Christmas Memories at Carol's Place

Christmas memories...where to begin...Every tiny child whose family celebrates this holiday probably gathers special memories of Christmas as just about the first holiday they are likely to remember. Not really surprising with it's emphasis on toys, pretty lighted decorations and sweet, tasty cookies and candy.

Santa Claus filled my stocking with a
Wonderful Christmas Site Award!
Thank you, Santa, and Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. Claus.
Go see the award HERE!

My childhood Christmases were spent in Stewartsville where my maternal grandparents lived. Their wonderful, large two-story house made a perfect setting for all things associated with Christmas. A lighted and prettily decorated tree in front of the windows in the living room, surrounded with dozens of wrapped gifts. The fireplace mantels in the living room and dining room covered with cotton batting "snow drifts" and displays including the lighted plastic country church; the Santa sleigh and eight tiny reindeer; Santa with his bag of toys; Christmas cards propped open or scotch tapped along the edges and down the sides of the brick work. Even the etched aluminum candy bowl, filled with unshelled peanuts, candied orange slices and chocolate peanut clusters and chocolate stars that sat on the dining room buffet, was just "Christmas". But very best of all, was OUR Grandma and Grandpa, themselves. We KNEW they loved us and we all loved them right back!

On Christmas Eve, everyone would get in Grandpa's car and drive around town to watch out for Santa and also catch a glimpse through front windows of the neighbor's homes to admire all the lovely lighted trees. After a short time (long to my sister and me) we would go back home, troop into the big old country kitchen with the wooden swinging door and Mama, Daddy or one of the other grownups would go into the living room to look and see if Santa had made his visit while we were gone. While Susan and I stood on tip toe to try and see through the door's window, we would hear the jingle of sleigh bells out side and then be told "Yes, He has been HERE!" How exciting to rush through the dining room and toward the living room with the only illumination being from the tree and to see Santa's offerings tucked in among the wrapped presents where they had not been just half an hour ago.

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One Christmas when I was a young teenager things were looking pretty bleak for a holly jolly Christmas. My little brother, David, had been sick but was getting better so we were going to Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas morning. Then on Christmas Eve it began to snow. Normally such a pretty sight and it should have added to the Christmas mystic, but my sister and I, being older, realized that sometimes there is too much of a good thing. Sure enough, it was a really bad storm and still coming down after daybreak and my folks---probably being very responsible and practical---said they were really sorry but we would have to postpone our trip until the weekend and until the snow could be dealt with, all that white frozen fluff lying in a pristine thick white blanket over every surface and clogging the streets and highways between our house in Kansas City and Grandma & Grandpa's place -- 75 miles north.

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Regretfully, Mama made the call, while her three children wept loudly in the background. Poor Mama and Daddy must have been in something of a quandary, as well, about how to cheer up three weeping children and redeem this day back from total disaster (Christmas dinner?? Unthaw some hot dogs or what??). I was oldest, and I understood the very real dangers involved and all the reasons for not tackling such a risky trip, but, boy, was I blue. Lying on my stomach at the base of the tree, staring into the reflective silver and gold, red, blue and green glass Christmas ball ornaments and seeing numerous Me(s), being miserable, well I just kept having to mop at my eyes with a Kleenex. The phone rang. It was Grandma. Grandpa was packing the car, even as she spoke. They wanted us to know that they would make it just as quickly as they could...not to worry, they would take it carefully....and they were bringing the whole turkey dinner with them....so don't despair. My mother got teary-eyed as she finished up the conversation and I don't think she put forth any very strenuous attempts to try to dissuade them from coming.

It normally took about an hour and a half to make the drive. That day it probably took them more than twice as long....but then, "It just wouldn't have seemed like Christmas without the Family all together" was what Grandpa and Grandma both said as they began carrying in the turkey roaster, boxes wafting steam from newspaper cushioned pans and stacks of presents from the car through the (finally) slackening snow! I have to admit that we all felt exactly the same way and the Christmas Cheer level went way up as we all hugged each other and said our "Merry Christmas" greetings.

Click here for The Snowglobe of the Month
from Luv's Creations

If you enjoy sending eCards, here is a good resource for you:

Free Christmas Greetings,Ecards,Christmas Greeting Cards,E-cards From 123ChristmasCards.Com

And here's another good place for eCards:

Seasons Greetings And Ecards,Free Christmas Greetings And Ecards From
101SeasonsGreetings.Com

**Here is a Winter time craft that is suitable for all ages.
Fun, Simple and Pretty.......
Snowflakes made of paper.

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