1. My mother-in-law hosted huge family dinners on Christmas. My husband’s siblings joined us and usually some of my family. We ate huge meals always with pie for dessert. One year my brother, my husband and his brother had a competition to see who could gain the most weight over the meal. (What can I say? They were young and foolish.) We were all amazed at how little difference a big meal actually made. (Even more surprising is how much weight it adds to the body in a day or two.)

2. As our children grew we wanted to make sure they appreciated the true meaning of the season so Christmas Eve was Jesus’ birthday

party. We sang carols. The children acted out the Christmas story as someone read it aloud then we had birthday cake. 

3. The years we had all four grandparents with us were far too few and very special. Even when they grew weak and had to be brought to our house in a wheelchair, having them join us made the day warm.

4. The big family gatherings are now at our house and there’s nothing better than sharing the day with our growing family.  

5. One very special part of Christmas when I was a young mother was the program at church where the kids performed their little plays, recitations and songs. I loved seeing my kids all dressed up in their finest and smiling from the stage.

6. My grandson, at about age 5, had a little part to recite at kindergarten. His piece was “I’m a little light that burns.” The child next to him said, “I’ll a little light that shines.” Grandson was so upset because he had to burn rather than shine. Lol