Friday, December 30, 2011

Ghosts of Christmas

GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST






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Every year at Christmas time I get a bit nostalgic. Christmas as a child was usually a quiet affair, just the five of us and my paternal grandparents. When I met my husband I was a bit overwhelmed by the size of his family and their Christmas tradition of all gathering on Christmas eve to have a good meal and exchange presents and I grew to both love and dread holiday. Over the years our families grew up, new members were added by marriage and birth and we became scattered. Our final large family gathering was at my home in 2001 and was one of the best in my memory.



If I had to pick my happiest Christmas, it would be 2002. My husband's employer forced us to move across the state and I was dreading Christmas on the road to see my children and grandchildren. They shocked me by deciding that Christmas should be at our house and they all made the two hour drive to be with us. Some stayed over, some came for just the day, but we were all together, there was no tension and we had a wonderful time!



After that year many changes occurred and while there were still family celebrations they were held a week or two before Christmas and none had that same happy feel.


GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

This was our first Christmas spent in the Sunshine State. I have hated to be cold for as long as I can remember and I have had no use for snow since about the age of ten! I have long dreamed of moving to a warm climate and this was the year the dream came true. I struggled with the guilt I felt at not being with family but I was eventually able to set that aside and really enjoy the season. It was an unseasonably warm year here and my memories of my first Christmas here will be of shorts, open windows and warm breezes. Traditional Christmas decorations with snowmen and icicle lights seem so out of place here that they made me smile. Christmas day was a quiet but pleasant day spent with my husband's sister and her husband.



GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE

Peering into my crystal ball to "see" what the future holds I envision a Christmas far into the future, when my grandchildren are all grown and have babies of their own. The entire family is able to travel at the same time, here to Florida and we have a week filled with days at the beach, in the pool and undoubtedly at a theme park or two culminating with squeals of delight as great-grandchildren discover that Santa can find you wherever you may be..........


This was written for the 114th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, A Charles Dickens Christmas, to be hosted by Jasia at Creative Gene. Poster courtesy of footnoteMaven.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Only in My Dreams

It's time for one of my favorite Christmas traditions - Blog Caroling! Our choir director is once again the ever gracious footnote Maven.

This year I find myself 1,200 miles away from my family so I've selected Rascal Flats a cappella version of I'll Be Home for Christmas. Hit play,scroll down for the  lyrics and sing along with me.


I'll be home, I'll be home
If only in my dreams



Read

I'll Be Home For Christmas Lyrics

here.



I'll be home for Christmas - Rascal Flatts
(lyrics are written by Lil Emzies)

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistle toe
And presents under the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

I'll be home, I'll be home
If only in my dreams
I'll be home, I'll be home
If only in my dreams

I'm dreamin' tonight
Of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
(Usually do)
And although I know
It's a long road back
I Promise You

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistle toe
And presents under the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

I'll be home, I'll be home
If only in my dreams