The holidays have come and gone for 2010, but it's still not to late to write about them.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. With it comes fond memories of my childhood.

Christmas at our home in Vermont was always a time filled with merriment and wonder as I eagerly awaited for Santa to arrive on his special night.

About a week before Christmas, dad and I would drive to uncle Joes farm to find a Christmas tree to cut. We'd wade through the deep snow drifts to the woods behind the farm house and search diligently for the right fir tree to grace our home.
The trek was tiring and the frigid cold would often permeate our heavy clothes, making us hurry along.

Dad always made sure our tree was well shaped . After it was cut, we'd carry it back to the car and tie it on for the trip home.
Once there, he'd cut and even off the bottom. Then he'd nail it to a wooden stand made in the shape of a X and place it in the corner of the living room.

After super mom would put Christmas music on the record player . We sang carols as we decorated the tree with multi colored lights, silver icicles , garland and different shaped ornaments.. An beautiful angel dressed in white and gold had the place of honor at the top of our tree.
I always thought our tree was the most beautiful one that anyone could have!

Through out the week my mother would bake pies and cookies . My favorite were the gingerbread men she made.
They tasted so good and looked cute with their smiley faces!

On Christams eve we'd go to the candlelight service at our church.
Brightly colored lights shown through
frosted window panes as a blanket of cold white snow covered the town. Chruch bells chimed distinct melodies in the quiet moonlit night. It was a time of reverence, awe and joy as we celebrated the birth of Jesus.

When 9pm arrived, mom and I would leave a snack for Santa on a special Christmas plate by the tree.
Dad would say my prayers with me and try to convince me to go to sleep. He said Santa wouldn't come if I was awake.
Soon I'd drift off into the dreamland only a child knows of and sleep till the morning sun arose over the snow clad mountains.

I always woke up early and ran to the tree to see what jolly old saint nick had left me. I didn't get lots of presents, but the ones I received, made me the happiest little girl in the world!

In the afternoon we'd load the car with gifts and goodies and drive to uncle Joe's farm for a family Christmas. I'd scurry around their house decorating it with Christmas pictures I had colored .
After the chores were done and we had eaten dinner, every one would go to the large living room to open presents.
Laughter and a sense of comrodiary filled our hearts as the spirit of Christmas flowed through us. It was a wonderful time of happiness and sharing with my parents, uncle, aunt, cousins and grandfather.

I still have a family Christmas with my husband, children and grandchildren. On Christams eve we still go to church. Afterwards I read ,"The Night Before Christmas" and "The Nativity Story" to every one. On Christmas day we have a family dinner and exchange gifts.
It's a different time and place with different people, but those qualities and memories that were instilled with in me as a child, still remain.
Hopefully they will be carried on by some of my adult children.....

A late Merry Christmas to all!