I absolutely LOVE Christmas season! I love the warmth of spirit that's around and the feeling of "magic" in the air. I love seeing the Christmas lights on houses and manger scenes on the lawns. Although I hate the cold, I love how beautiful everything looks under a blanket of white. I used to love to play in that blanket; but as I've gotten older it's lost its charm, simply because I practically go into hypothermia. I prefer walking in it more than anything else. I love this time of year because it is in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, an event that has changed my life and others' forever and ever and ever. I am filled with reverence, awe, and love as I reflect on the humble birth of our Savior and His ministry. I would be nothing without Him.
And I also find that every Christmas time I reflect back on Christmas as a child. Almost all day yesterday, while sitting in front of this laptop working on a school project, Niklas and I had the classic Christmas specials on in the background. Those shiny, claymation ones with "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "Jack Frost," etc. I will never be too old to watch those. I adore them! It doesn't feel like Christmas completely until I'm able to watch those old Christmas shows. I think Christmas time is the one season that keeps me connected to my childhood the most. For instance, some memories of past Christmas days:
1) Playing with my "Beauty and the Beast" toys from Burger King in the Christmas tree. (I had to pull up a chair to the tree to be able to reach higher as my make-beleive story went on.) The tree, with all of its bulbs, lights, ornaments, and garland, was supposed to be the Beast's castle. And Belle would walk on the garland spiraling up the tree, spotting all of the magnificent wonders of the castle, and occasionally coming upon a drinking fountain (bulb ornaments that had an indentation in them...I don't know how to describe them; I just know they were really pretty). There was also this old nutcracker ornament that had belonged to my sister Kristine. He was the bad guy in my story--he gave the Beast some poison at some point, maybe because he wanted Belle? The poison was a burnt-out red light from the Christmas tree. I had such dramatic stories... :P My mom wasn't so keen on me playing in the tree for fear I would break an ornament (and I don't blame her), but I'm really glad she let me anyway. Those are some of my most fond memories as a kid.
2) I broke an ornament one year on accident. I believe it was in the shape of an instrument like a violin, and I knew I would get into trouble with my mom. So I turned to my kid sister, Lynda, and said, "Lynda, I'm going to tell Mom that you broke it." And before she had time to respond, I immediately called for Mom and told her my lie. I don't think I got away with it. Lynda was old enough to protest against me. And I don't know why I always remember that, but I always feel bad about how I treated Lynda as a child, and I'm still trying to make up for it. (Merry Christmas, Lynda! ~sheepish grin~)
3) I used to love sleeping next to the Christmas tree. I wanted to be near it all the time because I found it so magical and beautiful. I loved the warm glow of the lights when everywhere else was dark. Not sure if I actually got away with sleeping next to it all night, though!
4) I remember believing in Santa Claus and having my best friend, Alicia, tell me that he didn't exist. I was alarmed but my older sister Diane stood up (literally) and declared that she knew that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny (and maybe even the Tooth Fairy) existed. I then backed Diane up. I think I find it funny now because of how dramatic the atmosphere of it all was to me as a child, and the fact that Alicia was so right and we were dead wrong! I guess neither Diane or I wanted to give up our childhood beliefs yet; and I'm sure our parents hadn't let on yet as well. (I have no idea how old we were at the time.)
5) Every year I would follow my oldest sister Kristine's example and poke, prod, shake, and feel-over all of my Christmas presents to try to figure out what it was inside. This also drove my mom nuts. One specific year I had asked for a play tea set that was "magical:" when you put warm water on the knives and biscuits, jam would appear, and the tea cups would change to a different shade. I knew there was no such thing as Santa Claus at this point; and I'm not sure if I was snooping or not, but I stumbled across a large black garbage bag one day (before Christmas) in the basement. I peeked inside...and saw a box with pictures of my dream tea set on it! I was so thrilled!! Then guilt rose up in me for seeing it. I told my mom later and she was not happy with me. I'm surprised now that I even told her but I'm glad I did anyway. What's funny now is that I don't dare touch any of my presents. I don't want to know what's in them since I want it to be a surprise. Even my presents under our squatty tree are, at this instance, untouched by my hands, and will remain that way until Christmas day. I finally learned that the anticipation of not knowing is one of the best things about Christmas presents. :)
6) Every Christmas Eve (also my birthday), my mom would hold a Christmas feast and invite over some of our relatives. After being all together and stuffing ourselves with the feast and pie, us kids would mosey on over to the living room and start playing video games together while the grown-ups continued to linger at the dinner table chatting. I still have this longing every Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day to play video games with family. The last few years I would rent a Harry Potter game for my birthday and play while my sisters would watch me. Even though one would be playing at a time, we'd all be engaged and laughing at some of the cheesy/funny sayings in the game, etc. I miss those times now since it was practically like our little tradition, so I have Niklas play with me instead when we aren't with my family during the holidays.
