Family Christmas Traditions

Good Morning!

Happy Anniversary to Jim and Angie Gant … 16 years married today!!! What a blessing they are to Miss N and to me.

Also, happy Birthday to Dawn and David Douglas. One of them is eight … I won’t reveal the age of the other … she lives too close and might come after me. And another of God’s rich blessings to the old folks here at 6766. Miss N and I can always count on Dawn to be right here in the time of emergency … ready to do what she can to help.

I am thinking about Christmases past at 1001 Oakdale Road. Christmas afternoon the “FAMILY” would gather to celebrate Christmas. I capitalize family because there were so many of us. Aunt Jane had five children … plus Uncle Lewis. Aunt Bette had six children and Uncle David. And Mom had us three heathens … fourteen children in all. Add to that group Aunt Mae’s grandchildren and you have the makings of a big party. And that’s what we had.

Grandma’s had a formal dining room with a great big black table that sat at least sixteen. Most of us kids ended up in the breakfast room or on the side porch (even when it was freezing). We ate until we got tired and then broke up into groups to play and talk and all the other things families do on Christmas day. Good memories of times gone by.

As we grew up, our traditions changed. People passed and the big family didn’t get together often … usually only at funerals where memories were revisited … and recounted with joy. The bulk of our extended family are believers – so death isn’t necessarily a time for mourning but more for rejoicing and remembering the good times we had together. We have new traditions and different family gatherings to attend. And that is good because the family does continue.

Although Christmas is still 9 days away, I want to wish you a very happy Christmas time. May your days until Christmas be pleasantly filled with hustle and bustle and may your Christmas celebration be fantastic.

Agape’


Mr. Jim

New Prayer Need:

Profit Lucy – surgery yesterday
Miss N – 2nd day of scan