Christmas has to be my most favorite time of the year.
I enjoy all the holidays, but Christmas is my favorite.
I love decorating, shopping for presents, baking goodies,
but above all spreading cheer to others.

It seems like at Christmas, peace begins to settle over this world.
Unfortuanately there isn't peace everywhere at all times,
but seems like for that one day most will come together.
Yes - there are still some where there is no peace.
My heart goes out to the broken spirits - the lonely - the abused- the sick-
may they find a special peace and joy this year.
 

At our house the decorations are up. Oh - I am sure there will be
last minute additions. Seems like I am always adding something.
Shopping is pretty much completed and most gifts are wrapped.
Need to get to doing cards and thinking of what I will bake.

For past several years I have worked full-time. Now I am part-time.
LOL- have a little more time to get things done. Some will ask what I have been
doing since they last saw me. I run down the things I have been upto.
"My you are still busy"
Funny I don't feel too busy, but over the past year I have had many things on
my platter and have wished for 30hr days to get it done. Since being downsized
to part-time last month, I feel less stress.  Seems like anytime something
"down" happens there is always a hidden blessing - more time with my family
and friends. More time to try to offer a helping hand to others. I feel God does
have a reason for all things and not our place to question it.

Special thanks to my daughter "who always is willing to help decorate"
Love you Jamie

At Christmas, I always like to think of Christmas past.
As a child, funds were limited , but seemed like Mom somehow always
managed to get us that special gift we wanted.
I think I was in 10th grade before I realise that we were consider "poor" by the
provety line "standards". Funny - never felt we were poor. As an adult, I
realise we were "poor" when it came to money, but rich when it came to
family and friends. That is something there is no price for.  We had each other
and that seemed to be what counted. Funny - our friends seemed to land
more at our house. Mom was "Mom" to just about all our friends.
It still brings her joy when one comes up and calls her "Mom"
and shares a memory or two. LOL- the biggest memory seems to be
her baking at Christmas - lots of fudge and cookies.
She still does alot and gives to family and friends. She makes each of her kids
a homemade cheesecake. Think that is always better than the present.
I don't waste time buying cheesecakes - pies - fudge. Mention it and Mom
usually has it made for you.

I definitely go overboard with the presents for the girls. Even so I still try to
instill love - peace and joy of giving into them. One year it was buying a small
gift for each of the residents at the local personal care home.

Another year was spent with a dying young woman, who had a 2 year old
daughter and delivered twins days before Christmas. Her wish was for the
twins to survive and her daughter to have a Christmas,
since her first one was spent getting Chemo treatment.
The girls were great and didn't mind spending most of Christmas
day a our neighbor's home. The young woman died two days after Christmas.
She laid in a coma in the hospital bed at her home the whole time, but I like to
think that she "knew" her wishes were met.
 

The above brings on another memory.
Now - the big question - "Is there a Santa Claus"

I remember as each of my girls learned "no Santa"
Wrong - "there is a Santa"
I always think of the story -"yes Virginia - there is a Santa Claus"

I have repeatedly explained to the girls - that I believe in "Santa"
That is just another name we use at this time of the year for the love we feel
in our heart. The love that makes you want to do good for others - the love
that makes one trample all over searching for the one special gift
for that one special person. It is just another name for the "Christmas Spirit" that
seems to help bring peace and joy to this old world.
"Santa" is another  name for that 'random acts of kindness, where you do a good
deed and remain unknown.

Yes - "I believe in Santa Claus"

Another Christmas favorite is the "Christmas" carols. I loved them as a child and
I love them as an adult. They have always brought cheer to me. It is hard to say
which is my favorite, but I think I vote for
"Oh Holy Night" - then "What Child is This"
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" is another. I love spreading cheer to others on
Christmas day, but I always make sure part of our day is spent in our own home.

Home is where the Love is.

Below are some Christmas Carols I found searching other sites.
I hope you enjoy them.
Specially thanks to my daughter - who "organizes" my titles to save me time.
Love you Jessica

I have always loved the following poem :
 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas'

  By Clement C. Moore

 'Twas the night before Christmas,
   when all through the house
    Not a creature was stirring,
     not even a mouse.
 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap
 Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
    I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
  Tore open the shutter and threw up the sash.
  The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
   Gave a luster of midday to objects below.
 

 When what to my wondering eyes should appear
    But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
     With a little old driver so lively and quick,
       I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
 

    More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
      And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
     "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
   On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
 

    To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
     Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away, all!"
    As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
      When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
 

    So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too.
 And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
   The prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof.
 

    As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
 

  A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
 And he looked like a peddler  just opening his pack.
 His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were  like roses, his nose like a cherry!
 

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
 And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
 

 He had a broad face and a round little belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf.
 And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
 

  A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
 He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
 And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
 

 And laying his finger aside of his nose,
  And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
 He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
 And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
 

                   But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,
         "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"
 

                 And let us not forget the "true" meaning of Christmas - celebrate the birth of our Lord

Luke 2:4-14
 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to
the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary,
who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a
child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in
     cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the
fields nearby, keeping watch over theirflocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
 
 

Christmas Stories
Christmas Poems
Christmas Poems 2

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