Good Morning…
and we missed the freezing rain so far. We do have a significant snow warning forecast for Thursday night and Friday. We will see how that pans out. I definitely do not want to see my brother and sister in law caught on bad roads on their way north on Friday. They are the only ones traveling now through Christmas in my family. I hope all of your families arrive at their destinations safely.
I am kind of on a let down feeling today after a sleepless night with a lot of nightmares. Christmas shopping and baking, etc. puts a big strain on us all. Now I am going to try to relax and remember that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and not a big bakeoff or seeing how much money we can spend on gifts. I think I tend to go overboard because I was number 6 in a family of 8 children. We were very poor. My mom and dad moved us from Missouri to Illinois, hoping for a better life, when I was 3 years old and Rae was 1. My youngest brother was born in Illinois.
This picture was taken when I was 7 years old in the 3rd grade. Notice my lovely dress. I remember it very well. It was a soft mint green made from a feed sack by my mother.
I can say with all honesty that I don’t ever remember getting a present when I was a child. Later on after I was in high school was different. My mom tried very hard, sewing us dresses from feed sacks and making homemade candy which she saved in a 5 gallon can. Anyway, that is my explanation for the reason why I go overboard for my kids. Now I appreciate life for what it is and I thank God that He has given me an opportunity to live it.
I would like to clarify something from my post yesterday. My cousin Audrey who is Nate’s grandmother lives in Michigan as does Nate and his family. Audrey did the applique on Nate’s sweatshirt as was explained in the paragraph in quotations which was an excerpt from an email from Audrey to me.
I hope you are all having a good week. Stay safe and be happy!
Beth
I think you are a JEWEL whether you go "overboard" or not at Christmas. I've always done the same but it's just so much fun watching someone's face light up when they see what was chosen just for them. This particular picture of you is one of my favorites. I look at that beautiful, beautiful little face, and Beth, I'd recognize you anywhere.
ReplyDeletePS/ "I" knew Audrey did the applique, lol.
You nightmares last night: What on earth did you either eat or watch on tv last night?
I just finished making a huge Chocolate Eclair Cake and it's in the fridge till tomorrow. I'll probably dream about drowning in custard ;)
XOXOXO
Jack always thought I went overboard with the kids too. As he was the one from a family that barely did presents (a pair of jeans and socks and 1 toy was what he usually got) and my parents always made sure we got what we asked for.
ReplyDeleteI'm saddened that you are feeling let down. Beth, your family may have been poor, but the riches were there, you were loved. I too come from a poor background, being the 11th born girl, out of 11 girls. My family was very poor, and my sisters were taken into welfare before I was born. My Mum then passed away eleven days before my 3rd birthday. My Dad was an alcoholic, and I ended up where ever he could leave me. I don't even know why my heart is sharing so much, but the most important thing is that I was loved!!! I do not have much in the way of material items to give my son this year, (gosh) I am even struggling to afford a present that is from Santa, but he is loved by me more than I could ever say!!! I spend all my money keeping a roof over our head and sending him to a 'good' school, an education that I never received, which will last him a lifetime, not just Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your family will be safe in all their travels, each and every day.
Nate's sweat shirt is fantastic - I knew from what you had on your blog that his grandmother did the applique.
Wising you a very special Christmas day for 2010. May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter. God bless.
PS: I do love your gorgeous photo of you!
ReplyDeleteI've had both much and absolutely nothing on Christmas too and sometimes looking back I'm not sure which is better. None of us are traveling and our concerts are done early this year which is really nice. I hope to focus on the season a bit at last and breathe easy...that's a gift in itself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad tale Beth but being poor is of no account if you have love in the home and I think you had that aplenty That's a lovely picture of you It's a pity we can't see your pretty dress. The fact that you remember it so well just shows how much love went into the making of it I think you've been blest more than you realize.
ReplyDeleteI do hope your folks get to their destination safely.
And no more nightmares hopefully.
Hi Beth,
ReplyDeleteReading what both you and Kerrie have written, has made me reflect that I had a lot to be thankful for. My parents were by no means rich and my three brother and myself lived with them in a small 2 bedroom flat, not much bigger than the one I have now, just for the 2 of us, but still find a bit small. I was however surrounded by aunts uncles and my grandmother and remember always having a full pillowcase at Christmas, even though some of the items were an apple or orange and some sweets. But as you have both said the most important thing is LOVE you cannot really wrap it and put it in a christmas stocking, but you can and do share it all year round. I sometimes think children today and maybe adults have just too many material things and that is why they are so easily bored and restless. Ah well will not write a blog. Safe journeys for everyone, our weather and road and travel conditions at the moment, are not good at all. Beth, have a wonderful christmas and no more nightmares, I havent been having those, but have been waking frequently feeling vexed about this and that. May the Peace of the Lord be with us All - Hugs Nita.
Growing up with few extras has helped both of us realize how hard our parents worked and mostly how much they loved us without having tons of gifts each year for Christmas or birthdays. I went completely stress free this year. Gift cards, only made one batch of treats, simple tree and also a simple ham dinner being planned for Christmas Eve. I will be pretty busy tho, but now that I have an extra cook in the house, it dinner should be a breeze! LOL
ReplyDeleteI need to delete "it" in the last sentence. Where do those extra words come from anyway?
ReplyDeletePeople from poor family are more warmth family get together than rich family it doesn't matter all needed to love each other lived happily ever after just like you Beth.
ReplyDeleteThe photos of you pretty little girl and lucky to keeps after all years.
Keep warm,
I think poorer families have the true meaning of Christmas from the start, it's the thought that counts, not who can outdo whom...
ReplyDeleteLovely memory Beth, and lovely photo of you. I know times were hard, but your Mother sounds like a wonderful lady, who made the best from what she had...As did mine.
Have a wonderful Christmas, my friend...and thank you...for being just that...a friend across the airwaves..xPenx
We were also pretty poor although we did get some store bought clothes along with hand-me-downs (eight boys!) and rummage-sale treasures. Mom never made clothes, but I remember well flour sack shirts which we were given by a woman occasionally whose relationship to our family was never clear to me. I could instantly recognize flour-sack clothes because the patterns were always quite similar - small repeated flowers, usually. You look like a VERY determined little girl. My Mom spent all year stocking up for Xmas, so it was always amazing. No rummage sale or Salvation Army outlet was safe from her quest. Your kids will revere you for your all-out Xmases, just as we all did Mom.
ReplyDelete