Donna's 2014 Christmas Speech - Mom's Tradition of the Christmas Ornament

Mom's Tradition of the Christmas Ornament~Grooms Family Christmas Speech 2014

Mom's Tradition of the Christmas Ornament

As we decorated our tree this year, I was (once again) quite emotional.  I am a bit of a softie anyhow, but hanging our ornaments always gets to me. Our family’s Christmas tree is not color-coordinated.  It doesn't have the most beautiful or bejeweled ornaments.  But it has meaning. And I love that.  So we opened “our life that's been stored in a box since this last year.  We were all reminded of our family’s history with each ornament we hung.  I came across all those ornaments that I had collected as souvenirs from Christmas's spent away from home, ornaments from my Mom, ornaments from my children, and ornaments collected from our children's childhood.  We are reminded of the blessings of our past; we are grateful for our time together; we look forward to all that is to come when we’ll add more meaningful ornaments to our collection.

Last year before m 

I was still sitting on the floor sipping some good hot coffee admiring my tree when I noticed a box sitting in a corner that had not been opened yet.   I had forgotten all about that box of ornaments from  Mom.  As I opened the box I immediately was overcome with emotion. My emotions got the best of me and tears rolled down my face.   I discovered my Christmas ornaments I had given my Mom were all neatly wrapped and placed in that box for ME. My mom had gone through our family’s Christmas ornaments and set aside the ones that were meaningful to me–they were mine now for my own family’s tree. As I sat crying my husband was wondering what was in that box that made me cry.

 Eli must have heard me cry because that little fellow came downstairs so fast to find out what was making his Mimi cry. He sat down beside me and started patting me on my back as I explained what this special box held. That meant so much to me and I hope the meaning of the Christmas ornament gifts to them will someday mean what it does for me.  He went back upstairs after consoling me then hubby hugged me and held me tight letting me know he totally understood their importance of what that box held.  I sat back down and looked at all the tiny reminders of moments passed with Mom.  

Mom loves this time of the year just like Dad did.  As we grew up and became adults Mom would invite all her girls out for dinner; then give us our ornaments. Everything I have experienced with my Mom about Christmas was summed up in that box.  And now I am taking that part of my life forward as I began the next chapter with my new husband… That was easily the most meaningful gift I have ever received from my MOM.  It was her way of saying, “This is what I have done for you and with you…at Christmas time” I was overwhelmed with gratitude … and I knew right then I am so glad I give the same gift to my own children and their children.

It was nice to have my son Chris hear about what happened when I opened the box he understood immediately why I cried and hugged me tightly.  So happy that the meaning of the ornaments I give to my children are special to them. that the meaning of the ornaments I give they are special to them.

Our Christmas tree tells our family’s story.   I hope this letter inspires each of you to find ways to bring meaning into the ornaments that your family hangs as well.  :)

dinner and ornament from MomJL's ornament he made

Donna's 2013 Christmas Speech- Family Love (Mom entered nursing home)

This year has been one of the hardest years for the family.  Christmas's have gone and past and Mom has always been the rock to make this Christmas Party work.   This year has been a major change with Mom going in the nursing home.  We as a family have pulled together to have another Christmas party in honor of our parents.  The goal for this year's Christmas Party is to celebrate happiness, and the joy Jesus Christ has brought to us through his birth. It's a religious holiday that's meant to instill hope and goodwill among all. Mom,  your children want you to know that your still needed and we love you from the bottom of our hearts.  I do value the family get togethers even if its hard work to make things happen.  It's a time for me to see those whom I only see once a year and wish I could see more often. I want Mom to continue making happy memories of seeing the children play and enjoy the activities at the Christmas party. I want Mom to know that we show up to celebrate our family traditions her and Dad have made for us.  Traditions of family love for one another and to teach our children to carry on the family tradition in honor of there grandparents and great grandparents.  Let's celebrate the true meaning of Christmas today and remember who was born on that special day.

Donna's 2005 Christmas Speech - Christmas Memories of our Tree

The items in RED are words from Jennifer Grooms (Carnes) my baby sister.

