With gratitude I remember how my parents made Christmas special with many different traditions, including always getting a live Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and going to the Christmas Eve service at the United Methodist Church. Since my dad was in the Navy, we moved a lot, but my parents always felt at home cause they would immediately connect with the nearest United Methodist Church where I sang in the choir starting in the second grade. I especially loved singing Christmas carols at the Christmas pageant that the kids would always participate in no matter where we went to church.
When I was about 8 I started organizing my 3 siblings to do a play of the nativity story, and act out the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. For many years my parents enjoyed our presentations. We would always get to open one package on Christmas eve which my parents picked out–consistently pajamas! Going to bed there would be a nice pile of presents, but waking up early us kids would go to see the Christmas tree having about twice as many because mom and dad would stay up late wrapping presents from Santa Claus.
One year, I really wanted a bicycle, but my parents told me they could not afford to buy one. But on Christmas morning I got the biggest surprise–a shiny new blue bicycle which I rode all around Muncie, Indiana–where I lived from 3rd to 5th grade. That was the best experience of my life where I loved school, my neighbors, friends, and relatives lived close enough to visit regularly.
Every year that we were in Muncie we would got to Indianapolis and look at the decorations downtown. I’m remembering the Ball Department store–is that right? We loved doing that. My parents also would go out to look at Christmas lights, including visiting this one block in Chula Vista where the residents went all out to make the whole street extravagant.
I have so many good memories of Christmas for it was a time when it seemed like my family got along the best, and I loved buying and wrapping presents. One year when I was 7, I was given a reel to reel tape recorder. I recorded my voice singing Joy to the World. I then played it back and harmonized with myself. I could sing harmonies as early as I can remember singing.
I was allowed to be in the church children’s choir a year early because of my ability to harmonize. I’m not sure I was singing the exact notes for I could not read music–but my harmonies were in tune. I still can’t read music very well!
I have so many memories of Christmas like when I was traveling at age 19 for 13 months. I was in India at a bird sanctuary. There were other travelers so I wasn’t alone–but I was missing my family Christmas for the first time ever not being with them.
I will share more later–but for now, I hope that you will share with me a Christmas memory that is meaningful to you. And I hope this article helps you celebrate Christmas with any children you have in your life. I have my grand kids now which is so exciting and inspiring and fun at Christmas.
