Friday, December 23, 2011

Open Discussion: It's Christmas Time!!!

Now that we are just a few days away, we're getting into a period where many are either continuing to ramp up their excitement for the big day or may be entering some sort of holiday fatigue.

To either enhance your excitement or battle the fatigue, let us hear about what Christmas means to you. A certain tradition? Nostalgia for being a kid? Excitement for the kids? Seeing that certain part of your family that you don't get around to visiting throughout the rest of the year? Share your Christmas thoughts with a comment below!

For me, Christmas is lots of things. Probably first and foremost in terms of traditions, Christmas is cookies. Every year we have a prelude to Christmas in the form of Cookie Day, not to be underestimated as one of the most important days of the month.

Cookie Day has been going on for 30+ years in my family. Basically, as the name suggests, we get together and spend the day baking a variety of cookies that are meant to last until Christmas. This year Cookie Day was December 3rd, and the remains are pretty slim at my house... It's also just a good time to get together with family and do something productive and creative using recipes that stretch way back in the family tree (the photo above is of my great-great grandmother's Frosted Cremes), especially as the next generation comes aboard.

Of course, our view of Christmas time changed a little bit last year. It's now the time of year that we think of our daughter and the impact she has had on our lives. Of course, she looks a little different now than she did a year ago...


What does Christmas time mean to you and yours?

10 comments:

  1. To me Christmas is a time of giving. I get so much pleasure seeing happy smiles. Once again this year I adopted a family from our church; a 10 yr old boy. Yesterday I delivered the gifts and they are the only presents under their tree. The big surprise will be when Santa delivers a Freestyle bicycle on Christmas Eve.

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  2. I can't believe the great blessings given to me. I will pray and say thank you a lot this Christmas.

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  3. My favorite Christmas tradition was going to look at lighting displays with my grandparents. Whether is was some that a private citizen put up, or the ones at places like Clifton Mills.

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  4. For me Christmas is a chance to slow down and relax. Most of the year is "rush rush rush" and the holiday is a great time to take some time off and enjoy family and friends and sleeping in!

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  5. One of the best things about Christmas is looking into your children and grandchildren's eyes and seeing the sparkle of the season!

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  6. Thanks for the question and sparking the memories. For me, Christmas has meant many different things through the years. When I was a kid it was always so exciting to see the house get decorated inside and out, and to catch a wiff of fresh pine scent as Dad brought in an evergreen tree that barely touched the ceiling. I remember pitching in to decorate that tree, including the finishing touch of those "icicles." (or tinsel, depending on your tradition.) I also remember the small nativity scene. I loved setting it up and resetting it to my taste, which helped to explain the chipped noses on the Wise Men.

    That's just the tip of the ice berg, but I won't bore you with anymore....

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  7. 2011 has not been a very good year for our family, but we are blessed in so many other ways. We continue to pray for our health. Without family and friends, we have nothing at all. Christmas time is spent with our family, kids, and grandkids watching the excitement of the grandkids is worth all the weight in gold. Merry Christmas everyone!

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  8. Christmas is a time for gathering and enjoying the company of others. It is also a time to remember your faith, and while I very much enjoy the gift giving, parties, lights and fun, I try to remember why we celebrate.
    My sadness of Christmas is that people do not have the good cheer, and attitude that the season brings all year long!

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  9. If you are suffering from the loss of a loved one this Christmas, the following message is for you. Also if you are not suffering from that loss, but know of someone who is, why not forward this message to them. For it has ministered to many over the past few years! It is called:

    "My First Christmas In Heaven"

    I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear;

    For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

    I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here. I have no words to tell you, the joy their

    voices bring.

    For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

    I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart. So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
    And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

    I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above. I sent you each a memory of my undying love. After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold. It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

    Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do. For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you. So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
    Author Unknown
    Sincere thoughts and prayers to you and yours at this time.

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  10. Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year because of faith,family and tradition. I remember never hearing a Christmas song until Thanksgiving, seeing lights and decorations and special sales all happened after turkey day. We need to get back to old traditions. Black Friday is more important than Thanksgiving dinner. Lets all bring back the old fashioned kind of Christmas and enjoy each other and our new family members, forget Walmart and let's have some peace and quiet

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