A Family Christmas Tradition Continues

Years ago when my girls were young I looked forward to that moment when their eyes lit up at the sight of the many gifts left beneath the tree by Santa. The sight of the gifts piled beneath a beautifully decorated tree was awe inspiring. But, no matter how bright those lights on the tree were they were noting when compared to the light in my children's eyes. They were so excited that they could hardly contain themselves.

Each one would settle around the tree with a pile of unopend brightly wrapped packages and patiently wait their turn to open their own. As they opened each gift there was much oohing and aahing. Each gift was treated as though it were as important as the next. There was many heartfelt thanks and kisses and never a complaint or disappointed look. Oh, how I miss those days.

Now my girls are grown up and having families of their own. I no longer have those Christmas mornings of the past. Looking around and finding Christmas has become so commercialized started me thinking about my own grandchildren. What a pity that these children of today have no idea of what a real Christmas is like.

To our family Chistmas has always been about giving, loving and sharing. When they were in elementary school we began to adopt a less fortunate family to buy Christmas gifts for. To us it was a way of sharing our good fortune with those who were in need. When you give of yourself you always get more back than you recieve. Seeing the look on the face of a parent and child who recieve these unexpected gifts is worth all the money in the world.

Spending Christmas Eve together as a family was very important to us. It was a time to share our love with each other. Just being together was a gift. Now that our family has grown to include husbands and children there is more love to share. And our family tradition of adopting a less fortunate family at Christmas has grown also. Each of my children and their families adopt a family of their own. Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year.

“The merry family gatherings– The old, the very young; The strangely lovely way they Harmonize in carols sung.”

Christmas is the one time of year when you can count on smiling faces and bright lights and awesome gifts and giant twinkling trees and family reunions and childish games and believing in that old man that you know doesn't exist. Christmas is the time when dreams come true. - Unknown

 Norman Vincent Peale

 Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
- Family quote by  Charles Dickens

 Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart's possessing, Returns to you glad.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

Christmas is the one time of year when you can count on smiling faces and bright lights and awesome gifts and giant twinkling trees and family reunions and childish games and believing in that old man that you know doesn't exist. Christmas is the time when dreams come true.

This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” — Norman Vincent Peale