Saturday, December 5, 2009

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY

Time for another Pink Saturday!!
This week we have a "theme" for Pink Saturday for the first time~ Beverly has asked us to share a favorite childhood holiday memory.....
so, here is mine.....



The holidays were always special for us........

my Mom made sure of that.......

even though we may not have had a lot......

and even when she was sick........

it was Christmas time,

and it was going to be special........

no matter what.......



I was the youngest of 6 kids........

4 boys, 2 girls.......


My Mom and Dad were two of the hardest working people

you could ever meet........

And there wasn't anything

they wouldn't do for us kids.


I remember one year when I was young,

we were told that my Dad had to work on Christmas Day.......

But, not to worry,

Because Mommy & Daddy had made special arrangements

with Santa Claus.....


they had called and told him that Daddy had to work on Christmas Day......

So, could he please come to our house early on Christmas Eve,

so that we could enjoy opening our gifts with our Dad?

Why of course he could!

He was Santa, and he could do anything!

So, early on Christmas Eve night, right after our dinner,

my second-to-the-oldest brother, ushered all of us younger ones into Mom & Dad's bedroom,

and stood guard against the door from inside........

Because we all knew that you just didn't try to "peek" at Santa.....


My oldest brother got to stay out with my Mom and Dad

just in case Santa needed any help........

The level of excitement was nearly unbearable in that room.....

waiting.........waiting.........

wait! what was that?!?!

Ohmygosh........ we heard Sleigh Bells!!!

Uh.........and what was that?!?!?

Ohmygosh..........it sounded like tiny hoofs........ on the rooftop!!!

And then.......... the Bells got louder!!

And, then they came closer, and was it? Yes~ it was! The bells were at the front door!

And........ we heard him! HO HO HO!!

OHMYGOSH........ he was here!!! He was really here!!!

We heard his boots stomping off the mud on the front porch.........

We heard the bells from his belt........

We heard his jolly laugh........ and HO HO HO again and again........

Then the whispering......... and then the rustling of paper......


Ohmygosh, Santa Claus was here......... he was in our living room........

Just on the other side of the door!

And we could hear him!!!!


We listened intently for what seemed like forever........

Until we once again heard his familiar HO HO HO coming from outside........

Once again the bells.........

and then a noise on the roof

and........."Merry Christmas, HO HO HO!"


and just like that......... quiet......... and stillness........

we held our breath........ we could not believe it........

was it real? did this really happen.....

or were we dreaming a lovely Christmas Eve dream?


Suddenly........ a knock on the bedroom door.....

and we heard our Dad say

"ok, come on out........ Santa has been here!"

What followed was a lot of scrambling and bustling......

and picture four small children trying to get through a bedroom door all at the same time!

And, then.............there it was.......... the Christmas tree......all lit up.......

with what seemed like a mountain of pretty packages under and around it!


We had a wonderful time, and though it was a bit different than our usual Christmas.....

It was such a special Christmas....... one I will always remember........

when two loving parents......... made a dream come true for their little ones.



May your Christmas be filled with

LOVE

LAUGHTER......


AND THE MIRACLES OF THE SEASON!



19 comments:

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

What a wonderful Christmas Memory for Pink Saturday! And I love the photo of you and all of your adorable siblings! Your parents were awesome people to make this holiday dream come true! Thanks for sharing and have a great Pink Saturday! Coralie

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Joyce...
Happy Pink Saturday sweetie. Thank you so much for sharing this story of love that your parents had for you kids. Making Christmas day possible for your Dad so he could share in the joy too.

You had a large family. Lots of older brothers to look after you.
I bet you still look when you hear sleigh bells.

Please stop by and let me share my Christmas memory with you.

Country hugs...Sherry

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a wonderful Christmas memory. Your parents sound like very special people. I'm so glad you all had a Christmas (Eve) that you still remember to this day. Have a great Pink Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Joyce,

I am a new blogger and this is my first visit to your wonderful blog but I will be returning! Thank you for sharing your sweet memory.

Beverly said...

Joyce, I loved this memory. I can imagine the anticipation and excitement of knowing Santa was just on the other side of the door.

All of those brothers must have adored their precious little sister.

Happy Pink Saturday.

