"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."
Bob Hope
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Columbia, South Carolina Christmas tree |
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Heather with Sock Monkey in front of Silver tree waiting on Santa |
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When is Santa coming? |
When
I was little, I admit Christmas was all about Santa and gifts. I
worked very hard on being good to please Santa so I could be rewarded
with toys and goodies on Christmas day. As I matured, I went from
being a good person for Santa Claus to being a good person for
Christ. In a way, I believe Santa was my first introduction of
religion and being taught to be a good person. Santa was who watched
to see if I was a good person and to do right. Now it is Christ
that I try to please every day of my life.
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My sister Hope, Grandpa Horne, Hank, Howard, Heather, and Harlan |
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Howard, Hank, Hope, Harlan and the little trouble maker, Heather on Christmas Day |
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Heather, Howard, Harlan, Hope, Hank |
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Hope and Heather |
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Silver tree |
My
first memories and traditions that my family had when I was a child,
was walking to Broad Street in Woodbury, NJ to see Santa arrive on
top of the Woolworth’s Department Store. What a magical moment
that was that is for ever frozen in my memory. It was also known as pajama night in
our town so all the children put on their winter coats, hats, gloves,
and boots over their pajamas and walked up to Broad Street to witness
the big man in red, joyfully arriving. When Santa arrived all the children were screaming - Santa. After Santa arrived and came
down the ladder, all the kids went into Woolworth’s to visit
with Santa while the parents shopped in the store. There was also a
Christmas parade with bands, firetrucks, and of course Santa near that time. There was so much
candy thrown to the children. It was a child's dream come true.
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Santa waiting to see the children |
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Lights of the South, Augusta, Georgia |
My
friends would gather a couple of Saturdays during the month of December, in our
small town and we would go door to door Christmas caroling. We
would go to all our neighbors houses to sing a couple songs and they would bring out
cookies, candy, and sometimes hot chocolate to share with us. We knew
all the words to Carols and had a great time. I believe we did bring
joy to many people. I loved those nights of singing and rejoicing.
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Reindeer waiting for Santa |
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Lights of the South, Augusta, Georgia |
As a
child, our Christmas traditions were to watch “Rudolph the Red Nose
Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman,” while having a nice cup of
hot chocolate. Afterwards, we put cookies and milk on the table for Santa
to snack on during his travels that magical night. Sleeping was very difficult in anticipation of Santa, the big man in red to come to our
home. We always heard jingle bells ringing after it got dark in our
neighborhood that was a sign to go to sleep as soon as possible. If
we were not sleeping, we were told Santa would skip our house and
their would be no Christmas magic. Somehow I always managed to go to
sleep.
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Deborah and Barry's tree |
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Last years tree |
On
Christmas morning, my brothers and sister were not allowed into the
living room until mom and dad said it was okay. The waiting was
torture. Then when they said okay, we ran down to the amazing sight
of gifts piled high. I came from a family of five and even with
mom and dad not having a whole lot of money, it seemed as if our
living room was full of presents. Thinking back now, I do not know
how they did all that. They always made it special. The gifts were
not huge or expensive for the most part but each gift was cherished.
One gift that stands out above all others when I was a young child
was one that did not cost my parents a thing. My dad was working
for the Children’s Hospital in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
as a stationary engineer which was a trait he learned while serving
in the Navy. They gave him this box of toys to give to me for
Christmas. I unwrapped this box and to my surprise saw that it was
full to the top of little trinkets and toys. There were little baby
figures, cars, trucks, GI Joe men, spinning tops, little houses, and
plastic rings and jewelry. I played for hours with that gift and was
so thankful to receive it.
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Christmas tree in the Commons - Augusta, Georgia |
Another
year, my parents bought me a gift that I loved which was a yellow
Schwinn Bicycle with a banana seat, high handlebars, and a basket with flowers on it, in
the front. During the time, that bike was all the rave. Everyone
wanted one. How I loved that bike. It was my first new bicycle
ever and I washed it, decorated it, and took great care of it. I
do not know how they could afford to buy a gift like that but I was so proud of the bike.
It made me smile just to look at it and now it makes me smile just
thinking of it.
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A past Christmas with our gang on our front porch |
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Teddy -reindeer |
When
Joe and I got married and had children, at first we continued with Joe’s family traditions when we lived nearby. We would go to
his Grandmothers house or one of his Aunts house for Christmas Eve
for a family gathering with lots of food, drinks, and festivities.
