As I write this, Christmas Eve is a week off. I spent the afternoon looking for a place for part of the family to go for dinner after a service at one of the daughter’s church. Kept striking out. We did end up with a spot—Outback, which I’m sure many of you have, and oddly the restaurant Bob and I at Sunday night. Hadn’t been there in a long time and never by ourselves. I’d checked about 8 different places before hitting on Outback. Several places weren’t going to be open. Can’t blame them for that. Most places I checked through Open Plate, and maybe that was the problem. Maybe the restaurants only gave them a certain number of spots. I didn’t think of that, and it was easy just to click on the calendar. (Update: new location is a local Italian restaurant near the kids’ house.)
What do you do on Christmas Eve? Do you open your presents then? I know lots of folks who do. I grew up opening on Christmas morning and continued that with my family. We didn’t even do that thing where you get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. We just waited for the big day.
We did stockings on Christmas morning, too. I’m repeating from last week that my mother made Daddy and me and her a stocking. They were always filled up, usually with fruit and candy canes. We never had much money. I remember when I was 12 and discovered presents Mom had hidden in her closet. I wasn’t looking on purpose, just stumbled over them. I was so crushed. I cried and cried. She’d made clothes for my favorite doll. It was a very special gift. On Christmas morning, I pretended to be surprised.
I remember the year Bob and I stayed up late putting bikes together for both daughters. And one year it was the dollhouse. When the kids were really young, my father and Bob put together the swing set. I don’t remember when they did that. LOL
For many years between the Christmas Eve service, we went to friends’ house. A good chunk of the church stopped by. My friend had a tablecloth and we’d sign our name and date it. During the year, she’d embroider the latest. Our daughters were really young, but they still remember that and think fondly of those times.
Do you spend time over the holidays reminiscing? We do a lot. Sometimes even pulling out the albums. I know. I know. I should really put them on some sort of flash drive or CD. Have any of you done that? How did it work out?
So next week, no blog, but I’ll send out my newsletter early in the week because I know we’ll all be busy and focused on our families and friends.
Happy Hanukkah to my friends who will be celebrating beginning December 23.
Please take a moment to pray for our Republic that we get through these difficult times.
I hope you’ll take a minute to share some of your favorite memories and traditions or tell us what your weather is like. Love to hear from you.
(Not sure this is going live. Having technological issues and WordPress is on vacation until after Christmas.)
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