God again says to look closer. So as he looks he sees the dogs are vicious dogs. It’s horrible to watch. So he says to God, I don’t understand. And God says to him, You see John, I love these dogs and I want you to go to them and take my message of love to them. Well John doesn’t feel comfortable or thrilled to do this, but he will do anything for God and tells Him so. God then explains to him, in order for him to do this he will have to become a dog. Not just any dog but a chihuahua. And when he goes there he warns him they will not listen, in fact they are going to tear you apart, kill you. But that’s okay because I am going to resurrect you. John says Okay that;s better, Then God says to him, But know this John, even when I resurrect you, you will remain a dog, you will always be a chihuahua.
Jesus became man for eternity. He did that for us. Merry Christmas.
Pat Coppola
Jesus became man for eternity. He did that for us. Merry Christmas.
Pat Coppola
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Savoring Family Breakfast
A couple traditions come to mind. Christmas is one of two days of the year when our busy family sits down to have breakfast together (Easter Sunday - or sometimes Easter "Saturday" - is the only other day). We get up early on Christmas morning (but it gets a little later each year it seems), open our stockings, and then have breakfast. Nancy has been making cinnamon rolls for Christmas ever since we met. She serves those plus scrambled eggs, sausage, and fruit. We pray together before the meal, we (at least try to) eat slowly to savor the moment, and then move on to opening Christmas presents. It's one of my favorite parts of the day and the season, especially as family times with all 6 of us in the room are becoming more rare, and more precious, with each passing year.
Another tradition of my own is I listening to the entire Handel's Messiah. I try to do it every Advent season, but given the length of the piece sometimes I have to break it up into "segments" instead of listening to the entire thing in one sitting. I love the music and find it spiritually moving to reflect on the many Scriptures - especially the O.T. prophecies - that comprise the words of this great musical oratorio. I would like to learn more about the history of the piece.
May you experience the true joy of knowing Christ the Messiah this Christmas!
John Feehrer
"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
Another tradition of my own is I listening to the entire Handel's Messiah. I try to do it every Advent season, but given the length of the piece sometimes I have to break it up into "segments" instead of listening to the entire thing in one sitting. I love the music and find it spiritually moving to reflect on the many Scriptures - especially the O.T. prophecies - that comprise the words of this great musical oratorio. I would like to learn more about the history of the piece.
May you experience the true joy of knowing Christ the Messiah this Christmas!
John Feehrer
"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
A Moving Nativity
When our children were very young my wife came up with the idea to make the Nativity set an active living part of the Christmas season to involve the kids and help them understand the Christmas story.
We would set the manger in a destination spot with just the cow and the star from our set. Then we would put Joseph, Mary and the donkey across the room and do the same with the three kings and the shepherds and sheep, each having their own starting point. Then through the advent season we would read the scriptures that tells the story of what happened to each group and why they traveled. Then each day we would have the children move each of the grouping closer and closer toward the manger so that they all end at the manger scene by Christmas day. Christmas eve when the kids were asleep we put the baby Jesus in the manger.
The children loved it and could not wait to move the pieces each day. It was fun watching Mary and Joseph cross the hutch then the book shelf to the piano then into the manger scene. The shepherds crossed two window sills and a coffee table to the scene. while the three kings traveled from the edge of a desk over the stereo on to a side table then a speaker to the scene last. As we turned to scripture to be accurate with the interactive nativity experience we learned a great deal too. It is something we do every year and now that two of our children have grown out of that faze we still keep the tradition. We thought you may like the story.
Brian & Marlies Henderson
We would set the manger in a destination spot with just the cow and the star from our set. Then we would put Joseph, Mary and the donkey across the room and do the same with the three kings and the shepherds and sheep, each having their own starting point. Then through the advent season we would read the scriptures that tells the story of what happened to each group and why they traveled. Then each day we would have the children move each of the grouping closer and closer toward the manger so that they all end at the manger scene by Christmas day. Christmas eve when the kids were asleep we put the baby Jesus in the manger.
The children loved it and could not wait to move the pieces each day. It was fun watching Mary and Joseph cross the hutch then the book shelf to the piano then into the manger scene. The shepherds crossed two window sills and a coffee table to the scene. while the three kings traveled from the edge of a desk over the stereo on to a side table then a speaker to the scene last. As we turned to scripture to be accurate with the interactive nativity experience we learned a great deal too. It is something we do every year and now that two of our children have grown out of that faze we still keep the tradition. We thought you may like the story.
