This can be such a beautiful, wonderful time of year… if people don’t go over board and expect more than is reasonable from themselves and others.
Enjoy the season!
I believe in Jesus. It makes this time of year special.
If you aren’t religious, then enjoy the beauty of what this time of year brings. I love the decorations, and yes, you can even find some people who have the true spirit of Christmas and are kind and caring.
I love making goodies for friends and family. I love the faces of children when they see the lights sparkle, meet Santa, or hear the story of the birth of baby Jesus.
Our family has a tradition of Christmas pillowcases, certain special goodies that are only made this time of year, and being ‘Secret Santa’ to a person or family we choose.
It’s always fun to try and not get caught while delivering the presents.
What are your Christmas traditions? What are some Christmas memories from your childhood? Do you have one Christmas that sticks out as being even more special than usual?
BIG HUGS, Steph
Kitty's Cattitude 
Dec 12, 2007 @ 15:27:53
Beautiful Christmas graphics!! Really put me in the mood. Your post simply said it all! This time of year is so different than any other and always brings out the best in everyone….. well, almost everyone! LOL I may have to borrow (steal!!) a few of those graphics of yours!!!
XOXO, Bob~
Dec 12, 2007 @ 15:58:31
I vividly remember when I was about 5 and my brother and I got caught peeking at our presents (already wrapped) ahead of time. Whoa, was my mother p.o.\’d! We were required to give this big apology to the family or she threatened to leave our presents at home – we were going to my grandparents for the holiday. My brother, who had no principals, couldn\’t get the apology out fast enough. Even though being 5 years older than me, I\’m pretty sure he lured me into the whole scam. I was totally prepared to go without presents but was afraid of making my dad cry. So I apologized. I still remember exactly what I got that year.
Dec 12, 2007 @ 18:10:47
Hi Steph … Christmas Pillow Cases!!! You Rock!!! That\’s better than a sock any day.Wish I lived closer for some of your Holiday Treats!!! They Rock Too!!!Christmas time 07\’ we have been sharing for two years now…Wow!!!It seems like i have known you for ever…Weird huh???You know what? It because our hearts are alike.All the best to you and yours. Merry Christmas!!!Greg
Dec 12, 2007 @ 18:28:13
PS – I forget to leave you to tablets of Night Time Cold Medicine.Sweet Dreams!!!
Dec 13, 2007 @ 08:45:04
That was sweet. I think of what this time of year really means to me–giving, being grateful and spending time with those that you love and hold dear.
Have a joyous holiday.
Lola
Dec 14, 2007 @ 11:20:54
Love the song. Sounds like me. And love the christmas feel overall. What I remember about Christmas is far too much to write down here. So many things, so many wonderful times, so many magical moments. But what I will do is go sit for a while and remember them all.
Thanks for bringing so many nice memories back to me at this time .. (Smile)
Hugs and love
Chris
Dec 14, 2007 @ 15:55:15
My favorite memory of christmas is my first christmas! Barely able to walk, I tottered out my bedroom & to the stairs…I put my hand to the rail and found this glistening garland under my fingers. What was this?!One step at a time I made my way down & beheld a sight I have never forgotten.A Bright and colorful tree – looking as if on fire, with my family all looking up smiling at my open mouthedawe. They looked like angels as the tree lit the room- It was pure magic!!
Dec 14, 2007 @ 20:32:54
During the holidays we mark the longer daylight hours, new beginnings, and the possibility of both giving and receiving gifts of peace, joy, and hope during the coming year. May wonderful Christmas blessings of good health and prosperity be yours.
