Childhood Christmas Memories - Page 4

Pressing-On · #31 12-21-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tina

My most memorable Christmas was when I was in the 4th grade. We were at my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve-- and my dad said he wasn't feeling very well so he was going to go home and let Mom and I come home whenever Mom was ready to leave. I didn't think much about it at the time.

When Mom and I got home, I found out why Dad really left early. He'd gone home to let the delivery men bring in my Christmas gift. When I got home that night and went into the living room--there was a piano sitting in the living room with a big bow tied around it. I think it's one of very few gifts I ever received as a child that I still have today. I know what a sacrifice they made to get that piano for me... all because they wanted to encourage my interest in music. Now my children are enjoying that piano.... and I really need to have it tuned again since Michael is wanting to learn to play it.

That was an awesome day for you, Tina!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

One year when I was about 1st grade, my parents made arrangements for my older cousin to dress up as Santa one night about a week before Christmas. The plan was for him to come to our living room window and knock on it, ho ho hoing. After he got our attention, he was to drop some bags of candies and goodies on the ground below the window. We kids would want to run out and pick up the goodies, of course. But Mom would make sure we put on coats, boots, gloves, scarves and hats before we stepped out the door. During the time that was going to take to get 5 kids assembled to go out, Trigger would make his way down the road waving at us. When he got out of our sight, my dad was going to be there to pick him up and drive him home. And of course, by then, we could go outside to get the loot.

So everything went according to plan. EXCEPT that no one thought about the fact that 3 houses away from us there was a family with 4 kids. Who all just happened to notice Santa walking down the road. Of course, he couldn't get in the car at that point. Nor could he get in at the end of another 1/2 block because there lived a family with 9 kids who all saw him. And on an don it went. He ended up walking about 8 blocks down the road before he could finally get in the car with my dad.

I don't know if I can say this is my FAVORITE Christmas memory. But it sure is one of the ones I treasure

Loved it, Margie!!!

RevDWW · #32 12-23-2008, 01:22 PM

What? No other Christmas stories?

dizzyde · #33 12-23-2008, 02:04 PM

My uncle would always wrap out presents in huge boxes, you would open it and then there would be another wrapped box and so on... until you got to the real gift. He did that one year to my brother and when my brother got to the smallest box, there was a brick in it. My brother was about 6, I can still remember his face, my uncle hurried to give him his real present before he burst into tears! Adults can be really cruel sometimes!!!!

My worst Christmas was the year that my brother was diagnosed with terminal Leukemia on Dec. 1 (my younger sisters birthday). We spent Christmas that year at Childrens Hospital in LA. It has made every Christmas since then so much more special, the realization of what is really important in life, and celebrating another year with my brother being a miracle survivor! (21 years now)

LadyChocolate · #34 12-23-2008, 02:06 PM

hello everyone! although I haven't celebrated this holiday since I married, I have tons of memories! My mother and I were just remembering some of them a few days ago. My father has driven a truck since I was little. It is actually a comfort to him. After being home for a week, he'd become restless and leave for weeks at a time... Memories of the Vietnam War plaqued his mind and driving was his way of "running" from it.... So with that, we saw my father every 5 or 6 weeks. and then it was only for a few days..... but some how, my father was always home for the Christmas holiday. I remember him being in California 2 or 3 days before Christmas and then he always showed up Christmas Eve. He'd fly in no matter what. For a child who loved having her father come home, that was the best present ever..... I also watched how every Christmas, my father would make sure any child in the church, whose parents didn't have much, he would have my mother give them money, or have her go buy gifts for the family........but never wanted them to know who it was from... He still does this to this day.... Sure I had lots of presents... I loved my 3-wheeler I got one year...... soo much fun! lots of dolls and toys.........then clothes as I got older.... But what stands out to me is that my father always made sure he was there to share that time with us... It meant the world to him because he never had that with his family.... Christmas was a sad time for him and if he can make a child smile, especially at this time of year, he'll do it......It's funny because he's know as the grouch and every year he receives a bag of coal from someone! lol... but it's usually in love.....

