Remembering

I have to admit, I was not overly excited to get out all the decor for Christmas, rummage through boxes, sift through old, tacky items that should have been thrown out long ago. No, I was sort of going through the motions for the kid's sake. But, then I found a few things that made me smile and I let myself get swept into the "spirit of Christmas". I wish I knew how to capture all the things that made Christmas so magical for me as a child! Christmas holds a special place in my heart. I grew up not having all the luxuries that so many kids had then. I felt like my parents did a darn good job making us feel like we didn't go without. They had 10 children to raise and my mom was a stay at home mom. We lived in an old turn of the century Victorian 5 miles out of town in the heart of grape vineyards. As a young girl, I thought it was a dreamy house. It did have amazing details that were both historic and beautiful! It did however have it's quirkiness. (We rented this house on a ranch for 25 plus years). At Christmas time our house was transformed! It was literally the most gorgeous house I had seen! My mom was a talented decorator/seamstress/make something out of nothing/most creative women ever! Our house had two fireplaces in the front two formal rooms. This and a wood stove were our only heat sources. At Christmas time those fireplaces were constantly lit, warming our cold house, and warming a child's heart! My parents worked as a team to hand make toys, paint, sow, and literally surprise us with unique, cherished gifts! I think to this day we children talk and reminisce about these presents of pure sacrifice that showed how they loved to create and loved us enough to take the time to do it! One gift was a little doll house with old fashioned clothespin dolls. My dad could build anything and he was a sign painter/artist. My mom would sow and paint. I feel like this magic they created has stayed with me through the memories I hold dear. Every Christmas we were always amazed at what Santa brought, the amount of gifts under the tree (my parents waited until Christmas Eve to wrap and set out gifts), the amazing food, and the feeling that we felt in our home! My parents helped us see what Christmas was all about by encouraging giving between us as siblings, kind deeds, visiting the widowed, and our family Nativity Pageant. So, as I dig through the tackiness, I have to remember that the kids don't see it that way. These are their memories and items to cherish. I didn't make them anything with my own hands like my mom and dad but I can cook and I did make photo books for each child so that will suffice for now. Maybe I'll come up with something else that will not be bought from a store. It is fun to sit here and envision myself back at our home in the country...10 kids...a Christmas tree...and 20 big eyes full of wonder!!! Ah, remember!