Christmas: From a 9 Year Olds View

By Erik Strand

Each Christmas everyone in our family makes a special kind of cookie. I always make ginger snaps, then we have a cookie trade. And sometime between Christmas and New Years we have cookies and coffee for breakfast and sit by the fire (I really like doing that).

I also like decorating the Christmas tree. We always have a special meal of crackers, cheese, Christmas fish (herring) egg-nog, summer sausage, and soda. Then sometimes Papa will read us Christmas stories.

But I think (besides the presents) my favorite part about Christmas is spending time with Papa and everybody, and Celebrating that Jesus was born to save us.

Only 4 more days till Christmas Yay!!

Christmas: Greetings From Canada

By Katrina Taylor
ohh CHristmas... it's such a funny word in my mind. My family has a tradition of no traditions. That's right. No traditions. We never do the same thing. Do I like it? hmmm, sometimes! It's a bit of an adventure. You never know WHAT will happen. One year we'll have duck dinner, turkey, chicken, and when that all gets boring we try spaghetti! I'm not sure if we do this on purpose, it just happens. Most memorable Christmas was two years ago. I made cookies and went into a couple nursing homes. You'd cry if you saw the amount of folks that didn't have a place to go for Christmas, and no one cared to go see them. I adopted them, all of them. Specially the ones that tried to hook me up with their ever single grandsons.

So this Christmas, whatever you do, remember what it's all about. Family, friends, laughter, Grandsons you hope you never have to meet, and Jesus... the greatest gift...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas: In Florida

By Gail Umperovitch

My Favorite Christmas Memory…

My favorite Christmas memory is not about a specific Christmas but Christmases when

my children were growing up. My son, Casey, has always been about “traditions” a

nd

establishing “traditions.”

At Christmas time after all the outdoor Christmas lights and the Christmas tree was

done, Casey would want me to make some homemade hot chocolate and we would go

outside and look through the front windows at the Christmas tree lit up in the house (even

in Florida there have been many Christmases chilly enough to warrant a warm cup of

cocoa).

As simple as that might sound, it still warms my heart to think of that simple little act. I

know it was all about our little family being together and working on a project that was

so beautiful when finished.

Memories are something that can never be taken from us. I lost my mom this past

September, 2010. She loved Christmas! For the last several years, my husband and I

would go over and decorate the outside of my parents home and my mother delighted in

having all the beautiful lights, manger scene, angels and reindeers outdoors to enjoy and

for others riding by to enjoy also. She spoiled all of the grandchildren with mounds of

Christmas presents every year and lots and wonderful food!

This Christmas will not be the same with my mom gone but I am so THANKFUL that

I have so many years of wonderful memories from Christmases when I was growing up

to many wonderful Christmases as an adult with my children experiencing Christmases

at “Mema’s.”

Our family is having a “special” family Christmas at my Mom and Dad’s. There will be

lots of presents under the tree but these presents will be extra special. They will be my

Mom’s “treasures” being given to her children and grandchildren for them to enjoy in

their homes.

Our heavenly Father has blessed us so much and we thank Him for our wonderful Mother

and all of the wonderful memories that were created with her.

Live each day in love, peace and harmony. Treasure what God has given you and do not

take advantage of a single day to let those you love know how much you love them.

God bless everyone at this very special time of the year and may we ALWAYS

remember the real celebration of the season.

Merry CHRISTmas… Gail