Christmas Memories

     When I think of Christmas I think of myself as a young girl, waiting for Dad to bring home the Christmas tree.  It was never the best looking tree sort of reminded me of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.  (LOL…boy is this true!! he sure couldn’t pick em!) My Dad would be so proud when he brought it home.  I always would think just wear in the world did this one come from?  Was he driving along and saw a tree along the road and hop out and cut it down?  Did he drive all the way down to southern Ohio and find one lonely tree standing along a country road waiting for my Dad to come and cut it down?  No matter what the tree looked like all of us kids just thought it was the most beautiful tree.  Dad would take the tree and put it in a tree stand and bring it in so proud.  Dad would say “about that bare spot, just turn it around to the back no one will see it.  All 6 of us would already have everything out and waiting to decorate the tree. There were always those special ornaments that had to be put on the tree every year.  The ones that were red shiny plastic balls were a must along with the see through prism that held angels it them.  Too this day we still have a few of those ornaments left to hang on the tree. (I always liked those plastic red reindeer that he got from the gas station for buying gas)   Of course there was the shiny silver tinsel that was strung around the tree.  Sometimes there was snow that was sprayed on the tree but dad didn’t like it because it got all over the ornaments.  He let us put it on the tree anyway every year knowing how hard it would be to clean the ornaments. The last thing to be put on the tree was the big Silver Star that we put on the top.  The tree was usually small that no chair was needed to put it on.  It was all of our responsibilities to make sure the tree had water and pray it stayed alive until Christmas.   Christmas was always the best time in our house. Then the excitement began of the waiting for Santa.

     Mom would get a big JC Penny’s catalogue ( I remember looking at that catalog for hours…$25/$50 bucks went a long way back then. You could get a toy, a pair of jeans, and maybe something else if you were thrifty) and store sales ads and let us take turns marking in the books what we wanted Santa to bring us. We all spent many hours looking over that book for just that special toy.  Mom would save all year long by putting monies on her Christmas club.  It was so hard for her to save monies when there were 6 of us kids at home to feed and clothe. 

     The day before Christmas was spent preparing food for Christmas dinner.  Mom would work so hard on making sure everything was just right.  We all knew how much the Christmas season meant to my dad.  Like I said Christmas was always something to look forward to, lots of good memories.  Mom always made her famous yeast rolls and pumpkin pies. Christmas would not be the same if those 2 items were not on the dinner table.   

      The night before Santa was to arrive at the Grooms resident all the children were snug in their beds.  We would try to stay up as late as we could in hopes to hear Santa come in the door. We would get up out of bed and sit on the stairs when we thought we had been asleep for a long time.  Then we would sneak down the stairs, which was so hard when there are 6 kids.  We would then decide maybe only 1 of us to go down and look and see if Santa had come. (Nothing like getting up at 2:00 am to open presents and then go back to bed!! Wonder if that is how Dad did it when he was growing up?? Do you know?) They would go down the stairs and get on there hands and knees to look beyond the wood burning stove which so happened to be in the same room as dad and mom were sleeping.  If they made it to that point without waking up dad then coast was clear to check for presents.  If they saw presents they were not quiet getting back up those stairs.  The excitement of seeing all the presents Santa had left was just over whelming.  Then it was like a stampede coming down the stairs (I can see us all now…stampede is certainly a good way to describe it. I think it is great that we have this memory, I have told my kids this several times). We would start yelling that Santa had come and dad would just smile and say go ahead. I think we usually got up around 5:00am.

     There was always one person in charge to pass out the presents.  Boy, the waiting for your name to be called was so exciting.  I don’t remember ever being disappointed with any Christmas because we knew how hard it was for our parents to give 6 kids presents.  Far as I can remember we always got something we had asked for. (You are right!! Mom always managed to get us what we asked for. I cannot remember being disappointed at Christmas either. What a wonderful thing to be able to say! We were so much happier with less back then than kids are now days) It was such a happy time for the family.  We would then clean up all the wrapping paper and play with our new toys.  Mom would start making breakfast for all of us. 

