Sharing the Memory

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There is just something about having another person in your life, caring for you as you do them. Family, friends, and the people in between those. Shared memories. Putting up the tree and decorating. Drinking eggnog and eating freshly baked cookies. It's all about tradition and building lifelong memories with your family and the people you love. Tradition is so very important, it gives a a sense of belonging. it gives you a guideline/lifeline I think. So many people look away from "tradition"….. and sometimes, they flounder. I look back on these ornaments from years past, and they fill me with the thoughts and comfort that memories do.


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When I think back on the holidays of my upbringing, I tried to recall some of the gifts that I received. I remember a few, but what I do remember is the traditional food we ate, the visiting relatives and friends and the games we played with our cousins. Stringing popcorn with cranberries, picking a Christmas tree, drinking eggnog... So, it has always made sense to me to center my holiday on the on the traditions not the gifts. Memories are the best gift you can give – and those traditions can be passed down through the generations.


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The smell of the fresh cut pinw...gingerbread baking in the oven... the fragrance of cloves, orange peel, and cinnamon sticks simmering on the kitchen stove...I do love this time of year. Tell me, do... what smells remind you of Christmas?


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May your heart be filled with the joy of giving, as it is the expression of the love in your heart and the kindness in your soul.

It isn't the flowing ribbons,
draped and curled with extra care,
or the fine and fancy bows
tied with ornamental flair.

It isn't the label on the box,
the sum of money spent,
or anything that shows the length
to which you obviously went.

The beauty of a Christmas gift
cannot be seen at all.
For the loveliness of giving
is a feeling, grand and tall.

It's the genuine offer of love,
the yearning to make a connection,
a show of honest gratitude,
a display of sincere affection.

~ Unknown


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There will be no resistance to the sparkle and glitter of the season. All that deliberately glitters is gold. It has a way of giving and giving. Glttter me Christmas! Amen


Laying wreaths tomrrow at Arlington National Cemetery. Thank you, Wreaths Across America. It wouldn't happen without you and your tireless volunteers. Photo from last year.


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I find it good to pause for a moment of three and allow the spirit of Christmas to wash over me... It prompts people to do kind things for others. It’s that season of giving – not just to those we love, our families and friends, but people seem to reach out to those in need. If you can, reach to those who see nothing to rejoice in, or for those we know are in desperate circumstances. Because you can. ❤️


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I feel like we need this time right now. Looking all around me, for everywhere I see; the joy of season spreading out its arms and asking for a hug. Let there be peace on earth, my friends, and it can start with me.


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Yes! Because, why not?

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musing family love giving christmas neoxian
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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 135 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
!BEER
5

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Christmas is a season of celebration, it's also a thing of joy and calls for us to spread love... ❣️❣️😊
Amazing content dearie

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Christmas is more than a day in December
It’s all of those things that we love to remember
Its carolers singing familiar refrains
Bright colored stockings and shiny toy trains
Streamers of tinsel and glass satin balls
Laughter that rings through the house and its halls
Christmas is more than a day in December
Its the magic and the love
That we’ll always remember

  • M.E. Miro

!LADY 😍🌺🤙

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That really resonates with me! Ever the words echo back from childhood. What a lovely way to end my night.

Thank you for that! I am sure that you had some wonderful memories of childhood. Thanks for stopping by.

Have a blessed Sunday ❤️

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Tru dat d, Tru dat. Thanks for the beautiful words & pictures.

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Thanks for stopping by and leaving your words. :)

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Beautiful blog Denise💖
I totally agree with you that it's not about the gifts, it's about making memories which last forever; catching up with family and friends who pop in, often bringing homemade goodies.
The smells that remind me of this special time is food... baking cookies and spicy fruit mince pies. Marinating the leg of lamb in a cloves, coriander, garlicky marinade for 2 days before roasting it in the oven.
Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories with us🎄💖

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Oh, my!! That lamb sounds divine!!! I have never heard of doing that!! Tell me that it is delicious. Isn't it funny those specific smells that tell us it's Christmastime?

It is always about the memories. They just cannot take those from you. ❤️ Family and friends. It is such a wonderful time of the year. xo

Thank you for always stopping by, Lizelle !

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That leg of lamb gets poked all over & stuffed with cloves of garlic as well as bacon & then left in the spicy vinegar marinade (cloves, coriander, nutmeg, etc no hot spices)
It will be our oldest son's last Christmas as a pucker South African, as he is emigrating to the Netherlands in January, happy and sad, things are not being run properly herein SA, sad to say!
Have a great week Denise 💖

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That sounds divine!!! No lie!!! I am interested in the recipe if you post it. I love leg of lamb and it was one of my mom's favorites. My family only likes it as a meal, I adore it for the yumminess it provides and reminds me of my mom.

I know that you and Joan's kids (I believe) are moving and sad as that would make me as a mom, they are forcing your hand. I wish all of the family would move together,but, everyone must forge a path.

You are such a good person. I might whine if mine did that. ❤️

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It's bittersweet as they love their country but sadly our government are not governing! Basic services are failing, unemployment & crime rife!
I will certainly share that recipe with you tomorrow Denise, no electricity at the moment (loadshedding), fortunately it's bedtime. Thank you for your kind words sweet lady 😘💖

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Friends and family is very important for us. You can share such a amazing gifts with us. Leaves looks very wonderful. Thanks for sharing this amazing story.

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As always a beautiful and thoughtful post which got me thinking about the traditions of Christmas for me when I was growing up

I must admit I never have experienced Stringing popcorn with cranberries, in fact I am not sure if I have ever heard of it till now

I guess with Christmas being in Summer down under we had quite different traditions, such as the day after Christmas being one of the busiest beach days and often if it was a big family get together and limited room in the house for all, tables being setup in the backyard for the Christmas dinner.

