First I would like to thank this community. I wrote my first blog last night and it had many wonderful and interesting replies. I appreciate all the support that I received and constructive criticism. I am trying to work with my grammar for further entries.
Last night I published my first diary entry and it was a serious topic about prayer in schools. I thought tonight I would write about something a little more uplifting being that it is Christmas Eve. I plan on spending Christmas Day with my husband, parents, siblings, nieces and nephew.
Last night my husband and I were reflecting back to Christmas's we had when we were children. I am 31 so my childhood was during the 1980's and he is 42 so his was during the late 70's and 80's. It amazes me how much things have changed since then. Christmas just doesn't feel the same. I don't know if it is because you look at it from a different perspective as an adult or if it really has changed.
When I was young we would spend Christmas Eve with my mother's side of the family. We would have a nice dinner sort of potluck style where everyone would bring a dish. The children would gather around the tree and open Christmas presents.
Christmas Eve night would be spent at home with our parents. Watching Rudolf, Charlie Brown's Christmas and making Christmas cookies for Santa. We were not wealthy my father struggled to make sure we had a good Christmas. We always had a Stocking. Although one year I remember using one of my father's old socks for each one of us. I know it sounds crazy.
Christmas morning we would awake to find Santa had left presents under the Christmas tree for us and filled our stocking with fruit and some candy. Then we would make a 2 hour drive to rural eastern Kentucky where my father's side of the family lived. We would enjoy dinner with our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
I love those memories. It gives me a warm feeling just recalling them. Now as an adult everything seems so hustled. Christmas isn't about family anymore. I realize I struggle more with having the money to buy presents for this person and that person. If he or she will like the gift they receive. If my parents were under this kind of stress when we were children we never noticed.
Now my nieces and nephew have a totally different Christmas than we did when I was a child. We gather at my sister's house on Christmas day the children open their presents and we have a nice family dinner. It is just my parents, my sisters and their husbands and my husband and myself. Not nearly as big of gathering that I remember as a child. Their stockings are not filled with fruit and candy but more toys. None the less I hope that when they get older they have fond memories of Christmas to share with their families.
So from my family to yours Happy Holidays and feel free to share any Holiday memories and traditions that your family shares.