December 14: Christmas Memories

One of my first Christmas memories was when I was a young girl, probably around 5 or 6. I remember I wanted to give presents to my siblings that year, so I found some of my own possessions and wrapped them up. I thought that I was so smart. I can only remember one gift that I had wrapped and that was for my brother, Chad who was probably in Middle School at the time. I wrapped up my bright pink bear calculator. I figured that he was really smart and could use it.

As a child, I remember my dad would use his old Jeep and attach a rope to an old glider sled. Then a rope from that sled to another sled. And behind that...one more sled. Then he would drive us around the town on the snowed over roads. It was always a lot of fun, unless you were on the back sled because you got all the whiplash.One year, my brothers decided to attach a sled to our little dog. And since I was the lightest one, they would put me on the sled and let him go. Great fun...until the dog hit our ditch.

Another year, I remember this same brother of mine made an immaculate doll house for me. He made the entire thing by himself. When I came out on Christmas morning, I was so excited to see this beautiful dollhouse, and to know that he made it for me, made it all that more special.

I remember the year that I got my first bike. It was pink and didn't have any training wheels and my mom put a big red bow right on the handle bars. It was such a great surprise.

As I was growing up, 5-6th grade, I remember always wanting a lava lamp. I don't know why. I think it was because everyone at school had one. Probably. But I begged and begged my parents for one. I even remember singing to them, "All I want for Christmas is a Lava Lamp, a Lava Lamp, just a lava lamp." Yea, I was a dork.In high school, the Christmas that sticks out to me the most was when I was a freshmen and did Sub for Santa with our FBLA group. We gathered presents, wrapped them, and this particular year, we were given permission to deliver them. I remember one house in particular. We had seven boxes prepared for this family full of toys, food and goodies. The mother was single and had seven children with one on the way. We dropped the gifts off at the door very quietly and crawled over the other side of the fence to listen. A little boy came to the door and screamed, "Mommy, mommy, Santa Claus came early." The mother slowly came to the door and started to sob as all the children helped their mom bring in each of the boxes. I never will forget the feeling I had that Christmas.

Now, I'm getting older. I was married in 2007 in November and I remember our very first Christmas together. We didn't have a very big apartment and borrowed a little 3 foot Christmas tree from my mom to decorate and put in our apartment. We used ornaments Preston got from his Grandma growing up to decorate the tree and used what little means we had to make our little home merry and bright. We spent the holiday with Preston's family and I learned new traditions and also Preston and I got to start our own.

The holiday memories I have are important to me. Some are of the gifts I received and others of the gifts I gave or shared. Most importantly I remember the feeling of Christmastime with my family. I am a sucker when it comes to my family and I will tell you time and time again how much I truly love them. I guess that's what I love most about this season. The time I get to share with my family, old and new and share in the giving and service that naturally comes with this holiday season. May you all remember your Christmases come and gone and remember the love behind them.