Momrn2 has invited everyone to share their favorite Christmas memory. She said
Be ready to pull up a chair and grab a warm throw. There will be a fire burning, warm drinks ready, snacks to munch on, Christmas music in the background, and warm hearts of friends sharing a quiet moment of Christmas together in “My Quiet Corner”.
I love to read these because memories are something special to our heart. So here in blogsphere this is what we call “getting personal”.
I think the joy for my Father was seeing our excitement on Christmas morning. Truly he could care less what was under the tree, but prolonging the excitement…now that was his gift. I know some of my siblings don’t share the same joy in these things as I do, but to me they are special memories. We had a long hallway where I lived. So Mom and Dad would be up late the night before after we had all gone to bed, putting the presents under the tree and getting everything JUST RIGHT. Then right before going to bed Dad would do something to make sure we did not peek or see the tree. So he taped up the hallway. Yes you heard me right, he taped up the hallway, and there was no getting by.
In order to see the tree we had to pass by Mom and Dad’s door. So Mom and Dad would try to get as much sleep as their three excited young children would let them. Then they would say, “I don’t think Santa came last night lets go back to bed.” And Mom and Dad would have a loud resounding “NO” from all three of us. We all would be bouncing on their big bed trying to wake them up. And finally we would bug them enough and we all headed out to see the tree.
Dad would walk real slowly down the hallway, torturing us because we were behind him wanting to see the presents under the tree. Now to a child this really got on my nerves and my Dad was such a dud. But now as a young woman, I treasure it.
Then our eyes would bulge with excitement when we finally got to see our stockings and presents under the tree. I remember it was just us five one year and we all sat down in a circle (after opening our stockings and eating breakfast), and took turns opening presents. Each person opened a present while everyone watched. I loved this and treasure it even more today. You see I said the present to my Dad was not what was under the tree but our faces and our excitement.
Oh did I tell you, once we got to see the presents under the tree, they all had numbers on them. Oh yes they did! So no one knew whose present was whose. And only Dad had the key. Each year it was a different code to break (hence why a certain sibling does not like these memories, but I enjoyed the challenge). Oh we would get impatient and beg Dad to just tell us, but finally one of us would figure it out.
I have grown to be like my Dad, I get so excited to see people opening up presents. I could sit there Christmas morning and just watch and my heart would be filled and blessed beyond capacity.
Dad, thank you for giving me so many memories and stories to pass on. I know you did not necessarily have the best example of what a Father should be, but some how that did not matter. You prolonged the excitement, for in your wisdom you knew, that was what I would always remember. For I could not tell you one thing I got, but these memories are imprinted on my heart forever. Now see you guys got me crying.
Merry Christmas!
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What wonderful memories! Love your Dad taping up the hallway. Too funny!
I love this! What fun your dad added to your Christmas mornings!
I am really enjoying reading the Christmas memories of others, I thought it would sadden me, but it gives me hope that cycles can indeed be broken one generation at a time and also has allowed me to look at my memories in a different glow.
What a great story! I love to hear about “good” Dads. My father was a very poor example - truly a Scrooge clone - and he would have liked to skip Christmas all together. I am blessed to find and marry a man who restored the Christmas spirit for me. Thanks for sharing your memory,
Dk
http://aflyoverblog.typepad.com
So much of this is familiar to me, Laurel Wreath. My parents made it all very exciting.
As my own girls got older, I did the number system and only I held the key. The girls loved it.
It’s so sweet how we evolve, isn’t it? My greatest pleasure is making it exciting and magical for my children, just as my own parents did. This is a beautiful post and the button you made is lovely - how sweet that it says Laurel Wreath on the pillow. I’d love to crawl right through this monitor and get comfortable in that chair.
Oh this is so wonderful to read. I agree with Sissy. Most of my Christmas memories are negative, thoguh for very different reasons, and I am having a hard time coming up with any to write about.
Praise the Lord that He is in control and gives us the opportunity to change. This is a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.
I loved this — it actually encouraged me that, even though I don’t remember the specifics of childhood Christmases, I do rememeber they were happy. I’ve regretted not keeping better records of our own family Christmases, but I hope that it what my kids remember: the love and the togetherness.
Your dad has a special gift!
What a joyful Christmas memory! I just love your Dad’s spirit! What a giving and kindhearted man he was to go to so much trouble to see your faces light up with glee! Thank you so much for sharing such a sweet uplifting story!
This is a truly beautiful memory! Prolonging the excitement of gifts hasn’t happened in ages here, since hubby loves to unwrap a gift as soon as it is wrapped! Funny guy. I’ll make him read this story and see if I can change his mind.
we did the presents with numbers on them too. Except one year my mom used strawberry shortcake wrapping paper and since I’m the only girl… well, I’m not THAT dense…
Blessings,
Karla
what a precious memory.
I’m sure my dad would have loved the taping the hall idea, if he’d thought of it.
There were some years when the living room was blockaded
I think the number system for presents is brilliant!!! You have a special Daddy! I loved this.
What a great Daddy and family. This sounds like so much fun. I am glad you shared your memories with us!
Thank you so much for sharing those precious memories. My favorite memory of Christmas is after we eat, we sang and Dad and my sister played their instruments. My sister is a great guitar player and Dad wasn’t to bad on his little home organ :)…Yeah - that is my favorite memory…I should have read the invitation earlier…Well, at least I can share it with you and your readers :).
Blessings on your day and always.
What a wonderful memory! I enjoyed reading this! I have participated in this one,too. I love to think back to joyful times!!!
I’m imagining crime scene tape plastered all through the hall! I started using fake names on our presents a few years ago: Joe Cool, Love Bug,…whatever. A code sounds exciting!
Taping the hallway — now that’s getting creative. What a wonderful memory to share with all of us. Your dad sounds like a great man.
I know just how your Dad felt. There is such an air of excitement and anticipation when we are giving something special to the ones we love. I’m so glad you have those precious memories.
These stories are all so heartfelt and sweet. Loving memories are a priceless gift.
This memory had me grinning from ear to ear. I can just picture a hallway taped wall to wall. What a great, fun dad and such wonderful memories of him!!
Thanks for participating and sharing such a fun and warm memory of your dad.
That’s such a nice and funny memory! What a sweet thing to say about your Dad, too. I’m with you - one of my joys at Christmas is finding just the right gift and watching the expression on the kids’ or Hubby’s faces when they open them.