The Meaning of Christmas in a Jar of Pickles

I have two daughters - both now grown with families of their own.  Raising them was tough, I was not always able to get them everything they wanted or even needed.  For a good part of their lives, we were on food stamps, so simple things like pickles were a treat.  So much of a treat, they actually got them as 'gifts' one year in their Christmas Stockings.  As things got better, the Tradition grew - from small jars in the stocking - to the big jar of the whole dill jumbos wrapped and placed under the tree.  This is continued today - each family gets a jar and they are the one gift the Grandchildren look for under the tree at our house.

Both of my girls know what it is like to struggle raising a family.  They also know the power of simple gestures that can brighten someones life. And they are firm believers in  "Pay It Forward" , which both have done more times than anyone knows.

Today, the youngest one - Sandi - posted the following on Facebook.  Now she could have just walked away, for she truly does not have the resources to offer help.  But her heart would not allow that.

Today has already been a busy day got up went and took movies back took Libby to the school to go to atlanta. Paid the water bill swoo. But the most important thing was this lady was parked beside me and she was asking if we had to b back up at the school to pick them up and we was talking she told me she had no money for her little girl to eat on today no gas to get her this afternoon wasn't going to have Christmas for her kids I was sadden by this so I took a 10 and 5  ones I had and as soon as I turned to Libby and said here Libby said u want me to take this to her don't u mom I said yes please she went over and gave it to that lady. The woman started crying and said no I can't take this I said please take it she said thank u turned and looked at her little girl and said baby now u have money to eat on today as I was leaving the lady thanked me again I said y'all have a merry Christmas. I paid it forward for all the times I had been helped out. Not just cuz it Christmas or the time of year it is if u know me I would do this any day of the week or year thanks for reading my story. I hope it touch ur heart like it did mine and always remember there is someone out there worse off then u r and if u r meant to help them god will put them in ur path to help them.

The one thing I can say I am proud of - is somehow I have taught my girls the true meaning of Christmas - that sometimes it is the little things that matter - helping - sharing - giving.  It does not need to be anything big -sometimes a simple a jar of pickles can be the most important gift under the tree.

It is not a Christmas Tree ... It is a Tree Of Memories

Christmas has always been my favorite Holiday. But not because of the getting of presents, but the giving of gifts, the sounds, the smells, the sights of the season. This year has been a tough one on us, as it has been on many, but somehow Christmas magic still comes in, on a tree full of memories of Christmas past.

 
My tree is not just a tree with lights and bulbs, but a tree of memories. The hanging of each ornament comes with a story of how that trinket gained a spot on the tree. The decorations are simple, many of them made by my girls years ago. The rest have been made for me or given as gifts, or carry some special meaning to the tree of memories.

Some are simple store bought ones, the girls or the grand-kids painted or made over the years.
We also have a few fishing bobbers left from the time we did the whole tree with them. We had silver and red and white bobbers all over the tree, which proved to be quite nice, especially living on the lake. But being the avid fishers we were, most got used afterward.
                                                                                                                                                                 We have Harley ornaments that we received from people, and bells for the movie It's a Wonderful Life.

Theres the picture Santa my oldest, Stephanie, got while in High School, and the okra Santa the youngest, Sandi, did in High School. Each having their own special spot every year.






But the one that is always asked about by anyone seeing this Hodgepodge of a tree is the simple little piece of tinfoil, all tied up with purple string. Sandi was about five years old, and times were really tough that year. She came up with that special present, her own design of a Christmas present ornament and asked if it could go on the tree.

That IS what Christmas is all about. Not how big the tree is, not how many gifts under it, not how fancy the display is. It is about the love and memories tucked among the branches of the simple little tree.

Part two - The newest addition:

This year has been a roller coaster year for me.  But it has been one filled with special friendships.  And the most important one has been the wonderful experience of working with Damien Cripps.  We have had a tough year together, especially when the hopes of our meeting had been postponed till next year due to visa issues.

Today a special package arrived.  I must say it was something I will treasure forever for not only for what it is, and what it symbolizes, but for the fact one very special friend understands the meaning of my "Memory Tree".  This now has a special place of honor on the tree and always will.

Thank you Nicole - You have been a great friend, and you will never know how much this gift means to me. It not only symbolizes the up and down year of 2010 and  my friendship with Damien ...
....but the special one I have with you as well.

And the Story Continues ...

Now the tree has a new lighthouse ... I love lighthouses, although have never seen one 'live'.  There is something about them that I find comforting.
This little lighthouse has an angel and the words 'guiding light'.  Given to me by (once again) my dear friend Nicole.
 Nicole - you are such angel... and have been a guiding light within my life - often letting me know that I am too close to crashing into rocks.  Shine on :)

Latest Addition............

A Few years ago ....after 20 years together we actually got Married! ... Yeah, have trouble getting my Better Half to remember the date ...so got this 

And the kids had the same idea ;) 

And MORE.........

