I have been thinking about what is important to me around the holidays. I try to remember family holidays when I was growing up. I remember making Christmas decorations for gifts for my grandparents, decorating our tree, visiting my grandparents, lots of people in one room, everyone talking to each other, big meals with the grown up table and the kids table, getting stuck in a snow drift on the way to my grandmother's house and my uncle coming with a tractor to pull us out, hitting a deer on the way to my grandmother's house, a crisp new dollar bill from my great uncle, my grandmother's fudge and corn pudding, cousins, and cedar Christmas trees that grew on my grandparents' farms. The things I remember are the things that don't happen every day. They are the things that are different; they are also memories of the people. My holiday memories are not centered around presents I have gotten. I think I remember more the gifts that I give. I enjoy thinking about each person and making something for them. I hope that they will see in it why I chose and or made it for them. This brings me joy.I am trying to keep all this in mind with my own family. I do not like how commercial our society has made this holiday season. I have avoided stores and shopping this year and we are focusing on doing things together. We had a wonderful visit with family the week of Thanksgiving. We will not travel over winter break but will try to do some special, memorable, family things so that my children will have memories of family togetherness too.
Instagram Photos
