That’s Christmas To Me

It’s hard to believe it’s the Sunday before Christmas! December goes by so quickly. In the blink of an eye we will begin a new year.

This weekend we’ve had two family get-togethers. We talked and we laughed and we ate. What would Christmas be without all the delicious food?

Family is such a big part of Christmas to me.

That's Christmas To Me

(source)

Growing up I had so many wonderful Christmases. Not because of the gifts I received, I can hardly remember the presents. But it was celebrating Christ’s birthday and spending time with family that made Christmas special.

Since losing Mom in 2009, Christmas has been different. The first couple of Christmases without her were difficult. I didn’t want to celebrate without Mom.

Mom was the one who made Christmas special for all of us. We laugh about all the crazy things Mom did around the holidays!

One year she decided to make homemade custard for my brother, Blake, because he loved it. When we got to Mom and Dad’s house on Christmas Eve, Mom was sick (throwing up) in the bathroom.

I thought for sure she had a stomach bug but we later found out that she had made the homemade custard and drank it all!! There was none for my brother and Mom had made herself sick!

Needless to say, we’ve laughed about that for years. Mom was hilarious! I could write a book on some of the crazy things she did.

I cherish the memories of my Christmases with Mom. I hold them so close to my heart but I realize that Mom would want me to keep making Christmas memories.

I  know that many of you are having a difficult Christmas this year. I want you to know I’m praying for you. I may not know your name, but I can still pray for those who are suffering.

If you are experiencing the pain of loss or disappointment this holiday season, I pray that you will feel the peace that passes all understanding and in the midst of your pain you will find a way to make some Christmas memories to cherish for years to come.

I shared a song with you all a few weeks ago from the group Pentatonix. I went and purchased their Christmas CD and I’ve been listening to it in my car all month.

This song is not about Christ but it’s such a beautiful song. Colt (my grandson) loves it and makes me play it over and over, real loud!

It brings back memories of Christmas pasts and the joys of being a child at Christmas.

 

I would love to hear what Christmas means to you?

leave a comment...

  1. That song is amazing and that group is just awesome! Thanks for sharing! I’m just catching up on favorite blog posts since I’ve been so very busy over the last couple of weeks. Christmas music is my very favorite so I need to add this CD to my collection even though it is after Christmas! HA! I hope you had the merriest Christmas!

  2. Loved the custard story Cyndi. My mother makes custard every Christmas and Thanksgiving, just as her mother and grandmother did before her. I guess I must learn the art of boiled custard making so I can carry on the tradition.

  3. Thanks so much for ur post both my parents have passed and holidays just arent the same. I miss them so but I know they r in heaven watching over me and would want christmas to b a happy time for me if I could just do that it would b great. I would like to ask for prayer for this as well as some other struggles in my life, if u would thanks and God bless u!

  4. Thank you for your sweet post. I lost my mother 7 months ago today and Thanksgiving was difficult, but Christmas is very hard. My mom lived Christmas for her grandchildren and children. My dad is keeping things going just as mom would have wanted it. I just miss her terribly.

  5. It’s taken me all month to get into the spirit of Christmas and now I’m a little sad because Advent is winding down and I love Advent. We’re off to see my parents in TX tomorrow and i’m hoping for some down time to really soak it all in. I haven’t done enough of that. Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas, Cyndi!
    xo Heidi

  6. Christmas has been difficult for me since my parents died unexpectedly within 14 months of each other. I always loved holidays with mom and dad but it was different when they were both gone. I still do things for my own family ( hubby and son, siblings and cousins) but except for Christmas services at church and dinner with my sister’s family , I really don’t look forward to December anymore. My favorite holiday has always been Easter because of my faith and the sheer beauty and ease of that holiday time. I am getting better at the Christmas holidays with each year but, for me personally, I don’t think the same magic will exist without my parents. Now, I try to concentrate my efforts this time of year on those who are really in need during Christmas…especially children, and that brings me the closest to true meaning of Christmas. Thank you, Cyndi, for praying for those who suffer at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to all!

