these are memories that i've missed so much. i guess because when i got married and moved away, we didn't have any traditions or memories right away. but last night i realized that we've made new memories -- our own memories.last night samantha and i decorated the Christmas tree. she's helped me with the ornaments probably since she was two and a half. it was so fun to see the joy in her eyes and the excitement on her face when she'd pull out an ornament that she remembered from last year. "OH!! MOM!!! I REMEMBER THIS ONE," she's say with so much enthusiasm.
last year when we were all finished decorating the tree samantha said, "now we need to turn off all the lights and sing silent night." and so we did, never thinking that she'd remember it. but yesterday she said the same thing. "mom, when we get all done putting the ornaments on the tree we need to turn off all the lights with just the Christmas tree on and we need to close our eyes and sing silent night and tell Jesus our wish and praise God." and so we did again.
we didn't get the tree done until 11pm, but we were all still up. even ryan. so with all the lights off we all sat around the tree, told Jesus our wish, and then sang silent night. it was so peaceful to hold samantha on my lap, listen to her squeaky little voice singing an octave higher than me, and think about next year when we'll do this again. she has made a wonderful memory for our family. today i am thankful for memories. old memories that i'll be able to pass down to my children, favorite memories that bring tears to my eyes just thinking about them, and new memories that we'll be able to revisit in the years to come.
what are some of your memories?
3 comments:
Erin -
I read this e-mail around 11:15 - after I had talked to you. I just wanted to say thanks for sharing that and also that the portions below brought on a thick throat and tears in my eyes.
we didn't get the tree done until 11pm, but we were all still up. even ryan. so with all the lights off we all sat around the tree, told Jesus our wish, and then sang silent night. it was so peaceful to hold samantha on my lap, listen to her squeaky little voice singing an octave higher than me, and think about next year when we'll do this again. she has made a wonderful memory for our family.
today i am thankful for memories. old memories that i'll be able to pass down to my children, favorite memories that bring tears to my eyes just thinking about them, and new memories that we'll be able to revisit in the years to come.
Love,
Dad
Erin, what a BEAUTIFUL post.Thanks for being so honest and open. I cherish my memories of each Christmas with my family; we've been blessed to be with my parents every Christmas but one. Now, we share a house - and continue to make very special memories. And how special that your dad left a comment. :)
Your daughter will remember these times, too, Erin, and be so glad she's got them.
Oh, yeah. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. :) BE BLESSED! Merry Christmas!
It's kind of neat that these times are the memories that Samantha (and Ryan as he gets older) will remember as their childhood memories just as you reflected on your own. Sounds like you have all had a really neat time so far this Christmas season, focusing on what it's truely about =)
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