Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Tis' the Season!!!



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!

I hope that everyone is enjoying their holiday season!!! For some, like myself, it hasn't even begun. And for others, it is in full swing. Mine sort of began this evening when I finally decided to start my Christmas shopping after a stressful day filled with two finals and work in between. As I headed to the mall, not evening listening to Christmas Carols because I could not listen to Christmas Carols with it being such nice weather outside! Is it just me, or do you find it hard to be in the Christmas Spirit this year?!

Well, with that, I go to my personal story and the explanation of the picture of the very happy man with the goofy elf hat on in the above picture. That my friends is one of the most Christmas Spirit filled men I have ever met, even person at that. I feel that for some in my family, I know for a fact myself, that it is hard to be in the Christmas Spirit without him here. For those who do no know, he passed away this summer. "Pap" as most people knew him as, was like a very big kid on Christmas Day. He could never wait for his children and grandchildren to arrive at his house for dinner. More importantly, he could not wait for what was to come after dinner! PRESENTS!!!! I am almost positive that I have never met a child who was more impatient to open their gifts. He would shake, tap, and even begin to unwrap before it even got to his turn to open a gift. (In my family we all take turns opening one at a time.) Not only was he excited to receive his gifts, he was more excited to GIVE his gifts. He was always so proud of how much he paid for things that were on sale, or made sure to let us know if our gift was a little pricey. I loved having Pap with us on Christmas. Like I mentioned earlier, it is hard to have Christmas Spirit without Pap here with us. This really hit me this evening, when I came home from shopping. I found myself coming up with so many ideas of what to get for loved ones. I wish I had the money to give them everything they wanted or all the ideas that I had. I began to think about my Pap in this moment. It finally hit me, that Pap will sadly not be there with us on that Christmas morning to show him all my gifts, or at dinner for good conversation mediating, and for good laughs. And yes, Pap would not be there sitting in his LA-Z-Boy Recliner, opening his gifts before it is his turn.

I know I am not the only one going through this, and I know this will be hard for those in my family to read. I debated on whether or not to post this, and I am not sure if it will even be read, but I feel their is a reason this needed to be said.

We can all learn something differently from our Christmas experiences, and we all have different traditions. But this year, I feel we should celebrate those we have lost, like Pap, in a different way this year. We should all learn three different things from Pap or a loved one we have lost. 1.) We should remember their legacies and allow them to live on. Save that empty space for that lost one in your room on Christmas Day. Talk about memories you have of that person. Not talking about it is not going to help you move on. 2.) Carry on their traditions. Be excited to GIVE gifts this year instead of receiving them. Buy something special for someone you have never thought to buy for before. 3.) Cherish each day you have with your family, and make this holiday season, this Christmas, and this New Year SPECIAL! Start a new tradition or share a funny memory. Spend as much time with your family as possible, and maintain a good, whole-hearted, and loving attitude to your family in respect to those you have lost.

Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, and I hope these words bless everyone who reads them!!!!


With Love,

Katy





4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice post and nice idea. First off, Pap is dearly missed and Chirstmas will not be the same without him. However, I don't think that we need to dwell upon him not being here but celebrate the Christmas(along with every day) that we had with him. I don't think that Pap would want us to be upset on Christmas Day but would rather us celebrate and love one another and enjoy the Holiday Spirit.
Secondly, (as per your email) you need to do what you want to do.

DrummerBoizMom said...

Hi Sweetie! Well, you've sufficiently started my tear flow for the day!! I've been sappy about such things this Christmas, too. On one hand, I really, really in the Christmas Spirit....but on the other hand.....I'm not. And that makes me sad on top of the sadness of missing people!! I'm sure part of it is that my grandma is really not doing well now. Each day she gets a little worse.....and Mom and I and the rest of the family, are really trying to make the most of Christmas for her this year, because we fear it'll be her last. So, I'm sure that's contributing to my bittersweet feeling this year.

Beautiful writing, kiddo!!!
Hugs to ya!

Anonymous said...

The loose of Bill makes life different but we have to reflect on why we are sad. Are we sad for ourselves or is Pap not in a better place?

John 14:27 “I give you peace of mind and heart.”

If we allow ourselves to fall into self-indulgence and self-pity then we are saying to Christ that I do not trust your words.

We should celebrate the birth of Christ and do it as Bill would with gusto.

Uncle David

Battlebott said...

Honestly, I didn't even want to deal with Christmas this year. Not because I didn't want to celebrate the birth of Christ, but because I dread so much that the season brings.
Now, with Pap gone, I dreaded it more than ever. But (thankfully) because God has blessed us with so many gifts -- like the ability to communicate with one another -- I know we will have a wonderful holiday.
And for me, one of the greatest gift God has blessed our family with is new life. And we all know no one enjoyed babies more than Pap.
: ) (and soon you'll be Aunt Katy)
This Christmas -- as I watch Belle open her gifts -- I know I won't be able to stop the memories of Pap from flowing through my mind, but I know the memories will be of happiness, laughter and love.
And I know that our family will get through the day together, focus on our blessings (roof, water, food, love, support and more) and remember those who matter the most.