Christmas Wishes

The past few weeks, blogs, Pinterest and FaceBook have been filled with images of the perfect Christmas. 

 Maybe those really do exist in some lives, but not necessarily in mine or those of many friends.

If there is an empty chair at your family dinner table this year, and you are missing someone special,

you have known the gift of love.

If the stockings and the tree are a little more bare than previous years,

you have known the gift of prosperity and security --

something many will never experience.

If you no longer hear the pitter patter of little feet

and grown children spend the holidays with in-laws and others,

you know the gift of sharing.

If you can see the twinkling lights, hear the glorious music, and smell the fresh pines,

you have the gift of life and health --

even if some days are easier than others.

If you believe that next year will be better and brighter,

you have the gifts of hope and faith.

Love, joy, peace, hope and faith

are the true gifts of the season.

I wish you these and so much more.

A very merry and blessed Christmas to all!

Simple Joys of Christmas - Leftovers!

What is it about holiday leftovers that seem to make them almost better than the initial serving?

Maybe it is because we are so busy preparing, we don't take time to really enjoy.

Maybe it is because we are still sleep deprived from a late night of candlelight church services.

Maybe it is just because we are so glad we don't have to cook for a few more days!

Whatever the reason, I do believe our annual Christmas breakfast casserole always tastes better a day or two later.

Hope all of you are still basking in the glow of this blessed holiday, visiting with family and friends, playing with new toys and gifts, enjoying leftovers or other simple joys of the season!

Sounds like many of you may also be enjoying more than a little snow!

Blessings

Christmas is more than the end of the year

More than a time for presents and cheer

More than a time for happy meetings

More than a time for exchanging greetings

More than the tinsel that hangs on the tree

More than the baubles and glitter we see

More than time for mere happiness

More than small words can ever express.

Christmas is one day we find it is good

To live the way that we always should

A day when man tries to be generous and kind

A day when he sees with his ear, not his mind.

And that is the way we should live all the year

Not only a few days when Christmas is here

For that is the way God wants us to live

Sharing the joy that comes when we give.

For then and then only will restlessness cease

And all of the world will be finally at peace

For the tidings of Christmas can only come true

When Christmas is lived every day the year through.

~Helen Steiner Rice ~

A Child is Born

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

~Luke 2:7~

This was my husband's childhood nativity set.

It, and our stockings, are always the first decorations brought out each year.

There are a few other nativity scenes in our collection of holiday decorations, but this is the one that always holds the most prominent spot -- both in our home and in our hearts.

It is very simple, very much worn with age, and nothing fancy nor expensive.

Through four different homes and upon various pieces of furniture, it has always been placed nearest the front door, so that all who enter may remember the true reason for Christmas.

Growing up, our son would carefully unwrap each piece and be in charge of putting them in place.  That meant they were not always restricted to the top of a single piece of furniture.  The entry and adjoining rooms were likely to become Bethlehem and surrounding countryside.

Shepherds would be found tending their flocks in the dining room.

Wise Men traveled through the living room, stopping to rest on various coffee and side tables, sofas and chairs, and sometimes even the floor.

Baby Jesus would disappear, only to magically reappear on Christmas Day.

It is easy to understand why some of the pieces show much love.

Each crack, every chip and all the globs of glue hold memories dear.

And isn't that one of the most simple and best joys of Christmas?

The memories . . .

We search and shop for the perfect gift to wrap and place under the tree.

Toys break and are thrown away.

Technology advances and the old is replaced with the new.

Clothes are outgrown and discarded.

New holiday songs are written, but familiar Christmas carols are never forgotten.

Stockings are added and filled each year, while others are still hung and remain empty.

Chairs are rearranged around the dining table, but voids are still deeply felt.

After the crumpled paper and ribbons are thrown away, the table cleared and dishes washed, and the decorations all placed back in the attic, the memories still remain;

forever etched in our hearts and minds.

Some years, in difficult and sad times, we may only have those memories to sustain us,

and that is blessing enough.

This year has sped by for me, and it is difficult to believe that it is actually Christmas.

Yet, I have received the gifts of Christmas throughout the year, and many of them have been sent by you.

The gifts of hope, faith and love have sometimes come wrapped in paper and ribbon, arriving other times in the form of prayers and heartfelt hugs.

I can never thank you enough, and only hope that you have sometimes left with a gift, too.

May the many gifts of this season be yours --

the gifts that all began when a Child was born.

Merry Christmas, with much love!



