CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

This afternoon I attended a ministerial committee meeting at my church the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh {UUFR}. The assistant minister John asked us to share a Christmas memory before the meeting got started. There are 6 of us on this committee and all 5 shared a childhood Christmas memory and for the life of me I could not remember one. I don't know if it is because I have blocked them out because my Mom and I are estranged at this time or if I simply couldn't remember one. I shared my memories that I have now of Christmas with my wife Kathy and her family. Her family makes Christmas so special and old fashioned. That is what I want to do with this blog post share what our Christmas is like. It just feels right for me to do this.

The first Christmas that Kathy and I were together she made me a Christmas stocking. Everyone in the family has a homemade stocking with something special sewn on it. My stocking is red and has my name in big blue letters at the top along with white stars and the stitching in blue that reads Are The Stars Out Tonight?. This has significance because that was our commitment ceremony theme.  They began after Thanksgiving reading the Staves of The Christmas Carol. The one with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. The story of Scooge. Then out came the board games. There are 5 Staves to read and the last one is read on Christmas Eve. Also they lit the four candles for each Stave and the middle candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The candles are placed in the middle of a huge green wreath and the tapioca pudding is made the morning of the readings along with chex mix and popcorn. It is such a great tradition.

A few Christmas Eves went by before I spent one with Kathy's family. Mine were usually spent in Southern Pines with my Mom and Step Father mostly upstairs alone wrapping my Mother's Christmas gifts from my step father. Sometimes we would go visit family or go to the Christmas Eve service at their church or attend an AA meeting but mostly that didn't happen for the last few years that I went in Southern Pines.  One year my Mom was sick so I spent Christmas Eve here with Kathy's family. It was fantastic! That was the beginning of spending Christmas Eve with Kathy's family. It is definitely my favorite holiday day. Kathy's sister Barb makes the BEST chili ever and they also have oyster stew along with the tapioca pudding and chex mix. The middle candle is lit and the Stave 5 reading is read. Then everyone's stockings are placed on the bed and each person comes into the bedroom alone and fills the stockings with stocking suffers. I remember the first Christmas Eve I spent with Kathy's family it was like going back in time. I Loved It and I have Loved it ever since. There is laughter and joy. Story telling of Christmases past. It is a beautiful thing!

Christmas mornings are spent opening presents with the family but first we open our gifts here at our house. We have coffee and orange cinnamon buns with Ashley. Then we join the rest of the family. The last few years we have gone to The Heritage to be with Mutti  but last year and this year we have joined the family at  Barbs house. The gift opening begins with the youngest and goes to the oldest down the family line. It is fun. The menu is decided at the Stave 4 reading. This year the menu will be ham with baked potatoes and veggies along with tapioca pudding. 

My sweet cherished Christmas memories seem to have begun when I met Kathy and her family. The feeling of tradition and relaxed fun is what Christmas is all about and that is what I have now. We no longer do the board games because Mutti is not able to do so. Which is sad in and of  itself. I feel blessed and I am blessed.

These are my Christmas thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.