One of my best and most favorite memories is from my old Parkway Village Baptist Church days. I loved the Christmas Eve service when Bro Mike was our pastor. Our entire family would go together to the service and it would be full of other families. It was done in low light so that made it special to me. And...we would sit as family units around tables for the entire service.
We would sing carols and read scriptures and it all ended with taking communion together. But....this communion was different than the ones on Sundays. This was bread we tore from a loaf and a bigger cup of juice than that tiny little cup of juice we normally sipped.
My dad was a deacon so he was in charge of passing out the elements around our table.
I looked forward to this service every year. I felt , even as a child, that I was really celebrating Christmas for the right reason: Jesus' birth. Then, I didn't feel so selfish afterwards when we went home to open our gifts.
Those many Eve services hold a special place in my heart. We carried that tradition into our own family. It did change however when we started attending another church. The new church had a Christmas Eve service....but it wasn't anything like the old PVBC once.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Story #9
OK.....today my story is about something we found under our tree every year. And....I was never sure why so I continued the trend in my own family. Until I realized that I didn't have to have this under my tree just because it was a tradition. I didn't understand the tradition and really never knew where it came from nor why.
It is: nuts and fruit from Santa!!!!
What kid wants to wake up to sacks of mixed nuts
Fruits
and a coconut?
They were always presented in a green paper sack and the top was neatly folded down. I never saw these sacks except at Christmas......so for sure it was from Santa. The nuts were a mix of almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and pecans....all of which were in their shells. The best part of these nuts was when we were cracking them open. We never ate any but we loved the mess it made and "cracking" sound of their shells popping open. Not sure whatever happened to them....but I know that my sisters and I never did eat them.
Then there was the fruit. I always had fruit in my lunch so I wasn't too interested in that. Except the pineapple. That fresh pineapple was a once a year treat. We did like that....but we fought over who got the first piece....like that made a difference or something!
And last but definitely not least was the coconut. That hairy thing was intriguing. One coconut was for all of us. Now....who eats fresh coconut as a snack? Certainly not a kid....but the cool thing was that I was able to poke the wholes in it to drain the 1 oz of milk that we would each get to sip. I stuck the ice pick into the 3 little holes that always reminded me of a bowling ball....and then we drained the coconut. Like I said...1 oz! And every year, it was Yucky!!! I guess I thought each year it might really taste good.
Then, Dad would take a hammer and bust the thing wide open. We each received a sample of the meat and it really wasn't very good either....but it was a novelty. I found that I liked coconut on cakes and in candy bars better than fresh out of the shell.
So....that tradition stopped with me. I did it once or twice and then realized that it was a waste and not really that important. I switched to providing chocolate and high sugary stocking items.....much more appreciated and definitely eaten.
It is: nuts and fruit from Santa!!!!
What kid wants to wake up to sacks of mixed nuts
Then there was the fruit. I always had fruit in my lunch so I wasn't too interested in that. Except the pineapple. That fresh pineapple was a once a year treat. We did like that....but we fought over who got the first piece....like that made a difference or something!
And last but definitely not least was the coconut. That hairy thing was intriguing. One coconut was for all of us. Now....who eats fresh coconut as a snack? Certainly not a kid....but the cool thing was that I was able to poke the wholes in it to drain the 1 oz of milk that we would each get to sip. I stuck the ice pick into the 3 little holes that always reminded me of a bowling ball....and then we drained the coconut. Like I said...1 oz! And every year, it was Yucky!!! I guess I thought each year it might really taste good.
Then, Dad would take a hammer and bust the thing wide open. We each received a sample of the meat and it really wasn't very good either....but it was a novelty. I found that I liked coconut on cakes and in candy bars better than fresh out of the shell.
So....that tradition stopped with me. I did it once or twice and then realized that it was a waste and not really that important. I switched to providing chocolate and high sugary stocking items.....much more appreciated and definitely eaten.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Story #8
Today's blog is about matching pajamas. Did any of you have to wear matching P J's for Christmas? We did. We usually opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and there was always a present containing matching PJ's Then, my sisters and I would have to go change into our outfits and make pictures. Then, we had to go to bed.
On Christmas morning, we were matching in all of the pictures as we checked out all of the goods we got from Santa.
I was even in my teens and was still a part of this annual ritual. I had to get married to be exempt from the matching PJ's!!! Not really...just kidding.
