Winter Memories

I can hardly believe that Christmas is literally just around the corner...

And part of me is almost feeling "child-like" when I think about the excitement that's yet to come! We're not doing gifts this year. There's nothing that I need, there's nothing that my son needs, and I'm pretty sure that there's nothing that anyone else in my family needs. I've been saying it for years...realistically, if there's something any of us "needs," there are 364 other days throughout the year that those "material" needs can be met.

SO...rather than giving a gift that no one will even remember getting this time next year, we've decided to build upon our memories instead, and take a little trip. To...DISNEYLAND!!! But you know...all of that is pretty irrelevant when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas.

Before I get into my memories...I just have to share, that yesterday morning I was able to spend some time with the kids at church, and one in particular. One of the sweetest sounds in the world, is that of a little voice singing. And yesterday, it was "Away in a Manger." She stole my heart...

Within the past few months there have been little things that have triggered certain childhood memories. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. Winter comes in a close second. Winter always carried the greatest memories.

One of the first things I think about this time of year, is being a child and being SO excited when television played my favorite (and I mean favorite) Christmas special, "Nester the Long Eared Christmas Donkey." I watch it on VHS to this day, and it still makes me cry. And I'm still waiting for the day when they decide to make John Denver and the Muppets Christmas special available on DVD. I remember being a little girl and squeaking out (I had lost my voice) the story of "Alfie the Christmas Tree" at a Christmas Eve service at church.

And then there was the fond memory of going into the "timber" (aka the pasture) to cut firewood. This was almost always a family affair, and it was extra special when we didn't quite get it chopped before the first snowfall. There is nothing better than a "real" fire...with firewood that you played a part in "fetching." And then...the snow!!! It amazes me that as a child you can play outside for hours on end, and not think twice about the bitter cold. We always knew that when we returned indoors we could thaw out by the fire, and almost always request hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course)! Our boots would be packed with snow, our faces numb, and our little bodies would be maxed out on enjoyment! We had the best hills, accompanied by "gullies" at the bottom. We had the best sleds, plastic toboggans as well as the round disc-shaped ones which were GREAT for spinning out of control!

The older I got, my "memories" changed. I went from being oblivious to the cold, to never being warm enough. My teenage memories are of the "window walks" through downtown DeWitt. I went from enjoying the displays to becoming a display. And the Christmas caroling! Do they even do that anymore? I used to absolutely love walking around town, going door to door, and seeing the excitement on the faces of those we visited...from the nursing home to my own grandma's house. I'd like to do that again someday. This was back when "Christmas" could be called Christmas, when we could still sing about Jesus in school, and the true reason we celebrated this time of year.

I remember the tradition of sitting around the living room before we opened gifts, and read from the book of Matthew. And we were quiet while it was being read. I remember sitting in anticipation at my grandparents' as the dinner table was cleared and the kitchen organized before we could start opening presents on Christmas Eve. When it was over, we'd go to the 11:00 church service. Christmas Days were spent at my grandma's house with the hundred or so relatives that did the same.

Things seem so much more different now. Will my child grow up and have such great memories? I sure hope so. But more than that, I hope he never loses sight of the reason we celebrate...