Merry Christmas “ Chapter 62“

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

only the ventilator was stirring as PALS breathed through his mouth.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

stuffed with supplies needed for ALS care.

The PALS were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of walking danc'd in their heads.

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Have you ever read Christmas stories or baked cookies with your family? Maybe they are annual traditions you do every year.

Laura and I have enjoyed our own Christmas traditions together over the past 29 years. We brought our own and started others together and every year reflect on the past enjoying the memories they bring.

Unlike the big box stores who start Christmas months before, we start the day after Thanksgiving because Santa comes at the end of the parade. We don’t even watch Christmas movies until then and everyone knows “Die Hard" 1, 2, and 3 are the best Christmas movies ever. I don’t understand why do people disagree. And why do the stores start selling so early for certain holidays, but you never see stores selling Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Presidents’ Day decorations? I understand VD Day, nobody wants VD, but can we give our service members some love.

On Friday, we start with putting up the trees, yes I did say trees. When we got married we had one tree, when we got to Hawaii Laura added garland swags. Over the years we added just a little more and now we are up to seven different 7.5 foot trees and other smaller ones around the house. As Laura works on the inside, my inner Grizwald comes out outside.

We started a family tradition to buy everyone an ornament that reminds us something significant for the year. One year Chantelle got hers with popcorn because when she was about nine months old she grabbed a handful of popcorn while we were at the movie theatre. Who knew a baby could move that fast. Laura always gets snowmen and I get Santa ornaments. Once married, each child gets all of their ornaments collected over the years to start their trees.

When Laura was a child her mom would set up a manger but would leave out “8 Pounds 6 Ounces Newborn Infant Jesus, Don't Even Know A Word Yet," then give Him to one of the kids to protect until Christmas without letting their siblings know. Laura will tell you whoever had baby Jesus would never tell because it was their job to protect Him. We continue this tradition with our family and our children never tell.

I have been making cookies since I was a kid. Every year I find different recipes and bake A LOT of cookies for us and to share. As soon as the kids were old enough they would help select, bake and decorate the cookies. Even though I continued to bake my cookies, my family surpassed my skills long ago and keep telling me, "if you ain’t first you’re last" as they hand decorate their homemade sugar cookies.

Every year we sit with the kids and make/decorate Gingerbread houses. Like many others, we started out using the kits from the store. Over the years we stepped up our gingerbread house game and now make our own dough and icing. We then complete for bragging rights and ask family to judge but the real winner is the person who house is eaten by the cat. Funny thing is the cat always picks mine and I will never tell my secret of putting a little fish oil on my house.

I happen to love Santa and when the kids were young, I would help him out with a little proof he is real. So we make sure he gets cookies, milk and carrots left out and they would be gone in the morning. We also taught our kids if you don’t believe, you won’t receive. One year a piece of Santa’s pants got stuck on the fireplace. Another year we found Santa’s boot prints outside the girls room. When we had a camcorder and the kids were older, they hid it to catch Santa in action. The next morning the kids ran to see and they saw the magic of Santa. Now that they are older they are waiting on their turn to help Santa.

We all have memories of the holidays whether you celebrate Christmas or another holiday. It’s my opinion that the most important part, other than family time, is to create memories and traditions to pass on. My fight with ALS only stops me from physically participating,

His caregiver laying his finger aside of his nose,and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

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He sprang to the sleigh, next to Santa’s side,

With one good look, Santa said “let’s ride."

I heard them exclaim, "'ere they drove out of sight," Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night

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Love and blessings

PS: I would love to hear some of your traditions in the comments