A week from today, we will be celebrating the wonderful and joyous day of Christmas. In a season that seems to have lost the real reason we celebrate this time of year in exchange for overcrowded shopping malls and mothers fighting over sales to purchase the best Christmas gift. The Season is started well before the candy is handed out on Halloween to extend the retail shopping season just as long as possible. By the time Christmas actually gets here, I here many anxiously waiting for it to be over. For so many its become a lonely depressing time of year, only emphasizing even more the hardships or lack of relationship many are facing.
Growing up I was the Biggest Fan of Barbara Mandrell. Her Holiday song "Christmas at our House" felt like she was singing about my family. The simple lyrics of this song, deep in tradition and based with faith of the true reason for this season still bring me back to my childhood. Looking back as a child, Christmas truly was the happiest time of year! Not only for the gifts we received, but more importantly the traditions we did with family, that was all based around the meaning we celebrated as a family this wonderful time of year.
As a family, we always had a live tree for Christmas, and it wasn't just any tree purchased at any tree lot. It was tradition to head to the ranch and as a family find the "perfect" tree. Mom always wanted a cedar, while Dad was more at will just in getting a long needle pine. It brings a smile to my face just thinking of how "Charlie Brown" they actually were. They always looked so wonderful and full as we looked for them. Yet by the time it was home, and cut down to size , to fit in the house, there was always a huge hole, and something missing. Even though we had the tree, it was never the first decoration put up. As the boxes were unpacked, to decorate, the Nativity was always the first item put up. As a grown adult, this is something I still continue to do. Its a simple reminder once again of why we celebrate this time of year.
By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, my sister and I had probably drove my parents crazy about the gifts under the tree. We had a simple tradition of opening one gift before we attended Christmas Eve Services. I love hearing the Christmas Story each and every year, and singing carols by candlelight. After services, we always ended up at my Maternal Grandparents home. All my Aunts and Uncles, and cousins would be there as we would have a wonderful evening of snacks, gifts and just spending time with family. Finally back home by 10-11ish, the parents finally would give in and my sister and I would dig into everything under the tree. It wouldn't take long before the living room was covered in wrapping paper, bows, and boxes. With Christmas music playing in the background, and that one special gift it seems mom always knew I wanted in hand it was time to fall asleep so "Santa" could make his stop.
Christmas Morning always found my sister and I coming down the stairs to find Santa had made his stop. Luckily my sister and I were always good enough that he never missed that stop. There was always something special under the tree and stockings by the woodstove overflowing. Could it get any better? Yes it could, because by now it was time to pack up and head to the ranch, my Paternal Grandparents home for Christmas Dinner. Again a house full of Aunts and Uncles, and cousins. Yes a few more gifts were exchanged but the highlights of the day were more the time we spent together.
I so loved the Ranch.... I remember the sleigh rides. Grandpa always had a team of horses and I remember the years we would all pile on and go for a sleigh ride. All of us cousins would tie our sleds on back and off we would go. One year I will never forget was the time my sled hit something frozen and I fell off. The runner of one of my cousins sled happened to slice my ear open. I was bleeding pretty well. Of course as a kid I was fine, till I saw all the blood. That year I spent Christmas night at the hospital getting stitches. There were other years where we had wonderful sledding hills. One year the wind had blown snow in a coulee close by to form a great "S" curved track. I cannot tell you how many hours we spent outside that day.
Other years when it was so cold, we would play board games for hours. With Grandma's special dip and chips, its a highlight I still think about every year.
Over all these years, I can hardly remember many of the gifts shared. The couple that I remember most were handmade by my grandparents. A wooden corral system made by Grandfather and afghan made by my Grandmother, that I still use today, hold the most treasured sentiment yet to me. But looking back, over all the Christmas' in my lifetime, I come back to that song by Barbara... "Christmas at our House." As an adult, I realize just like those "Charlie Brown" trees we had growing up, there is something missing without the traditions and family at the holidays.
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