Christmas 2019
THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST
The earliest Christmas I remember was one year when I got a small kitchen set. This wasn't the full size. The refrigerator was probably about 15" tall at the most. There was also a small sink and small oven. I was maybe 4-5 years old. I'm not really sure if I remember that Christmas, or I just think I do because there is a picture of me with that set. I do remember playing with it a lot. I also remember one Christmas when I got a "Tiny Thumbelina" doll. It might have been the same year. I know it was close in the timeframe. She had a wind up knob on her back. You wound her up, laid her on her back or stomach and she would roll over like a real baby. Again, there is photo evidence, so I don't know if I remember that Christmas or the picture brings the memory.
I also remember as a preteen getting the coolest mod watch. It had a few different colored leather straps and you could snap the watch face into them depending on which cool 70's mod outfit you were wearing. Again... a photo of me wearing it, but also modeling the one piece jumpsuit jammies that my Grandma made for me.
I remember in my early-years Christmas mornings my dad would go get my Grandma Leefers. She'd come and watch us open our Santa gifts. Then, eventually we'd take her to my aunt and uncle who lived in Carlinville and we'd go to my Grandma and Grandpa Lancaster's house for dinner and a family gathering. My mom had 2 brothers and they and their wives and kids would all come. At least that's what I remember. Apparently her oldest brother didn't come, just his wife and kids. He always worked Christmas Day and could make a lot of money by doing so. Sorry that he didn't understand which was more important.
As we got older and older those family Christmases sort of dissipated as some of the older cousins married and had another family to accommodate for the holidays. I remember specifically one of the younger cousins lamenting one year prior to the holidays that she just wished we could have Christmas like we used to. Don't we all?
Eventually one of my aunts would have a family potluck gathering a few weeks before Christmas. She'd hire someone to play Santa and he'd bring gifts for the little ones. We didn't get to participate when we were in Georgia, but once we moved to Illinois we attended a few. Sometimes our hockey tickets would conflict. It seems like about every weekend in December there was always something. Sometimes a few somethings.
Things change.
When Jack and I got married and before AJ, we spent a couple of years trying to manage both families. Both my sisters-in-law's families celebrated Christmas Eve, so it made it easy for my mom to have us all Christmas Day. Eventually, and before AJ, we worked it out and started spending Christmas Eve with the Sanson side and Christmas Day with the Leefers side. That went very well for many, many years. Jack, AJ & I would always drive up from Georgia to be with our families for the holidays. I think some people didn't understand why we wouldn't want to be in our own home for those days, but, unlike a family member that I mentioned above, we realized a long time ago that Christmas was about family. I wanted to give AJ the whole family and cousin experience when it came to Christmas. The houseful of noise and chaos that the 3 of us would never have had in Georgia.
On the Sanson side he was sort of in the middle. 15 years younger than his youngest first cousin and the other 2 were in their early 20's. Then, when the next generation came along he was 6 years old. Although he had a great relationship with the younger ones as they grew. And those family Christmases were also full of noise and chaos.
On the Leefers side, he had a few older cousins who were 9, 8 and 4 years older than him, but another one that was just one month older. I found a great sign for my mom and she still displays it. "Grandma's House, where cousins become best friends." I'd like to think that's still true. AJ always seemed to have a special relationship with each of them. So much so that the two oldest - the girls - always thought of him as their little brother. Again, I think that's still true for them.
After we moved to Carlinville we continued those big family Christmases at my mom's, but as she got older, she was willing to give up the hosting duties and the Leefers Christmas House became our house. It still is, as best as we can get together.
I'm sure Christmases at Grandma and Grandpa Leefers house are among the best memories of all 5 of their grandkids, and I hope they've had a few good memories since then at our house. Each year we would take a picture of them all under the tree. When my parents had their 50th Anniversary, I put all the grandkid Christmas pictures up to that point in a large poster frame to display at their party. It was sort of a crude paste-up, but it worked. Last year, I took the ones since and made another poster frame print. This time the technology and options were a little better and of course, the pictures now included the great-grandsons.
Both the Leefers and the Sanson Christmas gatherings have dwindled a bit due to the kids having other families to accommodate. Sometimes it's hard to for all to gather at the same time.
Things change.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Well, that's quite a ghost, now isn't it? What will we do? What will you do? We still have Thanksgiving to consider before we even get to Christmas.
I don't think my sister-in-law has figured out what she's going to do this year for the Sansons.
With my mom being 90, I still want to do what I can to give her as much of her family as I can for the holidays. It's always been a special time for all of us. AJ & Abby will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her family this year. But, they will come on Saturday, so we've decided to do what we can to gather on Sunday the 27th. We are all aware that all this could be canceled at a moments notice. The "F" word is flexible. (I learned that from being in the education world... that was always our "F" word.)
I decorate a lot around the house, but as of this writing, I plan to put up the tree and that's it. I'll probably dig out my big Nativity, too. After all, we should really focus on the "Reason for the Season" this year more than ever.
We'll not have the traditional feast. Plans are for just cold cuts sandwiches, chili, soup, and some munchies. Of course lots of sugar treats to follow. At this time, there will probably be 13 of us out of the possible 20. But, that's okay. It is what it is.
Masks will be required - unless eating. Eating will be more spread out. Plastic gloves for the buffet - use them, toss them and if you go back - use another. Paper towels in the bathrooms so we don't use the same hand towels. Lots of hand sanitizer all around and sanitizing wipes. Feel free to steal any of these ideas for your own family. We hope to make it all work. And, yes, I'll admit, it's not all for my mom. A lot of it is for ME! My reasons are emotional and private, but I hope we can pull this off and fill the house with love that day.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE
Who the heck knows?! Sadly, we Leefers know that if/when Grandma is no longer with us, these Christmas Day celebrations will likely end. I've suggested that I'd love to do what my aunt did and try for a Saturday evening in early December for a family potluck gathering. I've also told them that I'd love to get the 5 grandkids and their families together sometime during the Spring or Summer, too. After all, my generation grew up with huge family reunions, and maybe it's time to start that tradition with this group.
Jack and I will be with AJ & Abby on those Christmases going forward. Even if we haven't been officially invited yet. Sorry, Abby, you married an only child!
My prayers are that you can all have some sort of holiday celebrations. Zoom, or FaceTime or gather in small groups spread out a bit with safety precautions. You don't have to be in the same room, state or even country to enjoy each other and feel the love for each other.
Jesus is love. And it's His birthday! So celebrate the love anyway you can.
I don't think you can zoom in, so I made these as big as I could. Hope it works!
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