So many of you participated in the giveaway for Gooseberry Patch’s 101 Soup, Salads & Sandwiches. I asked you to share your favorite Christmas memory. Reading your comments was such a joy. You all shared wonderful stories and painted heart-warming pictures.
Crystal told us about her special Christmas presents:
My favorite….having two girls on Christmas Day! 1989, & 1998! What a special blessing God gave me! I am forever grateful! Sharing Jesus’ Birthday! Best Christmas gifts I’ve ever received!
Ann shared her special family memory:
One of my favorite childhood memories was going to my Grandma’s house on Christmas morning after we had opened our Santa. Grandma always had a small cedar tree cut from the woods and decorated, with a gift for everyone under it! “Everyone” included her six children, their wives and at least three children each!! It was never very much, there were “girl” gifts and “boy” gifts for all the grandchildren. We were as excited to be there opening our little gifts, in the midst of all our cousins and aunts and uncles as if Santa himself had showed up! Then we would have a huge Christmas dinner that every family made their best dishes for – it was just a wonderful, warm loving family time!
Janice shared a memory about home movies:
My fondest memory as a child was waking up with my sister, dressed in matching P.J’s and running out into the living room all excited to open up Christmas presents and being greeted by these bright lights coming from my fathers Super 8 home movie camera.By the time my grandparents would arrive the spots in our eyes created by the lights that accompanied my fathers movie making exploits were beginning to fade sufficiently enough for us to navigate our way into the kitchen and view the welcome sight of the traditional pancake breakfast my father would prepare gracing our kitchen table.A tradition that continues today.
Connie shared her fabulous food memories:
I have a lot of favorite Christmas memories. Some of the earliest was going to church and seeing the Christmas play, and afterwards the church gave everyone a “paper poke” of goodies, such as oranges, apples, nuts, candy bar, and chewing gum. There was the Christmas of the best present of all, Santa brought me a blue and white bicycle with a basket on it. It took a few skinned knees, but I finally learned to ride it. Mom always had the best food around Christmas. She would make her fruit cakes, coconut cake, pound cake, pineapple upside down cake, oatmeal cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, apple pie, sweet potato pie, pecan pie, and I don’t know how many other things. Christmas dinner was the best, pork chops, ham, roast beef, cannied yams, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, coleslaw, squash casserole, biscuits and rolls, coffee and tea. The best memory of all was all the family being together and sharing a good time.
Kathie shared a story about a special Christmas with the love of her life:
I have had many wonderful Christmas memories raising two children, seeing them marry and have children of their own, but last Christmas was magical, even though I was separated from my children and grandchildren. Two years earlier I had met my true soul mate. He proposed to me in September of last year, but we were separated until December, when he came to get me, my things in a big UHaul truck, pulling my Jeep behind, and drove us 600 miles in the first snow storm of the season, so that we could be together for Christmas. On Christmas Eve it started snowing, big beautiful flakes. The lamp posts outside his apartment building were the black, old fashioned kind. I stepped out onto the patio and to my surprise, the nearby church chimes were playing Christmas carols. The whole scene was picture perfect and I was with the man I love. Tears of joy streamed down my face. Oh what a beautiful winter wonderland it was and what a mystical, magical Christmas memory it is . . . oh, by the way, I am 59 and the love of my life is 61!
Janet shared a memory of a last Christmas with a loved one:
My favorite memory of Christmas was being able to spend Christmas with my husband. He was very ill. The Doctors let him come home for Christmas. He passed in February the next year.
The comments above are only a small sampling of the wonderful stories and memories that were shared. If you haven’t read through them all, you won’t be sorry for investing the time to do so. Choosing a winner was extremely difficult. I am so appreciative for all your generous spirits. You took the time to share a little part of your life with us. In return, I am offering up my copy of 101 Soups, Salads & Sandwiches, too. I love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks and have quite a collection. This new cookbook would certainly be a welcomed addition to my collection. Since y’all were so sweet and kind to enter this contest, I feel it’s only right that I give up my cookbook.
I wish I could send each one of you a cookbook.
The two winners that I selected are listed below along with their heart-warming comments.
Kelly Marriott commented on how moved she was by her father sharing his special talents:
I remember going to the Ryssby Candlelight Services and listening to my father sing “Oh Holy Night” in his beautiful tenor voice. I cried every time because it brought so much joy into my heart. Love you Dad! Merry Christmas everyone!!
Tracy shared her sweet memories of her mom who she only had for the first 8 Christmases of her life:
My favorite Christmas memories are the first 8 Christmas’ of my life because they had my mom in them…I lost her when I was 9 a few months before Christmas…. I always remember her putting on Christmas music and then decorating the tree, and then when we were done we would have a cup of hot chocolate with marshmellow cream….mmmm the best!!
Congratulations Kelly and Tracy. I emailed you both asking for your mailing information. Thank you, again, everyone for sharing.
Merry Christmas!
Janet says
WOW!! When I was reading the memory of one of the winners about her Daddy singing “O Holy Night” I realized that was the song being sung on the radio!!
Congratulations to the winners!!
Jackie Garvin says
Janet,
Did that give you goosebumps? I sure would have gotten them!
Julia says
Merry Christmas Jackie and Everyone.
I will be sharing my 76th Christmas with our son and his wife this year.
My 3 daughters will be on the phone several times during the day, but
they have families and extended families who depend on them to “make a
Christmas” for them. Since we always did that when the girls were small,
I love knowing that they make a Christmas for everyone they know who might
not have one otherwise. It was the best part of Christmas…the sharing…
and it remains that way no matter where we find ourselves at the most special time of every year.
I enjoyed so much reading everyone’s stories, some brought tears to my
eyes and some touched on old memories that I have which are similar to
theirs. I’m so happy that you did this Jackie, and very thankful that
you share so much of yourself and your life all year long. You deserve
everything good, and I hope Santa remembers that.
For every story, every recipe and your amazing way of communicating it all
to us, thank you so very much.
Merry Christmas to you and to all those whom you love.
Julia / Pookarina
Jackie Garvin says
Julia,
Julia,
Your words always have a way to reach straight through my soul right to my heart. I wish you the very best of everything life has to offer.
Enjoy your Christmas, Julia. Even though you will be apart from your daughters, revel in the fact that they are living the life and the values that you taught them. You have blessed and touched many people in your life. Your children and family are most fortunate to have you in their lives.
Merry Christmas to you, sweet Julia. May God bless.