NOw this goes against my Tattood thug persona so after this burst of pleasant memories of my younger years and family Christmas times, Even on Christmas day I was still up way earlier than everyone in the house so I used to head out at about 4:30 for my morning run, with one difference on Christmas day I would go a different route down by a river with some nice Wild flowers that my Mum loved, I would pick a bunch of them and sprinkle some around the base of our Christmas tree and one the table by her chair

Why am I telling this now reading your post brought to me the memory of my Mum coming out on Christmas morning, seeing the flowers and beaming such a lovely smile each and every year I did it, followed by my dad who would see her smile look over at me and Wink.

thanks for triggering lovely memories for me

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That is so sweet!!!❤️ You know that special women really do bring out the best in you. Christmas has a way of allowing those memories to surface, don't they? I think of things that I didn't remember until I thought about them.

I can see you now with those wildflowers and I am sure it made your dad proud as anything knowing you were raised right. I bet your mom is smiling down on you right now at the memory. You should get some for Lulu! :) Start a new tradition. Oh, wait.. we are a little wintery.

You have never heard of stringing popcorn and cranberries? Really? It is sooooo New England! I gave you a link and the video! Enjoy! I do it every year! Inside and out! :)


https://littlecooksreadingbooks.com/how-to-make-popcorn-garland/



You should try it, it is a lot of fun! Thank you for visiting!

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ME sweet someone must have hijacked my account LOL
That does look like fun with the popcorn and cranberries

Maybe we will try it sometime

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I love Christmas too, I love how family gets together and we make memories that will last a lifetime. I like to share moments with my family and show us all the love we have for each other.

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I can do with no presents, as it is the love that is the importing thing.

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What a wonderful reminder of what this season should be! The scent of balsam fir and spices remind me of Christmas. As we get older it's such a time of reflection.

This is the first time in a few years that I've felt as though I was in the spirit. It's a good sign that some iota of normalcy is returning. I still remember how excited my brother and I would get, as children, over the simplest of things. We each had a $100 limit and would page through the Sears/JC Penney catalogues and mark what we wanted. I often wonder how my parents managed to do that every year, it must've been a real stretch for them.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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Hi, Eric! @ericvancewalton It is always good to see you! Ah, yes! The scent of balsam! It was in the air all day today.

It was family day at Arlington National Cemetery. Anyone who has a loved one buried there can stop by the cemetery's entrance where you will find a Wreaths Across America humongous tractor-trailer. Filled with thousands of wreaths that they donate every single year. So, I went and took a few extra wreaths for people I know who have gone before their time, plus my own dad... anyway, my vehicle smells like Christmas, even now. :) I was too tired to write a post tonight as I am still doing #MarketFriday replies and this post's replies. These are short and easy, #MarketFriday, not so much! LOL

My parents had 9 kids. :) We had the JC Penney Sears and ToysRUs Catalog and we were supposed to circle and put our name on it. Hello? I have no idea how they managed. Probably why I believed in Santa for so long. :)

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It's wonderful that Arlington does this for veterans. My Father's name is on a plaque somewhere there. One of these days I'd like to visit. I haven't been there since 1991 or so, a long time!

Whoa, 9?!?! My parents just had my brother and I and it was a struggle even for them.

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As in He is buried there?

It is always such a beautiful place to visit. Peaceful. It lifts my soul. I know people think I am weird for liking it, but, a sense of peace washes over me. It's time for you to visit again.

Nine! I loved it. We never had expectations of grandeur, but, I will tell you what, there was a whole lot of love going around. I am sure my parents struggled, we never knew it and later in life, I found out that my dad did free work for the heating and air conditioning for the church because they wanted us to go to the Catholic School... and right out of NYC, a barter was born, and they put us through Catholic School ... all nine of us.

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No, he's not buried there but they put his name on a plaque after he passed away from Covid. He served in both the Army and Air Force.

Coming from a small family I always wonder what it would be like to have all those siblings! People were so resourceful back then, weren't they? My Dad never made much at his day job but always had multiple side-gigs that brought in a little extra.

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Such a wonderful post Denise 👋🏻😊🎄🎄☃️☃️🥰
Have a lovely evening and a great start of the new week 🤗🤗

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Hi, Jackie! @littlebee4 Thank you and I hope you are having an amazing evening/night yourself, although you are now up and running around (almost) I am sure!

Happy Monday!!! Let the week begin!

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Yes, it is true. This world is full of beauty and so many people who live with our side and spread love we also love the people but there are some people in our life with whom we spend time and make a lot memories. Memories are very beautiful which make a person feel very happy .
And i feel so happy reading this post.
Thanks for sharing this post.

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Of course conifer, balsam and pine are right at the top of the Christmas aromas. In fact so much so I bought a cologne based on it called Norne by Slumberhouse... Like wearing a Christmas tree around lol.

I agree with your idea about building memories. One of the few things that out live us.

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@dswigle,


Beautiful... powerful, and inspiring. Of all the letters that run across the page:


I find it good to pause for a moment of three and allow the spirit of Christmas to wash over me... It prompts people to do kind things for others. It’s that season of giving – not just to those we love, our families and friends, but people seem to reach out to those in need. If you can, reach to those who see nothing to rejoice in, or for those we know are in desperate circumstances. Because you can. ❤️


This is what the spirit of Christmas is all about. But we shouldn't have to wait for just Christmas... or a holiday... right? A wonderful post as always... good to see you, dear friend.

!LUV
!WINE
!giphy Merry Christmas

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