I mean really. I love everything about it. The hustle and bustle of shopping - okay, I'm not doing much of that this year and truthfully, I miss it. Really I do. I used to love shopping for my kids, trying to remember what I bought and for which one and making sure I didn't buy one child too many gifts. I always kept the packages even. It wasn't fair if one child got five gifts and one got six, or worse four. Yes, I also tried to spend the same amount on each child, but no way was one going to have more packages to open. So sometimes one got something that cost less. In later years, when I bought them mostly clothes, I often got them the same things. My daughters used to laugh because they all got the same sweater only different colors. No one could say I wasn't fair. Now all my children get the same gift. One year I made them all flannel quilts, once I made them home made noodles and perogi. My son said that was his favorite gift. Last year my husband made his spaghetti sauce and canned it. This year I have other homemade gifts. Being on a fixed income, we can't purchase many gifts anymore. It's enough to make sure the grandchildren get gifts. Four of the grandchildren have moved into the adult category since they have spouses. They get the same thing my children get.
Truthfully, I think they all appreciate these homemade gifts more than the ones I purchased.
I love the Christmas music on the radio. It cheers me up and brings back memories. Memories of my childhood and early days of marriage and when the kids were young. What happy days. I loved waking up Christmas morning and watching the kids open their gifts. Now Christmas morning is just me and hubby and we have to wait until later in the day to enjoy the grandchildren.
This year, my oldest daughter will be alone for the first time on Christmas morning. I remember that first year. So I invited her and my son in law to breakfast and decided it would be fun to make it and take it to my son and his wife who don't have any children. I hope we can start a new tradition and I hope as each of my children experience the first year alone, they'll join us. It'll probably be a few years before that happens.
I love the Christmas lights too. Everything looks so cheeerful. I dread taking down the tree and turning off the outdoor decorations. It all looks so bleak and boring. I don't look forward to that at all.
So as I said, I love this time of year and hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.
11 comments:
I know what you mean I have a secret notebook that has tally scratches in it so I make sure all the kids get the same amount of gifts .
Merry christmas
meandi09@yahoo.com
LOL Jennifer, I used to do the same thing. Sometimes I'd list each child and write what I bought. So I knew how much to spend. Of course I had to hide it so they wouldn't find it. Then when I shopped I made a list of which ones I still needed to buy for and approximate price. It's really easier now, but I seriously do miss shopping.
Oh, memories! And yes, one child sometimes got a little more or a little spent on them, depending on age and wish list, but NEVER would one have "more" or "less" than another!
I'm not much on shopping, I let my wife do that. But just the other day I was thinking how nice it was, not too hot and not too cold ... I was driving home from somewhere, had the top down and Christmas music on the car radio ... very pleasant.
I share your sentiments, Roseanne. Merry Christmas. I hope your Christmas is very special.
Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. People claim it's become too commercial and that we've lost the meaning. Well, it's up to us not to let that happen in our own celebrations. You're definitely making a stand with the homemade gifts. I love those kind. Is that your tree? I wish you and Roger the very best holiday ever. Love ya, gal!
Thanks, Ginger, I think I like the homemade gifts better than buying them. They're definitely made with love. Yes, that's our tree and one of our dogs.
I hope no one takes this the wrong way,but I no longer enjoy Christmas. I used to love Christmas and everything that went with it: decorating outside, putting up a tree, shopping, baking, carols, writing out the cards and reading the returns... But in Nov 2008, my mom got sick. She died from a stroke in May of 2009. My dad passed away in '97. My bro lives somewhere in TN, so all I have is a sister. She is blind (5 yrs from diabetes). She doesn't live too far, but far enough that we only see each other occasionally. We talk almost everyday and I read novels to her on the phone. (yes, she gets books on tape, but they lack the garbled words, the snoring and the personal comments that go with mine). So, holidays are extremely painful to me. I still make cookies & candy, send out cards, and buy gifts, but my heart just isn't in it anymore. Maybe as time goes by that magic will come back... So much I see and hear right now just makes me cry.
Cindy, normally I would never comment on another reader's remarks, but I can't help myself. You have every right to your grief. Your heart hurts and you need to cry, and you should.
Please know that you are in my thoughts today, Cindy. If I could I'd send you a huge hug just to let you know that you're not alone. Christmas hasn't always been my favourite time of year either. Even now I still get teary. But it's getting easier. And this year for the first time in many years, I'm feeling grateful and humbled by all my wonderful blogging friends.
I believe with my whole heart that you'll feel this way one day too. For now, may God lift you up and keep you close to His heart. I hope next year is easier.
Cindy, I'm so very sorry to hear that. We buried my mom the day before Thanksgiving almost 15 years ago. My brother died a week before Thanksgiving three years later and my dad followed a few weeks later. My sister passed 9 years ago in June. They loved Christmas. As difficult as it was to put up my tree the day after Thanksgiving the year my mom passed, I did it anyway. I put on her wedding ring and all the while I put up the tree and listened to Christmas music, she was with me. She's with me every year since. Oh, she's with me all year, but especially at Christmas time. She helps me bake my cookies and cook our traditional Christmas Eve meal.The first year she passed, my sister and I made it for my dad and the rest of the family. We put too much salt in the soup. We didn't know what to do and Mom wasn't there to ask. We went outside for a cigarette, looked up at the sky and said, "Mom, you have to help with the soup or Dad is gonna kill us." My brother arrived at that moment and we asked him to taste the soup. He said it was perfect. Mom came through. I know how difficult holidays can be without our loved ones. But to me, they're always with me, in my heart and in my memories. I wish you the best.
Thanks. I appreciate your comments. I know others have gone through the same situation. But the pain just hurts so bad... sorry.
Post a Comment