When's the last time you took a trip down memory lane thinking about Christmases past? No matter how old we get, most of us can recall a favorite Christmas memory. There is nothing like seeing children as they try to stay awake long enough to catch a glimpse of Santa leaving presents under the tree, or those wide-eyed moments when something totally unexpected happens.
"I have a lot of great Christmas memories," said Diane Munz. "There are two that really stand out. The first one goes back to when I was 4 years old. My family had just moved to Tennessee, and I had never seen snow. We woke up Christmas morning to 9 inches of it. We didn't even bother to look under the Christmas tree to see what Santa brought us. We bolted for the door and spent most of the day playing in the snow.
"The other memory is of my niece coming to visit for Christmas and being terribly concerned about Santa not knowing how to find her. A bike was at the top of her Christmas list. Her mom and dad loaded it in the bottom of the truck bed and piled luggage and presents on top of it. On Christmas morning my brother-in-law ran outside, put the bike at the back door, rang the doorbell and then ran back in the front door. My niece was shocked when she opened the door and saw the bike. She turned around with eyes the size of half dollars saying, 'He did find me! Santa really did come!' "
Debra Kelly recalled fun times when her dad used to sneak out, ring the doorbell and leave a note saying that Santa was flying overhead and couldn't visit them until all the Cates kids got in bed. They would run as fast as they could and jump into bed and just listen for Santa to come in their house.
"One of my favorite Christmas memories was at church on Christmas morning watching my daughter, Claire, skip across in front of the pulpit with her Grinch book under her arm and her ponytail flipping from side to side. She was in a hurry to get there and 'see baby Jesus in da manger,' " said Mitzi Weber.
Since the Baxter girls were little babies, they have always received pajamas on Christmas Eve. They would jump in their new jammies and settle in to hear their dad, Blaise, read them " 'Twas the Night before Christmas." They are now in their 20's, but they still gather round to hear their dad read the story. They all agree that it's tradition, and it never gets old.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? Have you ever shared that memory with your children? Passing along these cherished memories and family traditions is a wonderful way of preserving some of that holiday magic from our childhood. It also may prompt you to create new Christmas memories with your children or grandchildren. This year make a little holiday magic of your own. You never know, your new favorite memory could be right around the corner.
E-mail Julie Baumgardner at julieb@firstthings.org