I actually enjoyed it and it is funny looking back on it. Pretty good bargain hunting for my mom since we were all ages and sizes. I was 5 years older than Tina, amd 7 years older than Tami, and 12 years older than Dana. So....Mom had to be pretty savvy to get the array of sizes that matched.
On Christmas morning, we were matching in all of the pictures as we checked out all of the goods we got from Santa.
I was even in my teens and was still a part of this annual ritual. I had to get married to be exempt from the matching PJ's!!! Not really...just kidding.
I actually enjoyed it and it is funny looking back on it. Pretty good bargain hunting for my mom since we were all ages and sizes. I was 5 years older than Tina, amd 7 years older than Tami, and 12 years older than Dana. So....Mom had to be pretty savvy to get the array of sizes that matched.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Story #7
Hey folks,
Today's story is a short one but kinda on the sad side. My mom was such an organized person that she always planned our holidays with trips and activities: especially trips to the doctors. She never wanted us to miss any school so on Easter Monday, or Thanksgiving Friday or even during Christmas break, we all had appointments to the dentist/eye doctor/gen. physician, etc. One time....my sister found out that she was getting her tonsils out during the Christmas break! Ouch.....Merry Christmas to her!
Well.....this particular Christmas, the unexpected happened. Tina and Tami both came down with the MUMPS at the same time. Needless to say....Christmas Eve and Day wasn't as fun as it usually is. They were miserable, trying to open gifts with their swollen chipmunk cheeks. They tried to smile in pictures but it was a " wish I was in the bed " look. Poor things....I felt so sorry for them. But, in all honesty, I was really glad it wasn't me. Good thing....I had already had the mumps years before them.
Really glad that mumps is not a childhood rite of passage anymore.
Today's story is a short one but kinda on the sad side. My mom was such an organized person that she always planned our holidays with trips and activities: especially trips to the doctors. She never wanted us to miss any school so on Easter Monday, or Thanksgiving Friday or even during Christmas break, we all had appointments to the dentist/eye doctor/gen. physician, etc. One time....my sister found out that she was getting her tonsils out during the Christmas break! Ouch.....Merry Christmas to her!
Well.....this particular Christmas, the unexpected happened. Tina and Tami both came down with the MUMPS at the same time. Needless to say....Christmas Eve and Day wasn't as fun as it usually is. They were miserable, trying to open gifts with their swollen chipmunk cheeks. They tried to smile in pictures but it was a " wish I was in the bed " look. Poor things....I felt so sorry for them. But, in all honesty, I was really glad it wasn't me. Good thing....I had already had the mumps years before them.
Really glad that mumps is not a childhood rite of passage anymore.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Story #6
Today....I want to reminisce about the yearly Christmas tree family decorating event. It is kinda the same scenario every year....so it really doesn't matter what year it is.
We always used a live evergreen tree. Dad would get the tree home and then we were all supposed to get into the spirit of decorating. The tree was always too tall and had to be trimmed. Of course that meant we had to get the vacuum out to clean up the trimmed off needes. Then....we had to wait while my Dad and Mom put the lights around the tree. That took forever and usually Mom and Dad were arguing over trying to untangle the lights. Me being the oldest...it was my job to occupy the little ones while we waited. We were all supposed to sit quietly on the couch until it was time to put the ornaments on. Tina usually read and Tami and Dana usually got into a fight and I would try to quiet them so that we would stay out of trouble.
Next came the garland.....we had to all circle the tree and pass the garland wad around until it was just right. That is when you would hear alot of "ouches" from the needles sticking us.
Ornament time: first one out of the box was usually dropped and broken.....which would make my dad angry.....then Mom would try to be the peacemaker and then we all would get silent. I would try to clean up the ornament before someone stepped on the glass....but of course I would get a cut and need a band aid....Such merry memories.
Finally it was icicle time.....by then....it was tense....so we just threw clumps on as fast as possible so we could be finished. It wasn't until I was married and Larry and I decorated our first tree that I found out that icicles were meant to be put on using individual strands and not clumps....Who knew?
So....there you have it.....our good old fun family decorating tree event.....As soon as were were dismissed.....we ran...not walked....to our rooms for de-stressing.
Ahhhh....such fond memories....