      As the family grew up and moved away from home dinners at the park building for Christmas was a must.  The family had grown so large there was not a house big enough for all of us. The last dinner with my dad was at that park building.  I remember being late and crying.  I some how had got the time wrong and was late.  Every one was eating when I got there with my family.  I did get the potato casserole there in time before the family had finished eating.  Dad called me to come over to him and I sat on his lap and cried. I was so hurt Christmas get together’s were always a special time.  My dad told me not to cry that this was going to be the last Christmas he would be spending with us.  I cried more and told him to stop talking like that.  He rubbed my back and said he loved all of us kids and was so happy we all made it to the dinner.  Dad smiled at me and told me to go get a plate of food. I can still feel the love and warmth of that moment. (I remember Mom saying that at first Dad thought it was silly to have Christmas at the park building and not on Christmas….but he sure enjoyed it and changed his mind after that first time!! Everyone was able to eat at the same time and there was a ton of presents!! I remember Mom telling Dad that the kids wanted to stay home on Christmas with their own kids and start their own traditions and then the kids could play with their new toys and not have to leave them. They could start visiting us on Christmas. It is so sad that Dad is not here to do that now. I am so thankful that I still have Mom and she comes over for Christmas dinner. Dad sure enjoyed seeing the things my kids got for Christmas. He was the biggest kid of all!!)  FAMILY Christmas dinners are important because we can be just that a FAMILY.  I got up and did as he requested.  I will never forget that special moment I spent with my dad. 

     One year later my world would be turned upside down and it would never quite be the same again. Those memories are over a decade old now.  Yet, I compare every Christmas to that magical moment when my dad held me on his lap.  It’s funny how some events in your life make a mark on your memory that doesn’t fade no matter how much time passes. And it’s the things that do not seem so important when you’re experiencing them that often turn out to be the ones you remember the most. It seems to me that the most precious memories are not planned, they just happen. Although, it is said that you cannot bring back what is gone, I disagree: it comes again each year at this time and I feel the warmth and love that family Christmas dinners bring to me. I hope that my children will one day look back and feel the same about a special day that I have given them. 

What a wonderful story!! I keep my pictures of Dad and our last Christmas put away because he looks so ill in them. I prefer to remember him as happy, which he certainly was at Christmas time.  For all of Dad’s sternness, he was a loving man, a hard worker, and provided for his family the very best that he could.  On our last Christmas together he told me to make sure that we kept having the dinner together; and I do not want to disappoint him. All we have is each other and should we should respect and cherish our family. I plan on having a good time at the dinner and at Christmas remembering my Father and how much he loved it. My kids say the same thing about me, especially when I try to put the tree up before Thanksgiving! But the holiday comes and goes so quickly……..another year fades away…..and another memory is added.  You should share this with everyone!

Donna's 2012 Christmas Speech - Be Kind To Family

Your family members might be some of your closest friends, but all too often, they can become bitter enemies, or at least far from friendly. We often find that we treat our family members poorly, and as a result, real friendships with family members can be difficult, strained, or stressful.  We sometimes treat our family poorly. This is a fact, but it does not make it right.

Why we do this:
Too close. When you have at your disposal an arsenal of knowledge about what someone does, who they are, what makes them tick, and probably the most dangerous, what their insecurities are, it is easy to cross lines and boundaries. Why? Because we may not even realize we are crossing them. When someone is family, you know so much about them, that hurting them is an easy task. You can pinpoint their weaknesses, and prey on them quickly and easily.

Too easy. Family is easy to prey on, and hard to be friends with because you are around them, you have to share everything with them, they know your secrets, and you theirs. Thus, it is easy to treat them bad because the opportunities are ample, and the ammunition ample as well.

Expect unconditional forgiveness. Often, we do not gauge the severity of our words or actions as we would with a friend because we have this expectation of unconditional forgiveness because it is family. Family is stuck together, and so we lapse into thinking that it doesn't matter how we treat them, they have stuck with us anyway.

Being friends with your family members can make life a lot more enjoyable, and make life easier. One should always strive to build good, happy relationships with their family, and make those bonds as close as a family should be, and as fun and desired as friendships.

Imagine how much better the time you spend with family over holidays, weekends, and the other times throughout the year, would be if you were surrounded by friends? It is a good thing to think about. You may not be able to choose your family or the additions that come to it through marriage and birth, but you can choose whether or not you will make the most of the situation, or make it hard on yourself.

You would not willingly spend hours in the company of people you do not consider friends if you could help it, so why make it any different with family? Why not build friendships with them, the same way you do with others, by talking, sharing experiences, looking for common ground, etc.

Being friends with family members is not always easy. You are more vulnerable because they know more about you. It can be difficult because chances are there are things about them that drive you crazy, and you would not pick in a friend. However, they probably feel the same way about you. So, get over it, and become friends with your family. It is well worth it. 

