Especially at Christmastime we find great joy in little things..

the melody of carols sung, the memory an angel chorus brings. The happiness and love on this one day bring thoughts which warm and cheer...may we keep Christmas in our hearts through every day of all the year....Gertrude Bryson Holman. And so we come again to Christmas with all of it's color and joy, its magic and wonder, its spirit of good will and warmth. What it means to us depends on what we bring to it, not in gifts and outer displays, but in the inner offerings of love and faith that live within our hearts. What will you bring to Christmas to make it more memorable for your family? What are your favorite memories from Christmas's past? One of my earliest memories is when I was three or four years old. My Grandpa Greenlee had been warning me for sometime that if my behavior didn't improve, I would perhaps be receiving a box of sticks as a Christmas gift. On Christmas Eve, I was handed a beautifully wrapped package, (it was also my birthday) I gladly ripped the paper off, pulled back the tissue paper only to find, sure enough, a box of sticks! I can remember my Grandma Greenlee consoling me, as I was crying, and giving my Grandpa a look that could kill, all the while he was chuckling away at the trick he had played on me. I think he must have been in trouble with Grandma for a long, long while for that. If memory serves, I did eventually receive my real Christmas present, but that box of sticks still lingers with me, to this day. There hasn't been a Christmas since that I haven't thought about being just a little bit better, so I don't get another package like that. One of my other special Christmas memories, from the age of five, concerned my other Grandmother, who, upon arrival at her house Christmas morning, informed me that she had heard sleigh bells and prancing hooves on the roof on Christmas Eve, and that I should go outside and look in the big pine tree in their front yard, that was decorated with those large multi-colored old Christmas lights. Sure enough, there nestled in the boughs of that tree was a Christmas package just for me. It held a special doll for me. Every Christmas, I went back to that tree to see if Santa had left me another package, but alas, it was not to be, just that one special Christmas. The Christmas I turned seven was the most memorable Christmas for me, but not for the reason you would probably think. That was the Christmas I learned a very hard lesson, Santa doesn't always bring children everything they want for Christmas. That Christmas, I had dreamed and asked for and wanted, in the worst way, a Chatty Cathy Doll. This was Mattel's first talking doll and I coveted that doll in the worst way. Ironically, Chatty Cathy is celebrating her 50th birthday this Christmas. I can't remember what I received that Christmas, but I can tell you I was one, mighty unhappy, not fit to live with, child that Christmas. To make matters worse, my younger cousin Dee Dee received Chatty Cathy from Santa. Pea green with envy and mad as a hornet, was I. I almost feel sorry for all of my relatives, that Christmas, that had to be around me. In years since I have asked my mother, "Just why didn't you get me that doll"? She has told me, "You know, I really don't know, maybe we couldn't find her in the stores or maybe we couldn't afford her, I really can't say". I had told my kids this story every Christmas, when they didn't believe in Santa anymore. One Christmas, about six or seven years ago, there was one gift left under the tree, after we had opened everything, there wasn't a tag on it, so I wasn't sure who it belonged to. My son Frank reached under the tree and brought it out, handed it to me, and said, "This is for you, Mom, from me." I ripped off the paper, opened the lid, peered in through the space in the tissue paper, and all I could see was this little face with a few freckles and these two little teeth and I knew in an instant what it was, a Chatty Cathy Doll! Well, I can tell you, there were a lot of tears, I just cried like a baby and for all of my life, I will never receive a Christmas gift that means more to me. My son had found a man who knew someone who had an old doll collection, and from what I understand, she had been in a box in a basement for a very long time. My mother helped Frank clean her up, find some clothes for her and work on her hair. I keep her proudly in my formal living room, where she stands and I look at her almost every day. I have since been in touch with a woman in Ohio, and after Christmas, Chatty Cathy will be making a trip to her house for a new voice, a new hair-do, and new clothes. To think that my son thought enough to look for that doll for me told me just how much he loves me. I have many Christmas memories with my own children, a few stick out in my mind, one year we had neighbors who had small children and we knew they weren't going to have much of a Christmas, so we bundled up a box of toys, clothes, and food, wrapped it up and took it over to their front porch, we left it, rang the bell, and disappeared around the side of the house. That family never knew who left it on their doorstep. Our children learned about helping others, without their knowledge. Another year, our daughter Ashley came home from school, upset, as a classmate had confided to her that her family wouldn't be having any Christmas presents at their house, she had three younger brothers and sisters. So we found lots of clothes and toys and wrapped everything up with name tags, loaded up our ministers van and he took everything over to them. I told Ashley, you must never tell your classmate that it was our family that gave them the gifts and she never did, but the little girl came to school after Christmas vacation with a big smile on her face and new clothes. I also had my kids go through all of their toys before Christmas every year, took a car full up to the American Legion, and we always made sure the toys had all of their parts, and were in good shape and clean. We also had our kids go up and help put the food baskets together and even helped with the toys one year. I always wanted my kids to be appreciative for what they had and to help others, and they always have. I am very proud of that. One Christmas that sticks out in my mind was one snowy evening right before Christmas, hubby was off doing a basketball game, it was such a pretty night, snowing gently, no wind, not too cold, I bundled them both up in their snowsuits, gloves and boots and we went out for a walk around the neighborhood. All of the Christmas lights and decorations were up, it was just magical. I will never forget that evening, those many years ago. Simple, lovely, special times that don't cost a lot of money, but things you and your family will remember, always. That's the special meaning of Christmas, just as Linus of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" said, along with the "Grinch who tried to steal Christmas", it's not in the presents, it's not in the food, it's not in the decorations, it's in your heart. So, put up your tree, decorate your house, bake some cookies, do some shopping and wrapping, play Christmas carols, send out your Christmas cards, go to church, do all of the usual things, but take the time to do the unusual, simple things, for those are the memories that truly last a lifetime..And, Have Yourself a Very, Merry Christmas. From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!