Saturday, October 10, 2009

Christmas Memories and Traditions

Week Two of "12 Weeks of Christmas"!
Memories and Traditions




As part of week two of Red Writing's TWOC (Twelve Weeks of Christmas) event, we are to share some special memories of our family and what we have done to celebrate this extraordinary Christmas season over the years.


First, as a child, one of my favorite memories is of sitting at the piano (we had a spinet piano with a mirror across the top), playing "We Three King" and "Silent Night, Holy Night" and being able to see the tree which was behind me in that mirror. I think those were the only two songs I could play; I loved doing that. We had some of those bubbly lights on the tree that looked like a candle. I thought they were so elegant!


As a young mother, one of my favorite memories is having all the family to our house on Christmas Eve - my sister and her three, my in-laws, our two daughters, of course, and an occasional addition of one of our kids friends who needed a place to be. We had certain food traditions that my sister and I always fixed and one of my nieces often wrote a skit that the kids all acted in - one I remember in particular was a manger scene and the kids were all dressed in the appropriate costumes.


Christmas Day was always at my sister's home. No matter what our daughters got for Christmas, it always had to go with us to Mary's. One memory is the year they got a Suzy Homemaker Oven. The oven and all supplies went with us.


On Christmas Day after lunch, we always had a puzzle on the grand piano and everyone came and went throughout the day and worked on it.

Things change: Now my kids are grown, I have six grandkids, we don't all live in the same town, my sister is in heaven, I'm single again, one grandson is married, my, my . . . . where did all those years go?!?

My kids and my sister's kids all are making and continue to make their own traditions, and many of them follow along the path of how they grew up. Isn't that just the best? I love to see things passed along.

One of the simple, but sweet things that has passed along:
That grand piano that we all worked puzzles on in Texas is now in Kansas at my daughters house; one of my granddaughters is a piano performance major in college. My sister gave her that piano. Last year, when those of us who could be in Kansas were all together, we worked a Mitford Puzzle on that piano. It brought back lots of memories!!

Christmas is still my favorite time of the year. We try to maintain as many of those wonderful traditions as we can. Our menu doesn't change, even if the people change from time-to-time. We still have a wonderful time together and most of all, we all love Jesus Christ and celebrate Him!

Christmas church services in December, singing in the "Messiah" at my church, celebrating Advent, knowing that without the birth of Jesus, there would be no Christmas - it's all the best there is this side of glory! I'm glad it's only 11 weeks away!

Christmas - Because He Came!

Merry Christmas!


Be sure to visit everyone who is participating in week two of TWOC!

Blessings,

Jayne at mysongwithin

18 comments:

Keelie said...

The puzzle idea is terrific. I think we will try to do that somewhere. We go many different directions during the days surrounding CHristmas!

It is neat when the traditions are passed down. We have lots of great ones to continue in our family and it sounds like you children do as well.
Keelie

Shannon @ Silver Trappings said...

That post brought back a lot of good memories!!

I need to look for a good puzzle for this Christmas!

Melissa @ Southern Mommas said...

very sweet! love the puzzle idea - i may have to go pick one up for christmas morning!

Chantel said...

It sounds like your family has lots of great traditions! I know I love following my families traditions!

Jen said...

thanks so much for your kind words and for stopping by my blog. Loved reading about your traditions. Sounds like you have instilled great traditions in your childrens lives. It is so neat that the piano has been in the family for so many years. Sounds like you have created a great legacy for your family! God's blessings to you. Merry Christmas. :)

Jen said...

thanks for stopping by again, and for your kind words. I thought you might enjoy this link to an earlier post on my blog, about John's family...

http://usx4.blogspot.com/2009/09/god.html

Have a great day...Jenny

Moore Minutes said...

Ohh, I loved singing carols around the piano too!! I miss that. This was a lovely post to read. I also wanted to thank you for saying a prayer for us regarding the loss of our dog. I so appreciate it!

Carrie said...

I wish I could play our piano! I always think about a scene in Little Women where they are singing around the piano...

I suddenly have the urge to do a puzzle! :)))

Maureen said...

I love music too. Messiah is one of my favourites. I'll have to see if I can get tickets this year.

Michelle said...

I think I'll set a puzzle out this year for my family, that sounds like a lot of fun.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Have a wonderful day!

Unknown said...

We have a piano and my oldest daughter is the only one who knows how to play...

Loved reading your post!

laterg8r said...

wish i could play the piano now :D

love puzzles, great idea :D

Alexandra said...

Aww. :) I love that piano. I can't wait to see what it looks like in my house...whenever that day comes. :)
I loved your post!!! It made me smile. I can't wait to see you!

Sandy said...

This is a beautiful post!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Puzzles remind me of Christmas too as my dad always got one & we would all help him put it together afterwards. This is so fun getting to read about all the different memories & traditions of everyone. Thanks for sharing.

Jenny said...

I enjoyed your post. It is so hard having those years gone, isn't it? I keep thinking every single year that the empty nest thing will get better but it's just so different. Our "baby" is now 26 and our youngest Granddaughter is three! It really, really flies.

April but some call me Prilyy said...

i wish i knoew how to play the piano, sounds like such fun!

Shellie said...

This was so fun to read and brought back lots of wonderful memories, as well as a tear to my eyes... I remember taking the Suzy Bake Oven to Aunt Mary's house that year! Oh what fun!!

Shellie