We seemed to have exhausted the Christmas Memories for awhile, so I have a new one. What is your favorite part of Christmas? I have one, but I want to hear yours first.
I like all of it.. but what really makes me stop dead in my tracks and become humbled to what it really is all about is this:
We should never ever forget the real reason ..for everything that IS.....
I do like Christmas; I believe that Jesus came as a babe and that He died to save me/you.
But, the day after the Christmas Holiday is my favorite.
No worry's about gifts/ travel, unless it is home, and the competition to do better than the neighbors
is slowed down.
then there are the "LEFT-OVERS" and if we are home alone.............we get to pig-out. LOL
Then there is New Years Eve to look forward to and a brand New Year!
Easy-----------Family------------------together in one place at the same time. Not so much this year as our son and his wife are still traveling, unless they choose to surprise us. But, if not, they will be home soon after the New Year. However, it still my family (I'm the patriarch) together.
Larryj
The fun and best part of Christmas is family time .. All of us together.. keeping the tradition of game playing and eating alive and well.
We always play men against women.. in Scattorgories.. and Pictionary ( get the big huge white board out and use it) and this year I have 2 new games to play.. We have a ball. We all make lots of snacks and cool things to eat ( and drink) and spend the day just enjoying each other.. We open gifts and we have a tradition that has been around longer than I have been alive...My mother, Aunt Rosy and Aunt Barbara started this a long long time ago...
Every year there will be a few ugly horrible gifts to someone mixed in with their nice stuff.. Some of these things have been passed around for literally 20 + years.. ;D There is this horrible ugly silver pillow ( Grandma McD had it on her divan ) and these horrible black and white glass poodles ( I think all that is left is a mama and one baby ) There is a blow up plastic footstool with (get this) plastic flowers inside it with wooden screw in legs on it..
It is the most hateful hideous thing you will ever lay your eyes on. ( Someone will get it .. but no one knows who.. ) :D
It is a fun day... and this year we get to have Mama and Daddy with us again too. What fun!
Family ***Family***Family Love***Love***Love
Sherri, Curt, Tania and Brett won't be here with us, but in love and in their hearts, we will all be together. Our Christmas Day
celebrations have always been the most fun ever. Especially now that we forgo the big meal and just pig out on all the snacks and
we can start anytime of day we want and eat and drink until we decide to quit. And as Teresa posted, you just hold your breath that you
don't get the ugliest of the ugly gag gifts. We have SUCH a good time!!!
Christmas eve. Late at night when everything is done and everyone is where they need to be and you step outside for a moment. The silence, the serenity, the expectancy, because you know in your heart that there is good in the world.
Then you look up at the moon and you see:
The tiny sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer,
Santa's voice, far away, yet so clear,
"Happy Christmas to all, see you all next year."
Jo, Teresa and family,
I love your thoughts because you're not wasting your remaining years feuding and fussing over petty things. So many families get so tanged in personalities that they forget to play cards, buy silly gifts and laugh till their guts hurt. I like your family because you're so honest. One minute you're talking about the Christ Child and the next you're telling a newspaperman to stick it in his Christmas tush. LOL
There is so much hypocrisy in today's world, even among folks who dote on their religious expectations for others. What I see in your lives is a health dose of family love. I can see it is genuine. And to me, that makes it Godly.
Please savor each moment of your Christmas together. Life is so very fleeting. We get only one chance to do it right --- and I believe you are setting a good example for all of us to follow.
:)
wow~~ Thank you Rudy... that was so nice of you to say that..
But you know ~~ what I have learned is the people that generally comment openly with compliments and positive appreciation for others.. is a sure sign that they..themselves have no heavy egos about themselves and genuinely appreciate what they are addressing. I know you being a strong loving father force ~~ that you have instilled in your family the love and honesty and self worth of family and love that encompasses it. So you know the kind of love that my family shares.
I AM lucky and very blessed and not a day goes by that I don't give thanks to God and all the higher powers for my family and all we have.
You have a Merry Christmas and don't forget to shop around until you find the most butt ugly thing in the world that you know would just appall someone in your family .. then wrap it up nicely and try to keep a straight face as they open it .. They won't know whether to thank you and act like they like it ( as manners tells us to do ) or to just look at you like you have 4 heads with fins... ;D
But you will be guaranteed that it will bring about a tradition that is so much fun.. LOL
Thank you, Rudy, for those very kind compliments you bestowed upon our family. You put a smile in my heart. Our family really does have so much fun -- and share love and laughter, always.
One of the most wonderful things that I love about our grandchildren is....No matter where - when - or who is around I ALWAYS get a kiss and a big hug from Danny, Derek, Tania, Teri, Rochelle, and Brett. Fred gets kisses from the girls and hugs from the boys. Whether it is in the middle of main street - in Cookson's Hardware or any public place...their love is shown to us as others watch. We are so blessed and thankful for all that God has given us.
