My daughter recently told me that some of her fondest
Christmas memories involve her grandma. When our children were young, the whole
family would gather at my mom’s for Christmas day. She had been widowed for many years before
she was ready to give up this tradition.
When we moved the celebration to my house it didn’t take long before she discovered the joy of having
no responsibilities and been spoiled for a few days. We wanted her to feel special and would pick
her up on Christmas Eve so she didn’t have to drive.
Our tradition became an early dinner, Christmas Eve service
and then driving around town looking at all the Christmas lights. Once home again, it would be time for hot
chocolate and cookies. A board game completed
the evening. It was a relaxed and loving
atmosphere.
Years later, I heard the other part of the kid’s memories
with grandma. One year they got up very
early and tiptoed into the living room with a flashlight in hand to peek at
their Christmas stockings. They were
startled to hear a sound behind them and turned to see grandma. The fear of getting caught didn’t last when
she said, “SHHH, give me the flashlight.” Then she started looking in her own
stocking!
From what I have since learned, the three of them continued
this early morning viewing for many years.
It was apparently grandma who would encourage them to wake us up
early. She was as excited as they were.
Other family members would arrive later in the day, but
those early morning times with grandma were what formed precious memories for
my kids.
This year our daughter has asked my husband and me to spend
the night at her house on Christmas Eve.
She wants her children to experience Christmas morning with
grandparents. We are looking forward to
love and laugher and creating new memories.
We even have a new board game for the family to play. Don’t tell my
daughter, but we just might be setting our alarm to get up before the grandkids
do!
May you experience Peace, Love and Joy this Christmas.