Latest additions that brought a smile to my face as I was decorating the tree. Two precious ornaments from our sweet Grandson AJ..... one he made and one he picked out and bought at the school Christmas Shop last year in Kindergarten ... forever will be cherished

Party On .. Just don't forget your ....

Boobs. Ok .. Now someone please tell me just how does a lady forget her boobs?


The year - 2009. The season - Christmas - you know, the one to be Jolly? Well, Christmas at my house always involves approximately three parties. Why the three separate events is another story, but lets just say some people you just don’t want to mix.

Anyway, this past Christmas at the family gathering, my sister-in-law shows up like she always does, dressed to the nines. She recently lost a lot of weight, ( again) and looked wonderful. But in losing weight, as every woman who has lost a few pounds knows, the boobs go first. It is like “What? You don’t think we want the extra ‘weight’ there? Take it away from the flabby tummy, the big butt, the thunder thighs, but for goodness sake, leave the boobs!” But no, God has a sense of humor, so yep, there goes the boobs.

Anyway, since she lost the weight, and the boobs, she decided to get a set to wear. Gel filled falsies she could tuck inside the bra to let everyone know she is woman. And she is proud of them too….at least twice reaching in and pulling one out to show people. Hey, what kind of family would we be if we didn’t want to see her falsies?

After the family fun and games, Sister in law and Brother in law were doomed to spend the night at our place, since driving home after a bottle of Brandy was just not happening. We pointed happy couple ( and yes they where happy) in the direction of our spare room and off the they tottled.

The next morning after several cups of coffee and breakfast, we pointed the now not so happy but more like hung-over couple towards the front door, asking the infamous question, “Do you have EVERTHING?” ‘Yeah, Yeah… we got everything” …

No they did not. They lie.

A week later, I went into the spare room and noticed laying on the bookshelf was a bra. Hmmm…. I checked …yep, got mine on. In picking up the brassiere, I discovered under it two boobs….staring at me.

Calmly I walked out to the living room and asked Steve, “ do you want to call your sister or should I? I just found her boobs, she left them here.”

Steve looked ….blinked…then asked, “How in the hell does a woman forget her boobs?”

“ Honey, this is your sister we are talking about “

“OK…point made…. Your turn to call… I called on the underwear deal a couple of years ago….….
Just be sure to tell her I have been using them for target practice “

We are still amazed at the fact she never even missed them…and the fact it took her another week to come claim them...... Maybe boobs are just not THAT important after all…..

Party On ... just dont forget what you came with - part one

There is nothing I enjoy more than entertaining my friends. I am often called upon to host the get - to-gethers and my Mom always called my “the Hostess with the Mostess” Plenty of food, and of course plenty of ‘beverages’. Crank up the karaoke system and we are good to go….especially after round seven …or was it eight?


Now everyone has had those great parties where you spend days returning left behind objects to the guests whom had SUCH a great time, they simply forgot they brought things with them. You know, things like jackets, shoes, handbags, cellphones, cooler, spouses, kids, underwear, boobs.

Yes, all have been left behind at my place.

Now some things, like purses, cellphones, and coolers them quickly retrieve. ( especially if coolers still have some beer in it) Other things, especially the spouses and kids, we have to really make them take them back… even going are far as doing a drive by drop off…. You know … slow the car down just enough to toss them out then peel rubber down the street. But those are items people call and ask if we have seen them. But the odder items, underwear and Boobs, well, its like they totally forgot they had them with them.

Both underwear and boobs where unexpected ‘gifts’ at Christmas time.

The Underwear first. Ladies, and some of you guys, know all about thongs. They even have a song out about them, the Thong Song. Well personally I cant see why anyone wants to deliberately wear something that crawls up the crack, but to each her own. Anyway, after about round nine, or ten, it seems that you butt goes numb. And you forget you have something wedged between the cheeks. And in the hurry of flushing out a few drinks in the bathroom to make room for more, you can fail to remember you even have them on, hence wetting them. So, what do you do? You cant keep them on…so you remove them, wash them out, then hang them in the shower, thinking, I will let them dry then put them back on.

Of course after a few more, you forget all about the flimsy piece of fabric hanging behind the shower curtain drying . And of course, you go home without them.

Well the next day, my husband found them. Swinging them around , Steve came out asking me “yours?” Once informed as to who’s they were, and considering his friend, the husband, left early the night before forgetting his wife at our place, ( lucky the just lived next door… we were spared a drive by drop off ), he of course could not resist in calling his friend up and informing him, “hey, your ol’ lady left her underwear at my place…”

After a pause, our neighbor replied… Really? … well damn! Let me check something… Damn, She made it home …Hey, You didn’t happen to find my beer coozie did you?? I would hate to lose it”

Ahhh ……Male priorities ….

Next time … the boobs….