Family Christmas Nostalgia

Christmas Morning...Bottom Step: Jeremy and Jonathan. Top Step: Josh and Jaime.

First I want to say that although this greeting is being posted on Christmas Day, I wrote it yesterday. Blogging on Christmas Day might be OK for some, but I am spending time with family. I also want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful Christmas. My hope for you is that you have a vital walk with Jesus, who is truly the “reason for the season.”

Now…Nostalgia. I have posted some vintage family photos I hope you enjoy. The first one is part of our family tradition when the kids were young…they would gather on the stairway and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus before heading on upstairs to see what presents were waiting on them. The excitement is obviously displayed on their faces.

Me reading "Night Before Christmas" to the kids

Our most memorable Christmas had to be 1979. Jonathan (the baby) was born on the evening of December 23 and was not expected home for several days. Janice’s parents were with me and the three kids on Christmas morning, trying to make the best out of a holiday that just wasn’t right without Janice. The phone rang at 9:00 that morning. Of course, this was the days before caller ID, so I was not ready for the voice on the other end: Janice shouting, “Come get us! We are coming home!” The hospital was 30 minutes from our house…a 30 minutes that seemed like eternity as I traveled with my heart in my throat. Janice and Jonathan were waiting at the hospital door, Jonathan in a large red Christmas stocking! The melancholy Christmas turned into the celebration Christmas as we were all together.

Kids on Stairway with dog Kizzy several years later. Compare Jeremy's knee to the top picture.

Jaime decorating tree

Jeremy Decorating Tree

: Josh Decorating Tree

Well, maybe that is enough nostalgia for now. All of these precious children grew up to be precious adults. We stay very close to all of them and still celebrate Christmas together every year. I hope that those of you who still have children at home are loving the creation of great memories surrounding Christmas. Someday, those memories will become nostalgia.