MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

Aaron, Travis, John and Lisa Saunders at Christmas 1974 or 1975

Two years ago I wrote a story about Christmas on the farm and Santa Claus Day in Lidgerwood.  I ended it by saying now each Christmas I pour my FP coffee, put a little Christmas cheer in it by way of Baileys and then sit and remember.  Well I thought I would do as I said so this morning I sat by the pool, sipped my FP and remembered!

• Dad came home from a medical trip and brought bright colored reflectors for the tree bulbs.  Mom put them on the tree and thought they were so pretty!
• In the winter on the farm my bedroom would get very very cold as I could lie in bed and see frost on the nails holding down the shingles.  That meant there was no ceiling, no insulation and NO heat.  When I was a junior in HS Mom and Dad got me an electric blanket--wow that was so nice.  During the basketball season Mom would even go upstairs and turn it on so when I arrived home, sometimes as late as midnight, my bed would be warm!
• I don't rememeber the year but I got my own radio.  I wanted it so much and there it was.  It even had a clock on it and with it I could fall asleep in the summer listening to Harry Cary do the play by play of the St. Louis Cardinals!  At that time their big guy was "Stan the Man"
• presents would be wrapped and kept above the kitchen cupboards.  Out of reach of little fingers to pick at, rattle and lift.
• Each Saturday in December before Christmas we would get in the car with Mom and go to Bergen Church.  There we would practice , it seemed for hours, our program which I think would be the Sunday before Christmas.  I did not like those practices but I know now, not then, that for Mom it was a bit of heaven.
• There were times we got puzzles, or the card game Touring, or other games and then we would play all day and into the night.
• Christmas Eve we would get in the car and drive the 3 miles to Grandpa and Grandma Lees.  There would be some presents to open only after we ate and the dishes were done.  Grandpa would eat slow, then have another helping and laugh in his vibrant long laugh as us kids would wait and wait and wait for him to finish.  Later the adults would play cards and us kids would play until we were too tired.  Then we could go into Grandpa and Grandma's bedroom, move the heavy coats and fall asleep.  When it was time to go home we would slowly walk out to a cold cold car and by the time we arrived home there would be a breath of kind of warm air in the car!
• Dave got an Erector set and I got a set of Lincoln Logs.  Those provided hours and hours and hours of play time for years.  I think Dave got his set before the fire but my logs were in the house when it burned.
• In 1976 I made night stands for the three boys.  I think I was more excited than they but each still has theirs today.
• We allowed the kids to open some of their presents Christmas Eve Day morning and they played ALL day and almost all night too.
• The kids squealed with delight as each opened a different part of their new computer.  That was the most excitement I remember in Christmas.
• Lefse making was always a great time as the kids would be in line for the next warm one
• Grand kids arrived and Christmas took on a meaning that we had almost lost.  Those little ones show that Christmas is really about them in terms of presents.  

These thought this morning are mostly about "Christmas Past" but of course there are many memories of "Christmas Present" too!  We spent Christmas of 2011 in St. Paul as Benedict came on Christmas Eve morning and last year we were at Terry's daughter's home for Christmas.  Each year brings memories, brings reflections and builds on how blessed we are to enjoy each new Christmas and thank God for his gift to us.  I know that I am most thankful for each season.  Of course it is different now but then life changes ALL the time.  I thank the Lord for kids, for grand kids for Terry and for the friends we have to be with.  We spent much of yesterday with Terry's daughter and family, then we spent last night with friends here in Naples and then tomorrow we head to South Bend and Madison to be with family so THANK YOU LORD.
And of course my FP with the shot of Baileys is gone so Merry Christmas to all and may we and you have a wonderful 2015.