  7. Christmas means family and love to me. I always count my blessings. Our family is slowly dwindling loosing our parents and aunts and uncles. My kids come home to make sure we are together at least the 6 of us. We always do a fun family thing, this year its a Wolves Game. I just love having all four of our children together to laugh, eat, reminisce and just be together. My husband’s family time is always Thanksgiving so we go to AZ so its just immediate family for Christmas and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Have a Blesssed Christmas!

  8. Thank you for this gentle reminder. My mother never cared for Christmas but did her best to make them bright for us. So glad I was able to see her up your way, in Lexington, the first of the month.
    The song you shared was just lovely.
    Thank you, Cyndi, for always having something for all of us on your blog.

  9. What a beautiful post, Cyndi! And I think it’s important to acknowledge that not all are enjoying a season of merriment and fun.
    This is my seventh year without my mother at Christmas. I want to tell all who are hurting, that time is a great friend to you. There is still a sense of loss and remembrance for what is gone, but that raw anguish eases. Before Thanksgiving I was contemplating the holidays without my loved ones (my dad and only sister have died since then too). I had to tell myself that this is the only life I have been given. To spend this lovely time of year mourning for what is gone is to waste and dishonor my life and the loved ones I still have. As I write this I have cookies in the oven and am watching my husband plant the pecan trees outside which I asked for as my gift. Someday I hope to pick pecans with as-yet-unborn grandchildren! I hope that at the end of my life I will look back at these as”good old days”, as I will think of earlier times with those who are gone.
    For those who are mourning, my deepest sympathy and understanding goes out to you. And a Prayer that when you are able, you will move on and enjoy life again.

    1. What a beautiful message of hope, Julie! Thank you for sharing your personal story…it helps. Merry Christmas. 🙂

      1. Thank YOU Susan. I am glad to know it touched someone. Growth, understanding, empathy…… all are the upside of the sorrow of losing our loved ones.

    2. Thank you for such a beautiful message Julie. I lost my only sister in September – at age 45, and can hardly bear the thought of anything in life without her, let alone holidays. I appreciated hearing your story.

  10. My dad passed away in January and our nephew (only 21) passed away in July. My dad was such a big character and had a large presence and our nephew was sweet and loving. Needless to say, they are deeply missed. I’m trying to figure out how to honor and remember them at our Christmas celebration without turning it into a cryfest.
    Life is challenging, but the Christ of Christmas is powerful, and He will see us through this.

    1. Gail~ I lost my dad 2 1/2 years ago. The first Christmas without him was the hardest. We have found with time, the loss is not as “raw”. But It doesn’t seem to be that way with everyone. My dad was 87 and had a good life with the exception of his last 9 months or so. It was time….but I realize that’s not always the case for everyone. I’ll be praying for you and your family today. God bless and Merry Christmas 🙂

  11. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. My father passed two years ago, and it is up hard for me to truly celebrate Christmas without him. It was always HIS holiday, he would be the one up at 5 a.m. waking we young ones up, and his joy over the holiday was infectious. I like to think that the one light on my tree that randomly blinks is his way of letting me know that his spirit is still with me! Much peace and joy to you and your family this Christmas season!!!!

  12. To me Christmas is love. Ever since a little girl I was surrounded by love and I hold those memories close. My father has passed and I miss him every day, especially through the holidays. But now with grown children I have learned to make memories that they will cherish and pass on. It must be so difficult to loose a loved one around this time of year, my heart goes out to them.

  13. Thank you for this message. I lost my father two weeks ago and finding it so hard to face each day. Praying for peace for my family and Mother. Your post had special meaning for me today. Thank you.

    1. Cassandra: I will be praying for you and your family throughout the holidays, as it is so hard that first Christmas when loved ones have passed. It helps to be together if possible and share memories of Christmases past. May the real meaning of Christmas, unconditional love, fill your heart. 🙂