All the cousins would run around and play games in anticipation of
Santa’s arrival. Later in the evening Santa Claus would show up
so each of the children could get their picture taken with Santa and
get a small gift and a candy cane. What excitement there was when
he walked through the door. The parents bought their children a
small gift for Santa to give them which was so exciting for them.
It was always nice being with the family for that event.
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Christmas Tree - outside the Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina |
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Columbia Zoo, South Carolina - lite up for Christmas. |
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The Commons in Downtown Augusta, lite up for the holidays. |
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Santa James Brown decorated up for Christmas in downtown Augusta, Georgia. |
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Foxes' Lair Christmas |
We
always enjoyed taking the kids to see Christmas lights during the
season. We would drive around and look at the festive
homes all decorated up just waiting Santa’s visit. Christmas Eve
was spent at the church watching the children preform in a Christmas
pageant about the birth of Christ. I always cried as it moved me
so. I loved reading “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement
Clark Moore to our children after we set out cookies and milk for
Santa. Then on Christmas morning, the children would wake us up before
they could go downstairs. We always made them wait until we went
downstairs, made our coffee and tea, put on the Christmas music, and
set up the video camera. I know what torture it was for them as I
had done the same as a child. We just had to be able to save the
special moments on film and have our caffeine in hand. When we said
okay, it was on. They would come flying down the stairs with their
eyes wide and the excitement overflowing. There were lots of
squeals of delight. Christmas morning was just as much fun for Joe
and I as it was for the children. After wrapping paper was everywhere
and the children were playing with their new toys, we would all sit
down for a Christmas casserole for breakfast. It was a good feed
after working up an appetite from opening all the gifts. When the
children were still young and we lived nearby the grandparents, we
would spend the day between Joe’s parents and mine. The
children got spoiled from all directions. It was like our children
had three Christmas’ that day.
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Our stuffed animals for the Christmas parade. |
Now
our Christmas traditions have changed a bit since our children have
grown. Right after Thanksgiving we go to the Christmas tree farm to find our perfect Christmas tree. Jeannine's children love going and it is always a challenge to find the perfect tree. We start out December by being in a Christmas parade, riding
on our friends firetruck and throwing stuffed animals that have been
collected through the year to the children at the parade. That is a
highlight to our Christmas season seeing the joy of a young child getting a
stuffed animal to love. Watching them pick one up and hug it, and
the parents mouthing thank you, just melts our heart.
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Nutcracker standing guard at our friends, Birkie and Carol home during the Christmas Crawl. |
Then
our friends in downtown Augusta, Georgia put on a Christmas Crawl
where we go from house to house and have a snack and a specialty
drink at each home. Some of the homes have a theme. It is a great way of getting together with
friends and seeing their great Christmas decorations.
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Can you guess the theme for the Foxes Lair party? |
There
are always Christmas parties, ornament and cookie exchanges, and open houses during the season which
is such a joy. We just love this time of year. This year, we went
to church for dinner and to see Jeannine’s children in a Christmas
show. They were so cute and we enjoyed the show so much. Seeing
Christmas through a child’s eyes is what brings joy to everyone.
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Carol's bear hugging on the Christmas tree. |
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Edgefield, South Carolina - decorated up for Christmas |
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Ice Candle |
Now
our daughter, Jeannine sets out the cookies and milk for Santa, and
reindeer treats and then reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas,”
by Clement Moore to all her children before tucking them to bed.
Joe, myself, and Josh, our son went over first thing in the morning
to watch the children tearing open their gifts. They were so
excited and just squealed with delight. Darren, Jeannine’s husband
was deployed so we had him on the phone so he could see the children
opening up their gifts. He was much missed by all. After the
excitement was over, we headed back to our home to get Christmas
dinner ready which was a lovely smoked ham prepared by Joe. We
enjoyed having the family together and friends stopping in.
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South Carolina Christmas tree. |
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Key West, Florida - Christmas Tree |
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Key West , Florida Christmas tree made from Lobster traps |
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Key West sponge guy |
Everyone
has different traditions during the holidays so I thought I would
share a few with you. I would love to hear of your traditions and
what makes Christmas time so special for you. I love Christmas time even with all the hustle and bustle. It is a time for us to reflect on
what Christ has given to us and all the blessings we have received.
I do believe in the spirit of Christmas and Santa, in whatever way
you want to look at it. I pray you all had a wonderful joy filled
Christmas. Merry Christmas.
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