Betty said...

Love, love, love your Christmas memory Joyce. Weren't you a cutie!

Mollye said...

Loved this sweet memory and isnt it funny that as parents, we never think about how our kids will keep some of the things in their memory banks forever for times just as this. Happy Holidays, Mollye

Cottage Rose said...

Hello Joyce... Such a Beautiful Christmas memory,, I loved it so much it brought tears to my eyes,,,, the photo of you all is so sweet... My My four older brothers.... you poor thing....lol I had two older and one younger.. I learned how to box.... haha.... thank you again... and Happy Pink Saturday....

Hugs;
Alaura

♥Mimi♥ said...

We don't need elaborate decorations or a big tree or numerous gifts under a tree. All any of us needs is to carry the spirit of Christmas in our hearts and to share it all year long with everyone we meet.

Thank you so much for sharing your blog with me today. Yes, I'm crazy about ♥PINK♥ but I'm also devoted to visiting some of the nicest blogs in cyberspace.

Hoping your weekend is filled with peace.

claudie said...

Joyce I read all the way down to the bottom, what a great great story. I never thought of putting all my kids in the bedroom... why didn't I think of that. It might have been a heck of a lot easier than putting them to bed.
Love your pic also. I LOVE black and whites. That's all we had in those days huh?
Happy PS Joyce
Love Claudie
xoxoxoxo

Glennis said...

Such a sweet story! Your dad made it special for you.

Wonderful photo.

Have a lovely Pink Saturday.

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

great memories to be shared with all of us.. Have a good weekend.. Merry Christmas..

Anonymous said...

Beverly has asked us to visit blogs that we haven't visited before and so I've found you!! thank you for your wonderful Christmas memory and I do so love old photos. I've also joined The BlogFrog which I saw at the side of your page. take care,Judyx

texcinlulu said...

Joyce,
That is the sweetest Christmas story. What wonderful parents you had.
Thank you for sharing.
Hope you and all your sweeties had a wonderful Christmas.
May the New Year bring you many blessings,health and love.
Love,
Cindy

suesueb said...

A simply beautiful story! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with as much love as then! Happy pink week too!

Unknown said...

G'day, Joyce ~ What a lovely memory of childhood past. Your photo brings back the good time of my youth.

May 2010 bring you great happiness & joys!
TTFN ~ Marydon

Beverly said...

Is everything okay with you? I've missed you, and now the e-mails I send you are being returned undeliverable.

BECKY said...

Hi Joyce! Noticed you hadn't blogged in awhile and wanted to say HI and let you know that I prayed for you today!! Hope all is well and that your new year is off to a great start!

Blessings and hugs!
Becky

Terri said...

This is the sweetest memory every! How loving and kind your parents were to you little ones.
Hugs,
Terri

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin

I'm so glad you stopped by!

My eBay Store


Hello there! I'd like to introduce myself..... My name is Joyce and I live in northern California, in the beautiful San Joaquin Valley. In 1975, I was blessed by God with a wonderful man named Stephen. Whether or not you believe in such a thing, ours truly was "love at first sight". We were married one year later. In time, we were further blessed with 5 beautiful children, four boys and one girl. Steve was my rock, my protector, my soul mate, and my best friend. We spent 30 precious years on this earth together, and for this I give thanks each and every day of my life. Sadly, my dear Steve passed away in December of 2005. He was such a strong spirit and loving soul that I know he is still here, loving and watching over us.

Grammas Little Tigger

"Gramma's Newest Little Love"

"Gramma's Newest Little Love"
Show and Tell

Stop by and visit Pat!

My Blog List


Helen Steiner Rice

1. Thou shalt be happy

2. Thou shalt use thy talents to make others glad.

3. Thou shalt rise above defeat and trouble.

4. Thou shalt look upon each day as a new day.

5. Thou shalt always do thy best and leave the rest to God.

6. Thou shalt not waste thy time and energy in useless worry.

7. Thou shalt look only on the bright side of life.

8. Thou shalt not be afraid of tomorrow.

9. Thou shalt have a kind word and a kind deed for everyone.

10. Thou shalt say each morning -- I am a child of God and nothing can hurt me.



Delia252@aol.com