And to parrot Teresa, the readings in your newspaper shows your family is just like ours.
Enjoy a blessed Christmas.
I'll add this story...
my Aunt Barbara McDonald started this tradition. Let me quickly ( if I'm talking you KNOW that's a bold face lie on the quickly part) but I'll try to make it as short as I can. :-\
Every year all during my grow up years.. we would have a weekend of Workman Christmas ( my mamas side) and a weekend of McDonald Christmas.. ( my dads side)
Friday night we would arrive at the house of whoever was having it that year and immediately the men would all go out in the garage or wherever..and the women would gather up cards and chairs and we would start the marathon of Canasta playing. We literally stop only to prepare the meals.. then back to the card playing.Then Sunday we would have the gift exchange..
Well we always drew names and bought that person a gift..It was in Grove Oklahoma that year at Uncle Russell and Aunt Barbara's house ( Jim McDonald (Sarge's) parents)
Aunt Barb crocheted so everyone loved for her to get your name cause you always got something really handmade and neat..
Aunt Barb had my moms name and mother knew it and had been acting silly showing off that she was going to get something nice..na na na na nahh naaaaa ~~~~~....Aunt Barbara kept saying she did a little something different that year..( and the silliness continued all weekend..)
This one particular year we finished up the Canasta game at about 4 in the morning . Aunt Barbara took her flashlight ..went out into the pasture and gathered up some cow poop.. She had a nice box all lined with wax paper and she ever so gently laid this fresh cow poop in the box..covering it with the other sheet of wax paper, then wrapped and decorated it so nice...
Well~~ it was in a warm house under the tree all day Saturday.. Saturday night.
Sunday morning after breakfast etc..it was time to open presents.. We all knew about it..so when Mothers gift was passed to her we all kind of tried to make sure we nonchalant watched her as she was opening it.
(**Mama LOVES candy and chocolate**) That said~~~~~~ She opened up this pkg and with the wax paper smashed on the top.. and it was kinda soft and firmish gooey....it looked exactly like dates ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D. **We all get VERY loud and excited when we get presents oohing and awwing and when she saw these ..she hollered .."Oh my gosh ! I got DATES!! All to myself!! I LOVE Dates!!
With that she pulls back the wax paper proceeding to pull one out with her fingers and right at that same split second, her eyes get huge and in the same breath she yells "Its Shit! its Cow Shit!!"
I thought we all were going to die laughing... *She did get a beautiful hand made crocheted item by the way)*
But the was the beginning of who could give the worst gift.. :D
My sister-in-law Barbara was the "Queen of the ugly gift" giving for all the rest of time.
It was AWFUL but it really was funny. Oh how I loved that woman, and my other McDonald sister-in-law, Rosalie, as well.
See? That's what I'm telling ya.
Your family knows how to have fun.
We're so boring at our house.
Well then~~~~~~~~~~~~ change it!
Make it fun!! :)
YEA YEA YEA
My Christmas present is early. I should say our Christmas present is early.
As I sat here this afternoon watching a Disney Christmas with my granddaughter, when who should appear, walking into my family room unannounced------------
MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
BACK FROM THEIR WORLD TRAVELS
We have not seen them since last April.
JOY JOY JOY
Larryj
Oh, Larry! That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you and your family, and I hope you all have a great time together.
Hooray! The best gift ever!
What a wonderful Christmas present. :)
It was just so neat!!! My GD and I were watching a movie and in they walked. My wife was at a physical therapy appointment. So they were trying to figure out how to surprise her when she returned. They were going to wait on the patio and surprise when she came out to the family room. Then they were going to hide in one of the bedrooms. However, the GD wanted to go outside and play in the front yard so then the plan was to hide in the garage.
Now------------I have been married to this woman for 36 years. If I have learned anything at all, it is that I never ever surprise her with anything. Being in a quandary on how to let her know without actually telling her was a problem. I finally called her cell and asked when she would be home. She immediately assumed the worst and wanted to know what was wrong. So I had to tell her nothing was wrong, but that she needed to come home soon. I kept repeating that----------you should come home soon-------she finally guessed and I am surprised she didn't get a speeding ticket.
Everybody is thrilled that they are home and I am not in deep doodoo for keeping anything from her. In a little while, we will take our GD home and pick up some chicken on the way and have dinner at my daughter's house. She is not yet aware that her brother is home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Larryj
Wonderful !!!
But it seems to me the reason you can't surprise your wife is ------TA Da -----You can't keep your mouth shut !!!
That is just a guess, however ----
Why didn't you just wait until she came home?????`
Gosh Larry -- seems to me ------- You are NO FUN AT ALL!!!
Teresa, your first post on this thread...powerful stuff.