dizzyde · #35 12-23-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

hello everyone! although I haven't celebrated this holiday since I married, I have tons of memories! My mother and I were just remembering some of them a few days ago. My father has driven a truck since I was little. It is actually a comfort to him. After being home for a week, he'd become restless and leave for weeks at a time... Memories of the Vietnam War plaqued his mind and driving was his way of "running" from it.... So with that, we saw my father every 5 or 6 weeks. and then it was only for a few days..... but some how, my father was always home for the Christmas holiday. I remember him being in California 2 or 3 days before Christmas and then he always showed up Christmas Eve. He'd fly in no matter what. For a child who loved having her father come home, that was the best present ever..... I also watched how every Christmas, my father would make sure any child in the church, whose parents didn't have much, he would have my mother give them money, or have her go buy gifts for the family........but never wanted them to know who it was from... He still does this to this day.... Sure I had lots of presents... I loved my 3-wheeler I got one year...... soo much fun! lots of dolls and toys.........then clothes as I got older.... But what stands out to me is that my father always made sure he was there to share that time with us... It meant the world to him because he never had that with his family.... Christmas was a sad time for him and if he can make a child smile, especially at this time of year, he'll do it......It's funny because he's know as the grouch and every year he receives a bag of coal from someone! lol... but it's usually in love.....

Hey girl!!! YOU POSTED!!!! YAY!

Great story!

Trouvere · #36 12-23-2008, 02:18 PM

My favorite memory is of my cajun Grandma's house and the silver tree with the wheel that turned the tree colors. Grandma got a huge box with fifty dollars taped inside. Dad always gave her money and back then it was like five hundred today since fifty dollars went alot further. I slept on the living room on a fold out cot and loved to watch the tree turn colors.

LadyChocolate · #37 12-23-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Hey girl!!! YOU POSTED!!!! YAY!

Great story!

lol........... I know... I have been lurking a few times that last couple of months.... what can I say? I've really missed these smilies!

Cindy · #38 12-23-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

hello everyone! although I haven't celebrated this holiday since I married, I have tons of memories! My mother and I were just remembering some of them a few days ago. My father has driven a truck since I was little. It is actually a comfort to him. After being home for a week, he'd become restless and leave for weeks at a time... Memories of the Vietnam War plaqued his mind and driving was his way of "running" from it.... So with that, we saw my father every 5 or 6 weeks. and then it was only for a few days..... but some how, my father was always home for the Christmas holiday. I remember him being in California 2 or 3 days before Christmas and then he always showed up Christmas Eve. He'd fly in no matter what. For a child who loved having her father come home, that was the best present ever..... I also watched how every Christmas, my father would make sure any child in the church, whose parents didn't have much, he would have my mother give them money, or have her go buy gifts for the family........but never wanted them to know who it was from... He still does this to this day.... Sure I had lots of presents... I loved my 3-wheeler I got one year...... soo much fun! lots of dolls and toys.........then clothes as I got older.... But what stands out to me is that my father always made sure he was there to share that time with us... It meant the world to him because he never had that with his family.... Christmas was a sad time for him and if he can make a child smile, especially at this time of year, he'll do it......It's funny because he's know as the grouch and every year he receives a bag of coal from someone! lol... but it's usually in love.....

Hey sister girl, what great memories. Glad you posted.

LadyChocolate · #39 12-23-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy

Hey sister girl, what great memories. Glad you posted.

aww... thanks!

Pressing-On · #40 12-23-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

hello everyone! although I haven't celebrated this holiday since I married, I have tons of memories! My mother and I were just remembering some of them a few days ago. My father has driven a truck since I was little. It is actually a comfort to him. After being home for a week, he'd become restless and leave for weeks at a time... Memories of the Vietnam War plaqued his mind and driving was his way of "running" from it.... So with that, we saw my father every 5 or 6 weeks. and then it was only for a few days..... but some how, my father was always home for the Christmas holiday. I remember him being in California 2 or 3 days before Christmas and then he always showed up Christmas Eve. He'd fly in no matter what. For a child who loved having her father come home, that was the best present ever..... I also watched how every Christmas, my father would make sure any child in the church, whose parents didn't have much, he would have my mother give them money, or have her go buy gifts for the family........but never wanted them to know who it was from... He still does this to this day.... Sure I had lots of presents... I loved my 3-wheeler I got one year...... soo much fun! lots of dolls and toys.........then clothes as I got older.... But what stands out to me is that my father always made sure he was there to share that time with us... It meant the world to him because he never had that with his family.... Christmas was a sad time for him and if he can make a child smile, especially at this time of year, he'll do it......It's funny because he's know as the grouch and every year he receives a bag of coal from someone! lol... but it's usually in love.....

Love this story, LadyChocolate!!! So touching!!!

My father was a rancher/farmer and even though home every night, he got in late and sometimes we didn't see him at all - up before daylight....... There was always something he had to take care of.

At Christmas he would, without fail, drive us to San Antonio to pick out our 12 foot Christmas tree and get it put up properly at home. He always would help my mother string the lights. It was always so much fun when our Daddy was doing something with us!!!