Brian & Marlies Henderson
Friday, December 11, 2009
Meaningful Gifts
When I was younger, we too usually received PJ’s or slippers as the one present we could open on Christmas Eve. I cracked up as I was reading another blog that was posted earlier with the same tradition. My parents, my brother and my self typically spent Christmas Eve at church with our friends. Sometimes there were parties other times it was just a quiet evening.
The most exciting part Christmas morning, for my brother and I was finding our stockings laid carefully on the end of our beds. There were little gifts tucked neatly inside and each was individually wrapped. We found a small toy or two, an orange or Clementine, some type of chocolate, and my favorite the Book of Life Saver candies (which I usually had finished at least 2 rolls before mom and dad were up).
As the rest of the house began to stir, we prompted mom to finish her tea and for both her and Dad to come sit down by the tree. Dad would get out his bible and read the Christmas story… my brother and I silently prayed that dad would read the account from Mathew chapter1: verses18 - 25 and certainly not from Luke chapters 1 – 2:40 (as it took dreadfully long). My happiest memories were the Christmas mornings in which we listened intently to Dad read the account of our Savior’s humble birth, prayed for His blessing on our family time and spent our time savoring each gift and taking turns opening 1 gift at a time. Watching each others’ expressions and excitement made the day last (and the memories too).
We also received a new Christmas ornament each year; all those ornaments I still treasure as I try to remember when each was given. Mom wrote the year on most of them. Now that I am a mom, we continue some of the traditions that I remember fondly. We try to purchase unique ornaments each year for both of my children. We also read an abridged version of the Christmas Story (our children are ages 4 and 6 now and have the attention span of a gnat on caffeine). We even place the stockings on the end of our children’s bed after they have fallen asleep.
One thing I’d like to change is the rush and hectic-ness that seems to have come from no-where, but I’m sure they were slowly sneaking in upon us, growing more and more each year. As the kids get older and have more say in what they would like for Christmas, I’d like to refocus them on what it means to give and give freely. I’d like to be able to pause and remember that God’s plans for us aren’t always as we envision them; that His timing is so much more critical than the timing we set upon Him. It is a breath of fresh air as I view this Christmas differently; its not a drastic change, but a much simpler celebration. Less rush and less stress. I wish you all a very Merry and simple Christmas as we celebrate the humble birth of our Lord and Savior.
Patti Q.
The most exciting part Christmas morning, for my brother and I was finding our stockings laid carefully on the end of our beds. There were little gifts tucked neatly inside and each was individually wrapped. We found a small toy or two, an orange or Clementine, some type of chocolate, and my favorite the Book of Life Saver candies (which I usually had finished at least 2 rolls before mom and dad were up).
As the rest of the house began to stir, we prompted mom to finish her tea and for both her and Dad to come sit down by the tree. Dad would get out his bible and read the Christmas story… my brother and I silently prayed that dad would read the account from Mathew chapter1: verses18 - 25 and certainly not from Luke chapters 1 – 2:40 (as it took dreadfully long). My happiest memories were the Christmas mornings in which we listened intently to Dad read the account of our Savior’s humble birth, prayed for His blessing on our family time and spent our time savoring each gift and taking turns opening 1 gift at a time. Watching each others’ expressions and excitement made the day last (and the memories too).
We also received a new Christmas ornament each year; all those ornaments I still treasure as I try to remember when each was given. Mom wrote the year on most of them. Now that I am a mom, we continue some of the traditions that I remember fondly. We try to purchase unique ornaments each year for both of my children. We also read an abridged version of the Christmas Story (our children are ages 4 and 6 now and have the attention span of a gnat on caffeine). We even place the stockings on the end of our children’s bed after they have fallen asleep.
One thing I’d like to change is the rush and hectic-ness that seems to have come from no-where, but I’m sure they were slowly sneaking in upon us, growing more and more each year. As the kids get older and have more say in what they would like for Christmas, I’d like to refocus them on what it means to give and give freely. I’d like to be able to pause and remember that God’s plans for us aren’t always as we envision them; that His timing is so much more critical than the timing we set upon Him. It is a breath of fresh air as I view this Christmas differently; its not a drastic change, but a much simpler celebration. Less rush and less stress. I wish you all a very Merry and simple Christmas as we celebrate the humble birth of our Lord and Savior.
Patti Q.
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