I love Christmas memories! I also decided recently to sew stockings for Niklas and I, and for each of our children as they come. Here is my stocking that I finished a couple weeks back. Niklas will be painting my name across the cuff and we'll be adding some buttons.
Niklas' stocking will be the same only with a green contrasting toe and heel, and a green cuff. I'm hoping to get his done before Christmas, but I think I'll succeed.
Also, here are some pictures left on our camera taken a lot earlier this year that I didn't realize were on there until now.They are mostly pictures of us being silly, so...enjoy or be appalled, I guess. :P I can't explain the weird model ones...but I know it makes me laugh because it is SOOO ridiculous looking!! I hate how dramatic models look or actors act in movies---it's so fake and corny in real life. Seriously.
I had gotten some boots and thought I could look like an old-fashioned pilot...
Nothing says Masculine like a Chocoholick apron. That's right.
Look~ it's a real smile and pose!! ;)
Wolverine look-alike?
"Why are you still taking pictures of me?...I'm done play-acting and brushing my teeth. Nothing to see here..."
One last thing. Niklas did have a second heart surgery on December 1st and he is doing great at this point. We are hoping that this takes care of his problem completely but only time will tell. I'm really glad he went through the surgery a second time. I love you, Niklas! Everything else is going alright in our lives. We're both pretty busy with work and school. And it hasn't been a horrible year, but I'll be glad to leave this one behind us since it was filled with a lot of stress.
Merry Christmas to you all and a happy new year, even though they are still a few weeks away. May God bless you all!
9 comments:
What a nice surprise to see a new blog post. :-) It made me kind of nostalgic to read your memories of being at home for Christmas. The house is pretty quiet these days and lately that's been bothering me. Probably partly because we've had a lot of stuff going on this fall and I've seen less of the grandkids to bring some of that kid noise in. :-)
I love how much mileage you got out of the Christmas tree. Your comment about sleeping there... I recall for a few seasons at least, you kids were allowed to take turns sleeping under the tree at night in a sleeping bag (think you did it in pairs?). As long as you were careful around the tree and didn't open anything underneath,you could have a turn doing that. I don't recall the boys sleeping there... did they? I just remember you girls wanting to do it.
Enjoy the photos. Did you check out the angle on you in the mirror behind? ;-)
Oh... the stocking turned out really cute. :-)
I'm sorry we can't spend the holiday together this year. I'll be sending a goodie package out of here when I finish a couple more things. I hope to have that done by the end of the week at latest. Diane comes in on Thursday. It's getting close!
Love, Mom
I enjoyed your comment, Mom. :) Christmas time always makes me nostalgic, but I find myself becoming that way more as I get older! Maybe it will cease a bit when I have kids of my own and can somewhat experience that childhood magic again with them.
You're probably right about being able to sleep under the tree; I just wasn't sure. And no, I don't think Michael or Robert cared so much to do that.
Yeah, saw the angle...ack. Guess we should have blocked that out. Oh well.
Thanks on the stockings! I'll be glad when I get Niklas' done and can fill them with goodies. :)
I'm hoping next year we can visit WA for Christmas and maybe see both sides of the family. Time will tell. I'm hoping next year won't be as crazy in general. But I hope you all have fun this year being together.
Love you,
Karen
Wow you were a Chatty Cathy with this post! I love it when you get all nostalgic and talk about growing up! And those pics! LOL I like the boots and I love that you are posing on a chair to show them off! Classic! And Niklas would make an awesome Wolverine!
Chatty Cathy? :P I guess it runs in the family; that's what people used to call my mom when she was a kid!
I get nostalgic a TON...I just need to post when it hits.
Hee hee, I have to stand on the chair to see a full body shot in the mirror to check out my outfits sometime... :P So whatever works!