We always used a live evergreen tree. Dad would get the tree home and then we were all supposed to get into the spirit of decorating. The tree was always too tall and had to be trimmed. Of course that meant we had to get the vacuum out to clean up the trimmed off needes. Then....we had to wait while my Dad and Mom put the lights around the tree. That took forever and usually Mom and Dad were arguing over trying to untangle the lights. Me being the oldest...it was my job to occupy the little ones while we waited. We were all supposed to sit quietly on the couch until it was time to put the ornaments on. Tina usually read and Tami and Dana usually got into a fight and I would try to quiet them so that we would stay out of trouble.
Next came the garland.....we had to all circle the tree and pass the garland wad around until it was just right. That is when you would hear alot of "ouches" from the needles sticking us.
Ornament time: first one out of the box was usually dropped and broken.....which would make my dad angry.....then Mom would try to be the peacemaker and then we all would get silent. I would try to clean up the ornament before someone stepped on the glass....but of course I would get a cut and need a band aid....Such merry memories.
Finally it was icicle time.....by then....it was tense....so we just threw clumps on as fast as possible so we could be finished. It wasn't until I was married and Larry and I decorated our first tree that I found out that icicles were meant to be put on using individual strands and not clumps....Who knew?
So....there you have it.....our good old fun family decorating tree event.....As soon as were were dismissed.....we ran...not walked....to our rooms for de-stressing.
Ahhhh....such fond memories....
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Story #5
Today's memory is one that I still laugh about. We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve in my family and then Santa came on Christmas Day. 24 hours of gifts!!! We loved it.
One year, Dad decided that we could open a gift early on Christmas Eve morning. He said we could choose our gift but there was one hitch: we had to use whatever we opened that day.
So...we all went to the tree and picked out our gifts. 1-2-3 we opened them up.
Funny...but I don't remember what any of us opened except Tina. She thought she knew what she had picked out. She thought she had picked a horse book that she had wanted. She was a reader and loved any book that had horses as the topic.
Well....to her surprise and disappointment: she opened THE LIVING BIBLE. The look on her face was priceless! So...she was compliant and read a chapter in Luke.....the Christmas Story. How fitting. Me and my other sisters opened our Bibles that night with all of the other gifts.
To this day...if I see one or hear someone say Living Bible.....that thought pops in my head.
One year, Dad decided that we could open a gift early on Christmas Eve morning. He said we could choose our gift but there was one hitch: we had to use whatever we opened that day.
So...we all went to the tree and picked out our gifts. 1-2-3 we opened them up.
Funny...but I don't remember what any of us opened except Tina. She thought she knew what she had picked out. She thought she had picked a horse book that she had wanted. She was a reader and loved any book that had horses as the topic.
Well....to her surprise and disappointment: she opened THE LIVING BIBLE. The look on her face was priceless! So...she was compliant and read a chapter in Luke.....the Christmas Story. How fitting. Me and my other sisters opened our Bibles that night with all of the other gifts.
To this day...if I see one or hear someone say Living Bible.....that thought pops in my head.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Story #4
I have been asked about pictures from the old days. Well...maybe I can find some but I have to look through the albums at my mom's house. So...I will search for some and post them at the end....if I find some.
Today, I salute all of the creative people in my life. I am so blessed by people who are able to make things with their hands. I can come up with concepts and brilliant ideas, but I can't make them look like they look in my head. My good friend, Tria, would always bring my ideas to life. We were called the Lucy and Ethel of the church. But, that is a whole different blog for another time.
I really love holiday creations made by my friends. And, they always put the personal touch on it by including the color purple in the creation. My friend, Barbara, made this beautiful decoration several years ago. It had a musical theme and was a beautiful shade of purple. She was worried that I wouldn't like it because it was homemade. I just think it is LOVEMADE.
Preview for tomorrow: a memory about when Dad let us open a gift on the morning of Christmas Eve and we even were allowed to choose our package. My sister, Tina, was not too thrilled with her early gift!
Today, I salute all of the creative people in my life. I am so blessed by people who are able to make things with their hands. I can come up with concepts and brilliant ideas, but I can't make them look like they look in my head. My good friend, Tria, would always bring my ideas to life. We were called the Lucy and Ethel of the church. But, that is a whole different blog for another time.
I really love holiday creations made by my friends. And, they always put the personal touch on it by including the color purple in the creation. My friend, Barbara, made this beautiful decoration several years ago. It had a musical theme and was a beautiful shade of purple. She was worried that I wouldn't like it because it was homemade. I just think it is LOVEMADE.
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