I was sitting here trying to think of what Christmas memory I wanted to share. When it hit me, I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about it. It's amazing how as time goes on, little memories fade, until something happens to spark them and they flare to life just like they just happened. That's how this memory was for me.
My husband and I have a very unique story on how we got together. We've been together since we were teenagers and because of various situations, we needed somewhere to live. We were teenagers, both worked little part time jobs, and still in high school and we couldn't afford our own place. There was a girl I went to school with and her family had welcomed us into their home and treated us just like one of their children. Now this happened before Christmas, but when that time of year came around, I was a little nervous. It was going to be my first Christmas not spending it with my mom.
I remember the HUGE Christmas tree they bought. I was in shock. They always went all out on their tree. Then they bought tons of cans of the snow and flocked it until it was perfectly white. They had their tradition down pat. They had glitter that we'd put in our hands and blow onto the tree to make it sparkle against the fake snow. And then decorations. TONS of them! We all jumped in. I can remember just staring at it when we were done. It was the prettiest tree I'd ever seen! On Christmas Eve they always let the kids open one gift and it was always pajamas. We'd wear those to bed so that we'd have nice jammies on the next morning for pictures. We got up super early and opened gifts then we'd set out snack foods for the day while they started cooking.
They will always be family to us. We stepped right into their family and have been a part of it ever since. Even though we live in a different state now and we haven't seen them for a few years, we're always be close. Not just because they made that first holiday, out on my own like a "grown-up" so special, but because they're special.
I'll randomly draw one winner from today's commenters who will win their choice of one of my ebooks. Click HERE for a list of my books!
32 comments:
The most vivid Christmas memory I have is when I was about 3 or 4. I was the only one up in the wee hours of the morning and the tree was all lit up and beautiful and Santa had come and I got a baby doll which I adored.
When I was growing up, we were too poor to have a Christmas tree or do anything like exchange presents. I will always remember, though, the smells. Food was very important. Breads, cakes, the nogs. I never knew where my mother came up with the resources to have a huge spread every year, but we did.
Now that I have my own family, I find I follow the same pattern. Sure, my daughter gets her presents, but it's all about the food for me.
How sweet of her family to open their home and hearts to you! That is a special memory:)
When I was younger we always made sure all of the ornaments my sister and I made went on the tree first before any of the others. My dad used to tell us they were better than all the others.
We would always make a special batch of cookies just for Santa and put them out.
What a great Christmas story!! Thank you for sharing. It really encapsulates the spirit of christmas.
Anne,
I love that. It's amazing to look at the beautiful lit tree as a child.
Avril, it's amazing how smells can bring up so many strong memories.
Kenzie,
Thanks!
Desi, That ormanets story is so cute! I love that your dad said that. How sweet and I'm sure they were!
Brindle,
Thank you!
The girls and I make cookies for teachers and neighbors every year from scratch. We've added dipped pretzels and pepperment bark candy to it. It's fun to create sweets for our friends together.My son does the icing and helps do other things. I doesnt much like to bake now that he's 14 lol. But I have pictures and videotape of us almost every year!
Hales,
I LOVE chocolate covered pretzels. SO good.
What a nice warm fuzzie kind of memory. Glad you shared it.
Zina
Thanks for sharing your Christmas memory. We also open up one gift on Christmas Eve (not pj's) the kids get to pick which one they want.
Your story was wonderful I always like happy endings.I didn't have Christmas with my dad from the time I was little till I was 10 years old he keep my brother and me but didn't like us.My Grandma got us away from my dad and that first Christmas with her was great we had a wonderful tree all deck out we had so many presents we didn't know how to act.My grandma was a wonderful and loving person and she made up for all we miss.
I don't have a ebook reading thing I still have to read the old way with printed books so don't put me in the draw I just wanted all you to know I like hearing from you,you ladies are great.
Zina,
Thanks!
Elaing8,
At home with my mom, we always got to pick the gift too!
Wendy, Thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad you had your grandma. Thanks for commenting and visiting our blog. Are you sure you don't want to be entered? If you win, you can read from your computer.
Madison, what a fantastic story--what a blessing to become part of such a loving family! :) It's wonderful that we can find family as well as being born into one...
Thank You Madison for telling me that I didn't know you could read ebooks from your computer I'm new at computers I only been at it for a year, so yes I would love to the enter the drawing.maybe for Christmas one of my twin girls will by me a ebook thing.
Flchen,
We were lucky. They're great people.
Wendy, you're welcome. Yep, I read PDF's on my computer all the time!
That's a great story and oh so true. Family is who you make it and not just genetics. A favorite story I remember was my first Christmas after I became a quadriplegic. Some of the older neighbors decided it would be cool for me to see Santa so one of them came to our house dressed up while Rudolph--who was another neighbor jumping through the bushes with a red cloth over a flash light--waited outside. As a four-year-old I thought it was the coolest thing ever and those neighbors continued to be a part of our celebration for years to come.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
That's so sweet! :) I love that you were able to find somewhere so great to spend Christmas.
Kelly
kittykelly28 @ hotmail.com
your story really captures what christmas should be about; family, friends, and giving. Thanks for sharing it and reminding us.
Joder,
I love that story! What a lovely tradition.
Thank you Kitty and Snow!
Ooooh! What a cool idea with the snow and glitter. That's a memory those kids growing up with never forget. Just wonderful. And then the grandkids will also have the same, I'll bet. Makes me want to adopt the same ritual just to create such memories.
:o)
Awww...that's a really nice memory. You've been blessed with amazing people in your life for sure.
Happy Christmas, Madison.
What a great story. Thank you for sharing. One of my fave Christmas traditions that I do is sleep on the couch with the Christmas tree lights on. All the lights in the house are out so the tree makes the living room look like a happy haven. My roommate and I started this our first Christmas together. We came back from midnight mass and it was snowing. We sat with the tree lights on and it was perfect that we decided to get in our pj's and sleep right there. We've moved on to different areas of the country, but I always keep the tradition going for myself.
Thanks, Nat, Tess, and Melissa!!!
I love people who are just so generous! Sounds like they made Christmas so special for you guys.
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