YES, I think Niklas should dress up as Wolverine next Halloween. He could definitely pull it off with his crazy hair. :) Time will tell!
The Chatty Cathy doll came out when I was in second grade, I think. I was always getting "talks" on my report card in school because I was social and also got very bored after finishing assignments. Talking to my neighbors was more interesting than reading the same Dick and Jane book over and over again. ;-)
I don't know who started calling me that first... but it had a life for awhile in early gradeschool.
There's nothing wrong with the other angle in the mirror... it just gave me a smile and I wondered if you'd noticed it. It actually makes the photo more interesting.
I liked the smiling picture of Niklas. :-)
Mom
P.S. - Last night was a big choir deal at the stake center... each ward choir performing in a round robin sort of thing and doing a number together in the round at the end. I don't always participate in events that take me to the stake center and being up in the choir seats totally brought back the old days of our ward meeting there. Choir with Gene Balsmeier in the tenor section... the Skinners in our ward and you kids being so young and not knowing one another. Saw Mindy (Taylor), whose parents we knew well when her mother was alive (Sandy). She's pushing 40 now! It was kind of a nostalgia trip. I also saw Michael Pitcher and his beautiful, growing family ... and chatted a bit with both of his folks. Sandy said I'd not changed a bit... I'm not sure what that means. I'm fat, puffy and wrinkled. ;-) I guess it means she can still find the younger me in my face.
I don't remember standing up (literally) to Alicia at all. I'd be embarrassed by it, but I don't think it's ever right to dash someone's childhood dreams like that. Plus, anyone is as real as you make them to be. Many people do not believe Jesus Christ was a real person because they can not see him, but that doesn't mean they're right. It's all really just opinion. (Besides, it is said that there once was a real person who the modern Santa Claus is based on.)
I'd forgotten about you playing with Belle and Beast in the Christmas tree, but reading this brought it all back. I know exactly what you mean with the lights as well! We have a lot of fun decorations for the tree.
I still love the snow, but not the snow here in Idaho. I really do prefer the wet stuff that crunches underfoot and can be made into something. I'm actually hoping to see some snow this year. I'll keep you posted. ;)
Ahh, the good ol' stake center! I can still remember running my fingers along the wall brick grooves (or whatever it was made out of)and sliding on my tights across the gym floor. The good days. :)
And Diane, I do remember you standing up to Alicia because you felt she was wrong. I don't fault Alicia for it---she was right after all. :) I'm glad to grow up; I don't enjoy playing with toys anymore, but I have that lovely "childhood tucked under my jacket," as one of my books puts it, and that is enough to keep the magic of childhood a part of me and my memories. I can't put my finger on it still, but I know that imagination and playing is a very important part of a developing child.
Yeah, I don't want anymore snow here--you can have it all in WA!
Ahh, your post brings back memories! I remember the good ol' days of Christmas anticipation. I feel bad about dashing everyone's dreams...blame it on my dad for never instilling ANY kind of belief in santa into me. He was pretty blunt about the reason by the celebration of Christmas and told me other families didn't always believe in Jesus, and they like to celebrate Santa instead. Maybe that is where all of my cynicism has come from! lol. In fact, I remember making me grandma think that I believed in santa by playing along with her and then feeling so devious afterward! I don't think I would have ever believed, because I always over-analyze and argue :P I would have prepared an argument against why santa was not real. Anyway, I love the stockings! They are so cute. Have you started a nice collection of your own Christmas ornaments yet?
Alicia!
I loved reading your comment. It made me laugh because it's so true---you would be arguing against believing in Santa Claus. :P What's funny is that we (Miller kids) knew what the real reason for Christmas was---we just also had a belief in Santa. But I think as a kid I was focused more on Santa which is too bad. I know better now. :) I wonder how Niklas and I are going to handle that though. It was fun believing in Santa, but then it stunk when reality hit as I got older. And I want our kids to know the real reason we celebrate Christmas. And how can I lie to my children about a person who doesn't exist??? I would feel guilty! Guess I'll worry about that later when I need too.
Thank you for the nice compliment on the stocking! Niklas and I basically put all of our ornaments together...the only thing we've bought together are some bulb ornaments and weird garland-wannabe stuff. But our tree is only 4-ft. tall right now. :P I figure when we can afford a bigger tree in the future, we'll go out and get lots of our own ornaments. :)
I hope you're doing well!
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