Christmas Reflection

Tonight Barry and I head to Brockville for our first Christmas together as husband and wife. Ok warning to all that read my blog Im about to get sappy and reflect here so bare with me (its only once a year!!)

Anyway I find that this time of year I feel many things I feel lucky to be alive healthy happy and safe. I feel loved by my friends family and husband. I reflect on many different christmas memories over the years and all those special moments. With this reflection comes the memory of my mom and dad. It would not be right if I did not take a minute to acknolwedge them at this speical time of year.

My parents were big christmas people, they always got carried away with the gifts and the fun. I remember when I was young I was always the first to go jump on the bed and drag them out to go open presents, then as years went on and I became a sleep loving teenager I recall every year my dad would ring his school bell that he got when he retired from his job. I would be sound asleep and he would throw open my door and ring the bell time to get out of bed time to open presents. There are so many things that I miss about them at this time of year that it would take forever to write it. I miss the way my dad gave my mom Lavender perfume every christmas and she would act surprised and put it on as if it were the finest thing she had ever recieved. I miss the way my mom made extra stuffing cause she knew we all loved it and would eat it all. I miss my dad sitting in his chair eatting roasted nuts and watching whatever hockey game was on, he never missed a Toronto Maple leafs game. I miss how we would sit in the living room just the three of us and it would take us hours to open gifts cause my mom was always so slow she wanted to savour each gift. The way my dad and I would make pancakes, or eggs and just relax and talk. The way my dad would put on his big ugly hat with the flaps and go shovel ths snow. I love the way my mom would put on her favorite christmas songs, and just sit and listen for hours. I can still here O Holy night and feel the warmth from our fireplace in our little house.

So as I reflect my heart feels a sad, I feel that choked throat feeling as I try not to cry. To think of not having them anymore. But Im gratful for all those precious memories. To anyone who has parents that annoy you and drive you crazy sometimes take a minute to hug them and savour the time with them. So as I eat more then I should and enter this new phase of life as a married person and enjoy this time with my husband I will carry with me the memories that are more precious that anything that could come in a box with a bow. I will carry the meaning that my parents instilled in me, the fact that this weekend is more then Santa and gifts, its the birth of Jesus and for those of us who believe this significant time of year reminds us of our human frailty and what it means to have God in our lives.

To all of you I wish you the happiest and most special time with those you love. Merry Christmas from my heart to yours- Cherie

What child is this, who lays to rest,On mary's lap is sleeping?Whom angels greet with anthems sweetWhile shepherds watch are keeping?This, this is christ the kingWhom shepherds guard and angels sing.Haste, haste to bring him praise,The babe, the son of mary.