And Now It Is Christmas

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Shared Memories and Traditions

This has been such a fun journey.  Thank you for sharing some of your memories and traditions.

From Cathy – Pot Luck at Mom’s

For more than 35 years, we have been gathering at Mom’s for a family potluck on Christmas Eve.  In the earlier years, the house would be full – Mom and Dad, our children, my aunts and uncles, my sisters and their families, cousins.  Such a family feast!  We continue the tradition every year even though our numbers have grown smaller as the face of our family has grown and changed. It is still a treasured time and, for me, marks the beginning of Christmas.

From Nicholas – The Tree

What I love most about Christmas is decorating the tree!

From Bonnie – Under the Couch

l remember one year the 3 of us – me, my brother and sister – had asked for skates for Christmas. We had one of those lift and click couches that made into a bed. Well the 3 of us would sit on the couch and mom would have all she could do to keep a straight face. Under that couch, in the compartment that kept the pillows and blankets, were our SKATES!!! We laughed for many years after about that one.

From Betty – Caroling

When I was a teenager I was a member of the CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training). We were involved in so many activities throughout the year – always something to do; always something to learn. Every Christmas we would go caroling from one end of town to the other, visiting the elderly and shut in. I can remember it was always bitter cold but somehow the singing and being together seemed to keep us warm.  On many of our stops we would be given a cookie and hot chocolate or a glass of syrup. Nothing has ever come close to tasting as good as those treats on a cold winter’s night.

From Pete – Convincing Santa

Our Christmas tree was brought into the house on the morning of the 24th and left for “Santa Clause” to decorate after the children went to bed. As we get older and the children have gone their separate ways I am trying to convince Santa that I want our tree in the house and decorated by the 20th or 21st. He doesn’t always listen though, wants to keep with tradition.

There’s nothing like homemade bread and pumpkin pickles. Margie, those pickles are delicious. Thank you!

I sometimes attach little bags of Chocolate Almond Toffee to my Christmas cards. It’s difficult to make enough as I usually end up wearing about 5 pounds on the hips.

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Well, it is Christmas! The work is all done and everything is prepared or at least what is done is done and anything else will have wait until next year. Those ‘last minute’ things I mentioned last time turned into quite a list which were literally finished the last minute. 

Church started at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and by that time the children were wired for sound, let me tell you.  They proclaimed it had been the slowest, longest, day EVER. But they managed to sit quietly during the service and, as is always the case, were totally involved by the time we sang Silent Night.  We all love this part. The candles are lit. The glow sticks for the little children are shining brightly and all but the Christmas tree lights are turned off in the church. It was Dave’s favourite Christmas carol making this time and part of the service so special.

After the service it was back home for a wonderful Christmas Eve feast and then the children’s concert.  It was amazing – a 45 minute program, mind you. Then came the traditional reading of “The Night Before Christmas”.

By 9 pm and all the traditions satisfactorily completed, it is total mayhem! With a much too heavy dose of chocolate and cookies, each one of them was ready to either explode or bounce off the walls.  They were far too excited to settle down, at which point, the parents were ready to raffle them off. Sound familiar?  And the final instruction before finally getting them off to bed was …

Do NOT Get Up Until 7 AM

Now really – as if that’s going to work! 

And Now for This Year’s Recipe

This is the recipe card that I included in this year’s Christmas card.  It is delicious!  If you like hot and spicy, just add more crushed red peppers – but be careful.  Remember in my experiment batch, I used too much and had to adjust the recipe (as noted below)

My Christmas Message

 

What do you wish for this Christmas?
Is there a gift you’ve been longing for
Or is it time to sit back and relax
~ Now that must be a myth, to be sure

Is it family and friends that come calling?
Or the phone calls you take time to make
Perhaps it’s the tree and the tinsel
Or maybe the cookies and cake

What do you wish for this Christmas?
Is it new clothes or a pocket knife
Or to sit by a merry wood fire
With time-out from your strenuous life

Is it a walk on a crisp winter morning?
Or the turkey with onions and sage
Perhaps it’s late nights or a movie
Or good health ~ whatever your age

Whatever you wish for this Christmas
We hope that those wishes come true
Love, Hope, Peace, Joy
Contentment in all that you do.

© Beulah Peyton Bouzane

To Family and Friends wherever you may be this Christmas

I wish you good health and happiness

Take care, may God bless and keep smiling

 

2 thoughts on “And Now It Is Christmas”

  1. Dennis Budgell

    I was on The Anglican Diocese of Central NL website and decided to look further. What a joy!!
    Such a rewarding experience. Thank you.

    1. Beulah

      I am so happy you enjoyed the site, Dennis. It was a pleasure creating it actually. I will be sure to pass on your message to the people at the Diocese office.

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