Jo, I didn't see a tongue in cheek smiley in your post, but I will assume you were funnin' me. Anyway, go back to my post and reread the first line of the second paragraph. Or----------let me repeat it for you.
I have been married to the this woman for 36 years, and if I have learned anything at all, it is that I never ever surprise her with anything.
My own safety and welfare as well as my happiness is dependent on the rules of engagement set down for me when I got married. Breaking any one of the rules could cause serious and maybe irreparable harm to my well being.
So, even though it would have been great to have the kids surprise her, the consequences of me not forewarning her would overshadow any happiness I was feeling at that time. ;D
To Continue-----------------We arranged for our daughter to call when she was home on the pretext that we (mom and dad) were going to pick up some take out and go to her house to bring the GD home and eat dinner. Our son and daughter-in-law followed us there and we had the GD ring the doorbell and when our daughter opened the door, there stood her brother and his wife. Everyone stated crying again.
I woke up this morning to the sound of a little rain passing by and I laid there thanking God for returning them home safely to us. This will be the greatest Christmas yet. :)
Larryj
Never take 95% of what my mother says serious Larry.. ;D
I have known her for 56 almost 57 years of my life ......duh,..( Did I just actually SAY that ?) and if you would ever meet her you would know that she can flat dish our bowls of it.. ( but she can take it too... so keep that in mind ;))
I got my quiet shy demeanor from my daddy.... :angel:
Quote from: Teresa on December 22, 2009, 01:13:44 PM
Never take 95% of what my mother says serious Larry.. ;D
I have known her for 56 almost 57 years of my life ......duh,..( Did I just actually SAY that ?) and if you would ever meet her you would know that she can flat dish our bowls of it.. ( but she can take it too... so keep that in mind ;))
I got my quiet shy demeanor from my daddy.... :angel:
_____________________________________________
I have gathered from her many posts the type of person she is, as well as, the posts from other members of her family. I see all of you as a fun-loving group prone to prankish behaviors and friendly "insults" to one another. I am pretty sure that Jo would not seriously insult me unless I personally attacked her or one of hers. That said:
Yes you did say 56 or 57. However, allow me to be chivalrous and say that you don't look a day over 28. That said:
I don't think your daddy gave you enough shy demeanor!
Larryj
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/shocked.gif) Larry!! I'm shocked that you would say that ....
Anyone that knows me knows I am but a mere wall flower who shyly sits by herself timidly waiting for others to come over to speak to me.. only then do I... in a tiny whisper.... talk to them...
((I know I know~~~ people burn in hell for lying.,.)) ;D
Teresa, I am truly sorry to have shocked you. But, you have to remember that I have been a member of this forum long enough to remember the picture of you aiming a rifle!!! Shy demeanor? HAH! I laugh. HAH!
Larryj
Laugh long and hard at that one, Larry.........Holie Buckets, she can lay it on, can't she?? Shy and demure? :o Indeed, Not!
Was I "funnin" you.......wellllllllllllllll now really, would I do that?
Seriously, I am so happy that all of you are together, because from one of your posts, I could tell, you really were a little bit blue that your
loved ones were not going to be with you all for this wonderful time of the year. I'm sure you know when to be a good boy and
not do anything to get your self in the "time out section".
I wish you and yours the best Christmas ever!!!
Jo
Thank you, Jo, and our family sends return wishes as well.
Being the "patriarch" of the family entitles me to be doted upon and waited upon by by children and grandchildren.
Well, one can wish!!!!!!!!!!!! Generally, I am allowed to sit where I want if I am not in my own house. I don't garner much special attention from them. They tend to look at me as the old guy with the oxygen hose on his face who can't possibly be of much use in helping with the dinner or anything else. This is both bad and good. The good is that I don't have to help with anything and am allowed to just sit and enjoy. The bad is----------------wait a minute------------I will have to think about what is bad.
My now 5-year-old granddaughter has a special bond with her papa, I think, because I have been taking care of her more so than anyone else, except her parents. The other night when we were having our unexpected family reunion at my daughters, everyone was in another part of the house and I was relegated to the big chair in front of the TV. She (GD) came over to me and asked me to sit on the couch so she could sit next to me. She always does that. She always wants to sit next to Papa. So I say, "Hey, your uncle and aunt are back from the world, aren't you going to watch them and talk to them?" "No, papa, I already talked to them. I just want to sit here." Such a wonderful child!
Back to the patriarch stuff. I do have my food served to me. People do tend to ask me on occasion if there is anything I need. I have not trained them enough to sit in a semi-circle on the floor in front of me and devote their undying attention to me. That is a work in progress. It is slow going, but I am optimistic results can be achieved.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I would use this space to wish all my forum family a wonderful and happy holiday season. This forum is the second biggest highlight of my day and I thank all of you for being a part of it.
Larryj
I hope if they do.. they wear their hip boots..
Man oh man but it was getting deep .......... :)