What's Christmas like in your family?

[SemperFidelis07]

I always looked forward to Christmas when it came around. Even as a kid,I knew that the most important thing about Christmas after the birth of Christ our Savior was family, love, good will, and generosity. What I enjoyed the most was doing everything together with the family.

Pre-Christmas: I come from a big family (I'm number 3 out of 7 and the only son), so decorating was never a burden. We'd get assignments by selecting them out of a hat. My favorite thing to do as a kid was to climb up the ladder with my dad and hang up the lights outside. We would also try and buy or prepare something meaningful to each other as presents (in addition to material presents). When we were little, our parents would take us to see Santa in the mall of course. We would also do our tree selection twelve days before Christmas, decorate it with both bought and made ornaments and the youngest one of my siblings (the last one being my fourth youngest sister) would put the star on top. Then my dad would always do the initial lighting of the tree.

Christmas Eve: During the day, I'd help my mom cook Christmas dinner and put the presents under the tree. My dad works as a corrections officer and generally came home at 1900 or later but on Christmas Eve, he'd come home early. Most of the time, it was just the immediate family but sometimes we'd have family over and when we got older, we'd invite our significant others over. We'd go to church, the come home and have a light dinner and then go to the living room. Then we would all just spend a few hours talking, watching a movie, each giving our own view of what the Nativity meant for mankind, and ending it off with singing Christmas songs. When I was a kid, up to the age of seven, I'd sit with my second to oldest sister (who I was always closest with) on the couch by the fireplace looking for shapes in the flames. We'd both fall asleep on the couch so "'Santa' would see us".

Christmas Day: 0800 we're all gathered in the living room to exchange gifts. Now for Christmas dinner, we'd always invite guests to join us. I can count on one hand the number of times our family was alone for Christmas dinner. My dad would lead us in prayer before eating. Most of the day, we'd just spend time together. It was always really nice. I really missed it when I was on my deployments or didn't get Christmas leave when I was in the Marine Corps.

This will be my first Christmas as a married man in a new house and with a new job. My two little nieces are gonna stay with us for Christmas vacation while my oldest sister and her husband will be going to Israel. Keeping with the tradition of my family, I'm inviting my co-worker (who was my first CO in Iraq) and his family over for Christmas dinner.

[Tinky]

Loud!

[Fez]

I work Christmas day and New years day, and have done so for the last eight years. If we are having our Christmas celebration in my town then I get to spent an hour of two with family and friends, otherwise I am working and the calls don't stop coming. Alcohol and festivities especially in an open air environment where the sea and water is involved, invariably leads to problems.

[bigbear]

I grew up in a home where christmas was with trees and lots of presents. When I married and became a parent my husbad and i continued the tradions. but the last two years we do it much diffrent. We do not have trees up. I do put out winter decorations to get a winter feel as people to with seasons of the year. We have a big family dinner and get as many family members to join us and we played games and had fun celebrating Jesus. This year we are having our family dinner on the 24th and on the 25th we are going to spend the day at the homeless shelter servingthe the community. We are so excited. We do not swap presents because its jesus day not OUR day. So excited ))

[bigbear]

I grew up in a home where Christmas was with trees and lots of presents. When I married and became a parent my husband and i continued the traditions but the last two years we do it much different. We do not have trees up. I do put out winter decorations to get a winter feel as people do with seasons of the year. We have a big family dinner and get as many family members to join us and we played games and had fun celebrating Jesus. This year we are having our family dinner on the 24th and on the 25th we are going to spend the day at the homeless shelter serving the community. We are so excited. We do not swap presents because its Jesus day not OUR day. So excited ))

Edited December 11, 2012 by bigbear

[Sevenseas]

Gotta have lights, Christmas hymns and such, I don't like to overdo decorations..but that is a consensus in our home...some good spicy Christmas candy,

starry nights and wood smoke (if you are, geographically speaking in a cold location) and I personally like to sit in a room lit with the just the fire and the lights

and think about God and pray and remember all that He has done for me through Christ and reflect on things and people I have known.

Yes, we do give gifts...but reasonable ones...no credit card specials...got in trouble over that one when I was younger

Used to be spent with family...we had a small one...with grandparents, but since they passed on and everyone moved all over the

place that is in the past but I miss it. We do enjoy time with neighbors and friends though

[Guest]

Praying For The Lonely

And For The Loveless Ones

And For Those Who Lost Children

For All Who Cry Through The Christmas Joy

May The LORD Jesus Come To Them And Give Them Peace

Thank You Abba Father For Answered Prayer

In The Name Of Your Priceless Son Who's Birth

As Our Kinsmen-Redeemer We Shout Out To The World

Thank You Thank You Thank You My LORD

And I Bless Your Holy Name

And I Love You

Joe

[gdemoss]

Praying For The Lonely

And For The Loveless Ones

And For Those Who Lost Children

For All Who Cry Through The Christmas Joy

May The LORD Jesus Come To Them And Give Them Peace

Thank You Abba Father For Answered Prayer

In The Name Of Your Priceless Son Who's Birth

As Our Kinsmen-Redeemer We Shout Out To The World

Thank You Thank You Thank You My LORD

And I Bless Your Holy Name

And I Love You

Joe

Thanks for the prayer Joe. I fit the category.