Mom's Tradition - Annual Christmas luncheon and Ornaments

Donna's 2009 Christmas Speech - Daddy Christmas Light Traditions

Traditions From Daddy

Christmas Lights

Christmas is always a time of reflection for me. It's a time when I think about all the things that make Christmas so special.

It’s hard to believe that another year has passed us by again. Every time around this year I start to reflect on the many traditions Daddy has passed down to our family.  You know at first I never thought he passed anything down but every year I find another tradition instilled in me by my family.

This year I’m reflecting back on what Christmas lights meant to my daddy and the tradition he gave me.  This came to mind when Marlon and I were driving along and down the street near our condo.  We both at the same time saw a house all lit up with a variety of Christmas lights.  I chuckled to myself at the display and how they were placed upon their house. Marlon proceeded to tell me that these were people from another nation who probably just wanted to fit into the American’s Christmas traditions of decorating their home with lights.

I then start reflecting back on the joy Christmas lights meant to my daddy. Many, many, times my Daddy would load up all us kids in the back of the pickup truck and head to Ludlow Falls. Christmas lights must have meant allot to my Daddy because he not only made sure we got to go every year but also people from our church.  It’s so funny how something as simple as lights strung around a falls could bring so many people to gaze at them. 

I will always remember the delight on my Daddy’s face when he would pick each of us to put us in the truck.   He was just so happy to take us to see this spectacular sight of lights.  We would crawl in to the bed of that truck with the cap on top; it was so cold back there you could see your breath.

As children though we were so excited about taking this trip the cold didn’t seem to bother any of us.  We would all sing Christmas songs as we traveled to the falls.  There was also lots of talking going on about what we wanted to tell Santa we wanted for Christmas. I could see my Daddy driving with such a big grin on his face happy to be taking us to see the lights. 

When we arrived at our destination Daddy would unload all us children one by one.  As we each stood and gazed down at the falls we oooooo’d and awed at the falls with all the lights. There was also loud Christmas music playing which filled your hearts with joy at the beautiful sight in front of us.

It was so cold on the trek down to the falls, even though we were bundled up.   At the end of the trial you could stand and look at the water flowing over the falls with the beauty of Christmas lights shining through the water.  A barrel had been placed at the end of the journey, inside was a nice warm fire burning, and my family would stand and gaze at the falls and get warm.  Sometimes it would be snowing and this would make the falls even prettier than ever.  AWWWWW the beauty and delight this gave us.

Now that we are warm it’s time for the journey to the fire house where hot cocoa and cookies await us children. Did I also say that Santa was there too?  As we trekked back up the hill we were laughing and talking about what we were going to tell Santa we wanted for Christmas.  By the time we reached the fire house our noses looked like Rudolf’s and we were so ready for that hot cocoa and cookies.

The cocoa was waiting on us, at first we used it to warm our hands and then sip on the hot beverage inside.  After taking several sips of the cocoa we were ready to eat on those cookies. Daddy would stand nearby with a big grin on his face and watch us as we all stood and drank our cocoa’s and talk about the lights and the beauty of them.  Boy did I love this time of the year.  Daddy seemed to love it also because he would do so many fun things with us, making traditions that will last my lifetime.  Thanks, daddy for making this time of the year so special for our family.

Daddy would tell us, kids, to hurry up and quit playing around and get in line to see Santa.  It’s starting to snow pretty hard outside and we needed to be heading home. As we all stood in line waiting our turn to talk to Santa, daddy would be watching all of us with a beautiful grin again on his face.  I’m sure he was thinking how lucky he was to have his family, and take us to this special place.  It was daddy’s way of spending some quality time with his children at Christmas time. 

I thought my turn would never get here to sit on Santa’s lap.  I jumped on his lap and told him what I wanted for Christmas.  Santa would always give us a small bag of candy and a piece of fruit.  Oh the joy and memories my daddy made with us on this special journey to the falls. 

Ludlow Falls has closed so I can’t take my grandchildren to see them but I still enrich the thrill of the Christmas lights into them by taking them to Wild Lights at the Zoo. Another tradition I will pass down to them……

Traditions are very important. For children, traditions are stability in a hectic season, something to look forward to year after year.

Love you Daddy and thanks again for leaving such wonderful traditions for me and my family.

Ain't Love Grand

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones   , because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person    soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug    to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you"    o your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss    and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands   and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak!  And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
   

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.  

Hope you enjoy this, I added my special touches to it..............