Simple Joys of Christmas - Child's Artwork

Christmas through the eyes of a child is magical.

Each year, I incorporate a few of our son's early masterpieces into the holiday decorations.

Now that he is long past the age of Santa and so many other holiday traditions, it helps this mother to still remember those days and that joy.  It also puts Christmas into perspective in ways that so many other things cannot.

As long as the tree has a gold star on top (always a demand from our son growing up), it does not matter if the other decorations are equally distributed through the branches.

Snowmen can frown, because the longevity of snow in our area is just like the holidays -- gone before you get a chance to really enjoy.

There is a folder full of holiday artwork created by his chubby little fingers, and it is all still magical.

This is the only Christmas artwork I have from my childhood.  Mother kept a lot of things, but artwork by my sister and I did not seem to make the cut.

It was a Christmas card to our paternal grandfather, Elmer.  I would have been 8, and my sister was 10 years old that year.  I have no doubt that she masterminded most of the project, and was giving me strict orders during the entire process.  She most likely cut out the letters and numbers, and I provided the rather haphazard dusting of glitter.

It appears that we borrowed the lines from a Christmas carol and added our own little twist!

Karen must have also been trying out her newly acquired skills of cursive writing.  The use of my full name was also probably payback for not applying that glitter in a more orderly fashion!

She and Granddaddy are celebrating Christmas in Heaven, where everything is golden and glowing even without glitter and glue.

This just might be my most favorite piece of child's artwork:

my husband's drawing, as a 7 year old, of the Three Wisemen.  It had been transferred to a ceramic dish.  I discovered it in my mother-in-law's attic, much to his dismay.  Had he found it first, it might never have made the trip to our home.  I don't even mind the small chip on one side.

If you know my husband, it just makes this so much more endearing and comical.

The magic of Christmas through the eyes of children is a special and simple gift.

May it be a gift you discover and experience this year and always.

Simple Joys of Christmas - Oranges

Oranges may bring to mind sunny summer days for many.  For me, they always conjure up the smells, tastes and memories of Christmas.

My grandmother often set my sister and I to work making orange pomaders right after the Thanksgiving turkey was cleared from the table!

She usually did them correctly, inserting the cloves into the oranges, dusting them with other spices, and letting them dry.  They would then be out in holiday arrangements, before being tied up in netting and placed in closets as air freshners.

I tend to use them only as decorations during the Christmas holidays.  These were made several days ago as entertainment, since my vision was still limiting activities.  They are now nestled in a bowl of greenery and pinecones on the breakfast room table.

On Christmas morning, there is fresh orange juice served in holiday glasses that once belonged to my mother-in-law.  Cold juice is the perfect compliment to the egg casserole I always bake, and the glasses are the perfect compliment to our Spode Christmas Tree dishes.

Santa always left an orange in the toe of our stockings!

This was my childhood stocking.  Mother made it from felt, and embellished it with embroidery, sequins, beads and jingle bells.  My stocking is still a part of our holiday decorations.

To reach the orange and other goodies, I had to lift up Santa's beard.

Mother would also indulge my sister and me with oranges and peppermint "straws".

The oranges were rolled over and over on the kitchen cabinet to break up the membranes and release the juices -- and probably a little of our extra holiday-induced excitement!

A tiny cut with the point of a sharp knife, and the straw was inserted.  Then we slurped our way into a major sugar overload!  I guess it was also one way to make sure we received a little vitamin C in the midst of winter, and amongst all the Christmas candy and treats.

The peppermint sticks need to be the "old fashioned" type that are more porous than some peppermint sticks more readily available.  This year, I found Candy Sippers at Harry & David.  They do not suggest using them with oranges, as much as hot cocoa and other holiday beverages.  I also find that you sometimes need to let the peppermint sit in the orange for awhile to open up the end and let the juice really be drawn through it.  The oranges also still need to be squeezed a little while sipping -- a reason to make sure the knife slit is kept small and the peppermint fits snugly in the opening to prevent leaking. 

This may also be one of those things, kind of like the playground slide, that is always better in our memories than in reality.  It also makes me realize just what a saint Mother was to create cherished memories for us, while probably creating a mess for her!

During the celebration of this year's Christmas,  I hope you are also fondly remembering joy of holidays past.

Simple Joys of Christmas - Bubbling Santa Claus

This jolly bubbling Santa used to always appear in Grandmother Bessie's living room window.  It, and a wreath on the door, were the only decorations visible from outside her home.  There were always more decorations inside, but this Santa was always my favorite.  She made sure that I received it when he could no longer appear in her window.