Peace on Earth ~ Truly
Dec 15, 2007 @ 12:01:14
My families Christmas traditions include doling out the one piece of coal everyone receives each year. At least one is warm on Christmas
Dec 15, 2007 @ 15:03:51
One Xmas I remember was my first with Tumwell. I had pretty much given up Xmas once I left home; one year I had even taken the opportnity to go into the hospital then to have years of neglected dental work done under anaesthetic. But Tumwell, being a perfect person, was like a kid about Xmas, and the more he was into it, the blacker became my mood, until the last minute when he won and i was forced to go to the only place I could find open – one of the perpetually \’going out of business\’ joints on Market Street in SF. to get him a present (a Polaroid camera). And since we were mostly broke we went to the various Goodwill-type places and bought up the saddest set of discolored or home made ornaments you can imagine for our tree. It was kind of a turning point Xmas fo me; for years after that Xmas was wonderful again; at least as long there was Tumwell in it. We had a constant very enjoyable struggle at Xmas between him who couldn\’t wait to open gifts and nagged all Xmas Eve to do it early, and me who insisted that we wait until Christmas Day. Thus our custom grew up to open gifts one minute after midnight. Now that I have no sig. other, Xmas is OK, but to tell the truth, I have a huge urge to skip it. I have done nothing yet; once again I wil be out at the last minute looking for something for each of the relatives I expect to encounter on the day. And everyone seems to have a two year old – I know two-year olds are happy with a cardboard box or a gaily painted brick, but the trick is pleasing the parents. I have a feeling that the anatomically correct life-size blow-up doll ain\’t going to cut it…
Dec 15, 2007 @ 18:01:15
Thank you for the graphics, Stephie! And a very,Merry Christmas to you.. Here, since it\’s so warm,it never seems like Christmas. Hard to get into it.I\’ve had a hard time with this season all my life. Growing up, we got to open one of our usually, twogifts, before Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.That was a tradition every year. Mom, who wasn\’ta whiz in the kitchen, made \’snowballs\’.. which, tothis day, are my favorite cookies. (Also called manyother things..) One year, Christmas morning, therewas a brand new bicycle at the tree.. it was forthe 6 of us, and since we had shared an old beat-upbike for many years, it was grand. It was also, asI\’m sure you can imagine, a great source of feudsamong us. Thanks again, Steph. I\’m so glad we\’vemet, and become friends. Love, all ways. Teresa
Dec 16, 2007 @ 15:03:30
Hi Steph,
How nice to hear of your Christmas joy and traditions. Everyone is different for us. One I laugh about is when I was a youngster, awoke in the wee hours of the morning, unwrapped everything with my name on it, and retaped the packages together so it would seem I didn\’t do what I did do .. lol.
~Nooner~
Dec 16, 2007 @ 15:52:32
What\’s that I smell cooking???
Treats!!!
Dec 16, 2007 @ 16:09:21
Jesus rocks! I too believe, and have love for him. Tis the reason for the season and all that jazz. Peeps tend to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. I don\’t.
Hmmmmm, traditions and memories. I\’m getting old, so the memories are faded. I\’m sure the most memorable Christmas was a white Christmas back in 1973. It was the last Christmas with my PopPop who I adored. Yep, probably one of my favorite Christmas memories. Traditions…let\’s see. I\’m a person who likes change, but the only constant that has come with me into adulthood with my own family is the cookies for santa, and we throw oatmeal on the lawn for the reindeer. It\’s mixed with glitter so when we throw it into the air and watch it fall, it\’s sparkly like a holiday. Magical. I just got a warm fuzzy. I enjoy Christmas Eve so much more than Christmas Day. The candlelit Christmas Eve church service at 11 p.m. is always so uplifting.
Anyway, done praddling now. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Hugs!
Dec 17, 2007 @ 01:16:36
Merry Christmas Steph! Hope it\’s a great one (and I hope your husband lets you get a tree this year!)
Dec 19, 2007 @ 16:54:05
Bah Humbug, ok then fine Merry Christmas. 🙂
As a child, Christmas was just another day, that\’s probably why I\’m not so fond of it.
Dec 21, 2007 @ 07:25:20
My son is 26. he is not into christmas anymore. It was fun when he was small. Now, he says christmas gives people a chance to act like they should all year.
My memory is laying on the couch in the livingroom watching the tree for hours ( with No Tv on) dreaming of a newborn Thumbelina.
Dec 21, 2007 @ 08:57:10
Heya Steph… hope you have a fantastic Christmas and best wishes for 2008.
DB
Dec 22, 2007 @ 18:27:57
May you and yours have the Merriest Christmas and the grandest New Year Steph !!!
Merry Christmas to all.
ZePp
Dec 23, 2007 @ 15:04:23
I don\’t believe in any of that poo-poo. I just believe in reality, the next drink, the next joint, etc.
It\’s really all so simple, really.
Dec 24, 2007 @ 10:58:11
Hey Lady Steph,I hope you have a fantastic and Merry Christmas. I\’m sure this is an amazing time of year for you and your wonderful family.Take care and keep those hugs coming\’!Cheers,BH
Dec 24, 2007 @ 15:12:39
Greetings,
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Sincerely,
Osuji A. Benson,Esq.