GUEST – Deborah Grace Staley

Christmas Traditions

There’s just something about December, isn’t there? Chilly weather, comfy sweaters, scarves and gloves, cheery fires in the fireplace, savory soups bubbling on the stove, Christmas decorations, festive lights on houses and wreaths on doors, family, and always, good books. December is my favorite month of the year. It’s a month-long celebration for me with my birthday (which is today!) at the beginning of the month and Christmas and New Year’s Eve at the end.

When I was growing up in Upper East Tennessee, we always put the tree up on my birthday. Mom would get me a birthday cake decorated with Christmasy things like Santas, wreaths, Christmas trees, and Christmas candles on toothpicks. We put them on the tree after we had enjoyed the cake. I still have some of them on my tree. When I unpack them each year, they never fail to bring a smile to my face and warm memories to mind.

Other Christmas traditions at the Grace household included getting very dressed up for church service the Sunday before Christmas. We made dozens of cut-out and decorated Christmas cookies, some of which would be left with a cold glass of milk for Santa. We would make a least one trip around town to look at the Christmas lights. We each got to choose one gift to open on Christmas Eve. You didn’t get up on after going to bed on Christmas Eve on threat of your life no matter how badly you might need to go to the bathroom. I was always the first one up on Christmas morning, and very early I might add! I would go check the tree to confirm that Santa had come, and then I would run screaming through the house, Santa was here! Santa was here!

Christmas Day, we’d have a big family dinner, and then we would play board games most of the day while Daddy watched football on TV.

Now that I’m older, the Christmas traditions vary a little from year to year. I put the tree up as soon as I can, and I’m ashamed to admit that with a Christmas book that I’ve been promoting every weekend since the beginning of November, a full-time job and masters classes, I don’t have my tree up yet! But soon I’ll have it up. I buy at least two Hallmark ornaments every year: one for the family and one for my son—something that is reflective of an event in his life the previous year. I’ve done this since he was born so that he’ll have a set of ornaments when he has his own tree.

I try to make cut-out cookies with my sister every year. She usually comes to spend the weekend so we can make them. If I can twist her arm, she also makes us Chex Mix. After all the goodies are made and stored, we go to the convenience store to get hot chocolate and Krispy Cream Doughnuts for a ride around town to look at Christmas lights.

The week of Christmas involves family gatherings with my in-laws and my parents. But Christmas Day is sacred at my home. It’s our day to be together at our home. My husband, son, and I get up and open presents. I’m still the first up, and I usually have to coax everyone out of bed. I still can’t wait! I usually make cinnamon rolls for breakfast. For lunch, we have a spiral sliced ham, biscuits, and side dishes to snack on all afternoon. In the evening, we go to the movies.

Oh, and I always read at least one holiday romance before Christmas. So, I guess its no surprise that I was inspired to write a Christmas tale of my own. A Home for Christmas was inspired by a home near mine. At Christmas, the two-story white Victorian complete with wraparound porch puts icicle lights in every eve. It looks like a Christmas card! So, I took the liberty of writing a novel where the hero is renovating that house. In the first chapter, he’s hanging out the Christmas lights.

So what are your Christmas traditions? Share them today and maybe we can get Dixie Ferguson, Miss Estelee, and others from Angel Ridge to join us and share theirs!

All the best,

Deborah Grace Staley

www.deborahgracestaley.com

FROM DEBRA DIXON- One lucky commenter chosen by Deborah Staley will receive a copy of A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS from BelleBooks.

Kathleen's Christmas Story--A Major Award!

I finally got my gallon pin!

For somebody who's not big on blood sucking, letting or shedding, this is a big milestone, and I'm here to tell you, it hardly hurt at all.

My daughter and her husband got our Christmas Eve family blood donation tradition going several years ago. Clyde and I had been donating off and on long before--for me, it's been a private way to honor each of my parents' birthdays in December and June--but Elizabeth and John now rally the troops and make it a family event in honor of John's grandmother on December 24, which is also my parents' wedding anniversary. Elizabeth had to work this year, so she "gave at the office." (She actually went to the Memorial Blood downtown branch on over her lunch hour.) We usually have about a dozen people donating, followed by brunch at John's mom's home. It's nice to have company. You get to calm a little, tease a little, pat each other on the back, and celebrate family--past, present, and future--and do it all through blood. You know me--I love the symbolism!

Mind you, I don't like needles. Years back I did extended hospital, surgical, touch-and-go time with every vein in my arms, wrists and hands used for IVs until I was black and blue from shoulders to fingertips. A few years later Elizabeth burst into the world like a shrieking cannon ball, and I needed a blood transfusion. She loves to tell this story on blood-letting day. "And this is why Mom and I like to give back." Like she remembers.

Every once in a while over the years I've failed to make the cut for lack of iron, and last year I got a trainee who failed to strike red until the third try. I was quite pleasant about it, if I do say so. After all, I'm remembering Mama. "That's all right, honey, you've almost got it." This time out I didn't feel a thing until I got out of the chair, and then I regretted ignoring the drink plenty of water beforehand reminder. Especially when we have less than zero moisture in the air around here now. So I had a little case of the dizzies, but nothing a couple of bottles of juice and a slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting couldn't cure. Memorial Blood Center usually feeds well. And did you know that one pint of blood can save three lives?

So that's one of our cool holiday giving traditions. I love Lois's new tradition of recycled and homemade gifts. I love the role that traditions and memories play in our holidays. And stories. And storytellers. How about you?

Oh, and we followed brunch with a movie. Australia is the same as my blood type--A+

My thanks to Mint Kunkel for this fresh-from-the-camera photo.