It was made by the Royal Electric Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The price on the original box, although very torn and tattered, is $1.75!

It is still one of my favorite decorations.

Maybe because of all the memories it holds.

Maybe because it always makes me smile.

Maybe because it is simple - nothing fancy or expensive. 

Just plug it in and it starts bubbling over with joy!

During the other eleven months of the year, this little Santa lives in a cabinet easily reached.  I was so happy he was not up in the attic, and was able to take his usual position on the breakfast room hutch again this year.

For several years, it was very difficult to find the bubbling bulbs.  I stocked up when I finally found some.  Now, this is my last one.  Hopefully, it will keep burning brightly for many more holidays to come.

The days are dwindling and I hope your To Do lists are, too!

 

Simple Joys of Christmas - Jewels and Hankies

Long before every possible item of clothing was embellished with holiday motifs, there were simple things such as costume jewelry and delicate hankies.

I can still clearly recall the Christmas tree pin on the left gracing the lapel of Grandmother Bessie's heavy wool winter coat.

The pin on the right belonged to my mother.  It was more likely to adorn a suit or dress worn to church during Advent, or to a holiday party or gathering.

The hankie was given to me by Mother.  She always found the perfect hankie for every holiday and occasion!  This larger embroidering of holly leaves and berries appears in one corner, with smaller motifs of leaves and berries on each of the remaining three corners.  The edges are finished with a pin-stitched or point de paris maderia hem.

Another Christmas hankie received as a gift from Mother.  It was one of the last hankies she gave me.  It would be so sweet incorporated into a collar on a little girl's holiday dress, if only I was brave enough to take a pair of scissors to it!

I discovered this unique poinsettia hankie in a local antique store, and immediately fell in love!

The leaves, which seem to resemble holly leaves more than poinsettia leaves, are cut from green organza and appliqued onto the hankie.

The poinsettia is also organza, tightly satin stitched around the edges, and embellished with additional padded satin stitch and granitos.

It all appears to be done by hand.

There is a tiny button sewn to the wrong side of the bloom, allowing it to be buttoned through one of the three elongated eyelets.

The remaining three corners of the hankie have smaller appliqued holly leaves and granito berries.

It is lovely with, or without, the poinsettia attached.

These are three holiday themed pins that have long been in my jewelry drawer.

The poodle in the stocking was received as a young girl.  Our family dog was a chocolate poodle, and I loved all things poodle!

The poinsettia pin shows the most signs of wear.  In my former career as a legal assistant at large downtown Houston and Dallas firms, my wardrobe was restricted to very conservative suits or sweater sets and skirts.  This small pin was my way of acknowledging the holidays and spreading a little joy and cheer. 

The rhinestone pave Christmas tree is the one I now mostly wear.  It is just one very simple thing that makes me happy this, and every, holiday season!

I hope you are finding time to enjoy simple pleasures during these busy last days before Christmas!

Simple Joys of Christmas - Stockings

I will share more of my experience at Mayo next week. 

It is finally time to enjoy and celebrate Christmas!

   Due to our schedule and my inability to drive prior to or following surgery, there was little time or chance for much shopping, decorating or preparing.

That is fine.

Great joy is found in simple things.

Many are items that have long been a part of our family's holidays.

It is never Christmas for me until the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

This stocking was knitted, for his first Christmas, by our son's godmother.

In this house, it always hangs by the family room fireplace.

Mother made these stockings for herself and my father.  They are red velvet with white satin lining and cuffs, decorated with felt cut-outs, and embellished with sequins and beads.

The one on the left was Daddy's, complete with a tiny train on the toe!

These also hang on the family room fireplace.

As our family grew with son-in-laws and grandchildren, my mother gifted us with beautiful needlepointed stockings.  A dear friend drew most of the designs, and Mother spent many hours stitching.  They are stitched primarily with wool, and accented with metallic threads.

Each stocking is fully lined with satin, backed and piped in velvet - completely and lovingly handmade.

Every year, as I unwrap these three stockings, it is a little bittersweet.  They will always be one of my favorite holiday decorations, but they make me miss my mother more than ever.  She adored the holidays, and kept Christmas in her heart all year long.

Our three stockings hang together on our living room fireplace.

So, are your stockings hung?

I hope Santa leaves you lots of goodies and no lumps of coal!