If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

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Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Tuesday 4 - Counting Down to Christmas

Counting Down to Christmas


Message from Annie who hosts Tuesday 4.  "Hello and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's  Tuesday 4 where we hope that 4 questions help you to blog, meet people and think about things in general.     Sometimes the simplest questions can be a bit difficult to answer. 
I do hope you are enjoying these questions...but if you can think up better themes and questions, please let me know!   I want to keep this going and make it nice for you."
Link up is here.

Let's talk about the countdown to Christmas or Chanukah or both!

1. What was the countdown to the holidays like for you as a child?  Special projects at school.. at home.. with friends?      Was a big deal made of the month in your family or town?  What does your countdown look like now?  As a child we always had a program to participate in at church.  Kids were given a poem to memorize and then share at church.  It used to scare me to death, but we did it every year.  I remember going to see Santa in our small town and we'd visit the fire station in the town where our church was and get some candy.  We also always got a bag of hard candy and chocolate drops and an orange from our church.  Lots of Christmas breaks our family would go to Florida for a week to spend some time with my dad's parents who were snowbirds and lived there in the winter.  Now, our Christmases are very simple.

2. As a kid did  your family stay home on the holidays or go visiting around ... what do you do now? We went to my grandparents (mom's parents) on Christmas Day for lunch.   We did Christmas at home first.  When our kids came along, we did Christmas Eve at my parents and our Christmas on Christmas morning and then lunch in the afternoon at hubby's parents.  Busy, busy days.  Christmas now changes from year to year.  This year too much of the family is sick so plans are to wait a couple weeks and try it again, maybe.

3. What foods did Mom and Grandma make for those  days?   What snacks were out?   What is the food situation in your home today?  My dad would make the ham, mom did many things, but one of my favorites was Waldorf Salad (apple salad) and grandma did chicken and dumplings and pickled beans.  There were all kinds of dessert, pies, cake, cookies, homemade candy, etc.

4.  Did you have a traditional way of spending the day with time to open gifts, visit,  special breakfasts, special dinner, guests?    What do you do now?  Hubby and I usually have cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then just relax.  We typically don't do presents for each other any more.  Then sometime during the day we'll hear from each of the girls.  Some years we'll get with his family and some years with mine.  

Christmas will definitely be a lot quieter this year, but I think it will still be good.  Actually, since it's on Sunday, we'll be going to church and then have the rest of the day free, as far as I know.  Now, we'll just wait and see what's going to happen.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

12 comments:

  1. Your childhood Christmases sound much like ours. Those were happy times. I love apple waldorf salad and when you say pickled beans I am thinking you must mean like the 3 bean salad? My Aunt used to make that, but usually only in summer. I loved it. I am sorry to hear so many are sick in your family. This flu bug has been really bad this year and so many have been sick in our area too. I had it for Thanksgiving, then my sister had it after Thanksgiving, and I hope no one has it now, but we still haven't quite decided on our plans for Christmas. It won't be Christmas day, except for our immediate family here after church. Have a blessed and wonderful day no matter what! We celebrate Jesus!!!

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    1. Yes, things are different than originally planned, but it will be okay anyway.

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  2. I know its hectic for all the church staff & volunteers when CHristmas falls on a Sunday, but I also love when it falls on a Sunday :)

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    1. We're not having Sunday School so it won't be bad at all. Just the morning service.

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  3. Your childhood program at church sounds much like that I remember! Oh, those stockings giveaways! I just remember the see-through mesh -- containing an obligatory orange and hard candies. The former went to my mother, the candy in the trash ... but the walnuts were mine, all mine. (LOL). I honestly can't remember the main entree, only mother's homemade Scandanavian and German pastries.
    However you observe the holiday, I hope it's wonderful!

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    1. Why did the candy go in the trash? Just curious. My dad loved the hard candy and he'd stick pieces in his pockets and share them with kids at church. lol

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    2. That was smart! I'm just guessing, none of us liked it.

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  4. So much sickness happening. I am hoping we can all be together. My husband was sick and the kids where I teach, but so far, I am ok. The weather is calling for snow now though. I hope you can all get together. Loved your answers! Merry Christmas. Have a nice day!

    https://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks Lori. I was with both my mother-in-law and sister each just a day before they got sick. So far, I'm good and so is hubby. Merry Christmas.

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  5. Those are nice memories you shared in question #1. Sorry that things will be a little different this year with people who are sick. The foods sound delicious. I hope your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are special. God Bless You

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    1. It will be special no matter what we do. As long as hubby and I are together, all is good.

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  6. Thanks for joining in. I love reading how everyone celebrates. I hope Christmas is glorious for you this year and every year.

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Thanks for visiting and commenting. Have a wonderful Day!

Cathy