Today Beth Vogt is kicking off our Christmas Blog tour!
This is not a sentimental Christmas memory … and I do have my husband’s permission to share this story.
Once upon a Christmas time, my husband and I were newlyweds celebrating our very first Christmas together. Our tiny one-bedroom apartment was festive, thanks to the shiny silver aluminum Christmas tree — yes, silver — we’d decorated with a few ornaments we’d purchased. The tree was compliments of Rob’s parents, a holdover from the days when his stepfather sold them to stores up and down the east coast.
On Christmas morning, I was eager to see what romantic gift my husband had waiting for me under our tree. A bottle of perfume? A delicate necklace or a pair of earrings?
Um … no.
Leaning against the wall was a blue hiking backpack with a gift tag on it. (I should mention at this point that, despite marrying an Eagle scout, I had never gone backpacking in my life.) And yes, the “TO” on the gift tag was me and the “FROM” on the gift tag was my husband.
But wait … there’s more. To read the rest of Beth’s post, go here.
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And here’s mine!
Comments 19
There are several favorite activities for me. When we decorate our tree we share memories of how we obtained each ornament and of our family members we have lost. It’s a way of sharing our family history. Then as a family we attend our church cantata and fellowship with our church family.
Author
What a beautiful way to pause and remember, Katrina.
Being with family and friends make Christmas special. I also enjoy Candlelight Christmas Eve Services. Cara, blessings to you and your family. 🙂
Author
Caryl, I love that, too! There’s something very special about Christmas Eve services.
The music of Christmas and the many venues where it can be experienced makes Christmas special to me. Many local community theatre and chorale groups offer programs and concerts, in addition to all of the church events which center around music.
Author
I love that it is one time of year where most of unite in the songs. The music is so rich with the message…well, Then there’s Grandma got run over…
There’s so much about Christmas that makes it special. From the decorations, the foods, even the emphasis on gift-giving (though the world at large is getting off-track on that one). The smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. I love that it gives me something to look forward to in the middle of winter when I tend to get more depressed. And the positive celebration of Christ’s birth – such an act of love. Easter is a celebration, too, but it follows such a horrible, though necessary, event.
Author
Love this…it’s the totality of the holiday that I love, too. And you’re right…it is very different from Easter because the events are so different.
The family and friends make Christmas special. Decorating the tree makes it special. And last but in ni way least putting up the nativities makes it special and makes it Christmas 🙂
We put a big puzzle together every break, and we’ve started watching Band of Brothers every year during Christmas vacation lol
I tried to comment before, but it didn’t show up, so I’m not sure if it made it.
We have several traditions that we do each year that make Christmas special. One is having cinnamon rolls for breakfast. It’s a RARE treat, so makes it special that we always do it on Christmas morning.
My husband and I also come up with a code for each child’s gifts every year, so no one knows who’s presents are whose until they guess the code (yes, they have gotten a few times), or until Christmas morning. It makes it a little more exciting, since we don’t do Santa. 🙂
Author
I love that idea of the code, Ginger. My kids would love that.
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SO many beautiful traditions at Christmas – viewing the Christmas lights, making Christmas cookies, Christmas musicals/plays/dinner theaters at churches, “living” Christmas trees, live nativity scenes, gathering gifts, food and clothing for the less fortunate, for me, Dec. 25th is also my birthday, however – one of the best is always the candlelight church service and the most important: the significance and honoring of our Lord’s birth and His gift of salvation to us!!
Wishing you and yours a blessed, joyful, peaceful Christmas season full of the Christ Child, Cara!!
I wanted to tell you that there is something wrong with the very last thing to do where I’m supposed to tweet. I did it and copied the url but it wouldn’t take it. It acted as though it wasn’t there. So I’m not sure what to do at this point.
Author
Hmm, not sure either. I’ll try to test it, Shirley. Sorry it gave you fits!
My most favorite tradition is hanging stockings. My older sister made these as a project in school. We were six children and she made one for all of us including herself. I was about nine or ten. (61 now) I was so tickled with mine. They were made of felt, with felt decorations mostly but mine had a little felt shaped bell in one corner and as the little clapper she place a real silver bell underneath it. There was a felt candle with a silver glitter flame. A tiny felt stocking and other things. I loved that stocking and still have it! I also have my older sister’s stocking and a younger brother’s. Both of whom have passed on. The memories I have when I take these out and hang them Cara are just too precious. Merry Christmas!
Author
I love that special stocking. I keep thinking I’ll make some for my kids. Hasn’t happened yet!