Mary's Thoughts & Stories: Christmas Thoughts 2014

Christmas thoughts 2014 At the Christmas party that my brother DJ hosted he asked us to share a memory of the Christmas that we remembered most... There are a bunch of Christmas memories that I have that stand out in my mind...but I really didn't know which memory to share. I know that in the past I have shared a few and I've shared some of my feelings about the season. Seems like holidays can be such a mix of happy, sad. You miss those who used to share the memories with you the most at these times...so your heart is full...and heavy...and yet you also rejoice at the new memories that you are in the middle of making.
I've some great in the past memories...going after our live Christmas trees, making home made candy and chocolates, hot chocolate, Christmas caroling, chilly rides on the back of a trailer with straw, making gifts, making ornaments, late late nights and early early mornings, laughter, going (many different places) to see the pretty light displays, surprise visits from Santa and lots of Christmas parties and lots of love.
One Christmas memory that sorta sticks in my head...even though I've tried to kick it out...is the year 1983. In 1982 we had decorated gingerbread people and put a name on each gingerbread person before we hung them on the tree. Curtis was being funny and made a gingerbread woman...and put my name on it. I dressed it with frosting, embarrassed at his creation. It was only a few days after Christmas when our baby Kevin died. I think it was Sherry that helped take the decorations down and put them away. Things are a little fuzzy, I think I came home from the mortuary and all the Christmas stuff was put away down in the storage room. Then the next year when I brought the boxes up and opened them...and saw those gingerbread people with the names Camille, Kevin right on the top...how I was missing my two babies...the tears rolled down my face and I couldn't get that tree decorated. About two days before Christmas and I couldn't find any Christmas spirit. My sister in law came up and totally decorated my house. It was the kick starter that I needed to jump into high gear and make Christmas happen that year.
It was only four years later when Curt was having such a hard time, he wanted to go to town and pick out a gift for each of the kids from dad. We got into the store, saw his Dr. and Curt talked bravely about how good he was doing, the Dr walked away and Curt collapsed. I helped him back up to standing over the cart and we got him back out into the car...and I went back in to the store to quickly purchase our entire Christmas shopping in one trip...as fast as I could. The Dr believed Curtis when he said he was doing fine and wrote that he should be able to go back to work. Rough times there. But so much love was poured out to our family at this time. It is impossible to really tell you how loved we felt and all the special things that happened. And to this day I still don't even know who all to thank. Overwhelming!
The next year Curt was gone. I went down to Sanpete in our green truck, Henry Ford, with the kids to find our tree. Henry did good and I think there was only one person further up the road than us (thankful for four wheel drive) that year there was LOTS of snow. We hauled a lot of trees off the mountain and were pretty proud of ourselves for being able to get not only our tree, but also a tree for Grandpa and Grandma Johnson, and one for the Senior Citizens Center for Grandma Christensen.
When I asked Katie about her favorite Christmas memory...she said "doing the 12 days of Christmas"...lots of memories there!
Then in 2006, just a few days after Thanksgiving, Jared goes into the hospital and we go down the next day. He tells us they found what the problem was. Liver cancer. Two weeks left to live. "Dr's say I probably won't be here for Christmas this year." Joe says what can we do for you? And Jared just shakes his head. Two days later he calls and says "I promised my kids a trip to Disney land. I thought I had more time. I am not sure I can make it now but if I'm going to take them I'll need help...do you think we can go tomorrow?" We called the airlines to make reservations and called family who many surprised us by saying they would go too...sorta turned into a family reunion at Disneyland!!! Christmas time at Disneyland is pretty amazing. Again, the love and support of family amazed me.
So many thoughts...more than I can tell you...make Christmas a very tender time of the year for me. For friends and family...I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my life and sharing these special times. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!