Welcome to December and to the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a merry comment for your neighbor there. Here we go...
2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why.
Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch has always been a favorite. Hubs and I watched Home Alone the other night, and how can you not love Kevin McAllister?
I love Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the friend who finds the good in the scrappy tree and who when Charlie asks 'Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?' replies by reciting Jesus birth as recounted in the book of Luke.
Linus, who carries his security blanket everywhere, drops it when he gets to the part that reads 'Fear not; for behold I bring you tidings of great joy". This little cartoon that first aired sixty years ago is still so powerful, so sweet, so loved.
3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition?
I do like gingerbread. I don't think it was a favorite growing up, but I love it now.
We have done gingerbread houses from time to time. That activity isn't on the calendar this year.
4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-
sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?
sprinkles-lightning bugs-soda-sneakers-subs unless what I'm eating is an actual hoagie (iykyk)-highway- icing-sauce if we're talking pasta, but gravy if we're talking meat and potatoes
5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood.
The season didn't start until December and I think it was definitely simpler. Most people had just one tree, and we'd go to the local nursery to choose ours. It didn't go up until closer to Christmas and we all helped with the decorating.
There was a lot of cookie baking done beside my mom in the month of December.
The feeling of anticipation on Christmas morning. My sister and I (we shared a room) waking up super early and the excitement we felt as we lay in our beds talking while waiting for the street lights to go off so we could wake up my parents. That was the rule-no getting up while the street lights were still on.
Then sitting on the steps with my brother and sisters as we waited some more for my dad to start the fire in the fireplace, make the coffee, and take our picture. Finally walking in to the living room and seeing all the beautifully wrapped gifts and my stocking in 'my chair'. So many surprises...I rarely knew what I'd be getting.
I had a doll I loved and every year my mom would take her from my room after I'd gone to sleep on Christmas Eve, and dress her in a new outfit. She'd be sitting beside my stocking when I came down on Christmas morning.
My mama made Christmas morning so magical.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
It wouldn't officially be the Christmas season without me posting this song on my blog. This carol wasn't a particular favorite of mine as a child, but it has become a favorite in my adult years. The lyrics are so meaningful, so very relevant to the world in which we live...
'and in despair I bowed my head, There is no peace on earth I said, For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men...'
The story behind this particular song is a good one (you can read it here), and this Casting Crowns version is absolutely beautiful-
The Casting Crowns version of I Heard the Bells... is literally my favorite Christmas carol and I listen to it every day! Yesterday as I wrapped presents, it was the first song that I played. I love it so much- the words and the music are beautiful and as you said the lyrics are relevant. I, too, don´t remember caring for it much as a child- it wasn´t a favorite. Speaking of childhood, your memory of Christmas morning is sweet. I like all of those traditions and what sticks out in your mind. Thanks for the link up and forgive me for breaking a rule or two with regard to the questions (I mostly answered last week´s!).
ReplyDeleteThese are such fun questions and I loved reading childhood memories and waiting on the street light to come on before getting out of bed. Thanks Joyce!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas memories were beautiful to read about. Christmas was so magical when we were children. It’s almost as if there’s an aura surrounding those special years.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful song! I didn't even think about pasta sauce...I went right to the gravy. :) How cool that your mom dressed up your doll in a new dress every Christmas. Great memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet memories of your childhood! I love the old pictures of y'all decorating gingerbread houses, too. We did that one year, but that's all. I need to listen to that song now. I love Casting Crowns, and I think I've heard it, but I need to make sure. I love meaningful Christmas music each year! I'm listening to some now, as I write. Happy Wednesday, friend!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I think of Linus dropping that blanket at the exact moment, I get misty eyed! I loved reading your thoughts today!! I have made a note on my "to do" list to visit as many blogs today as possible!!
ReplyDeleteYour description of holiday spirit did make me smile and yes! Cindy Lou is one of my favourites too.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of gingerbread but my girls love it! They used to love building gingerbread houses.
I loved the build up to Christmas when I was a child. Aww! The new outfit for your doll did make me smile.
Linus is a beloved character - I did think of him too, but I had so many favorite movies and characters it was hard to choose just one! Loved reading your Christmas memories - so sweet! The Casting Crowns version of I Heard the Bells is one I love and is one of the most played on my holiday music list. I feel the same way, that it wasn't one I like so much when I was a kid, but it has become more meaningful as I got older. Happy Holiday Hodgepodge!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it sweet what memories we have of Christmas of our childhood - the lighting of the fire, the coffee - the things that weren't materialistic. I love that she took your doll and dressed it. My mom also did things like that. Christmas was very important to my mom throughout her whole life.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great memory of your childhood. Moms try to make everything special even though I see with generation to generation this is becoming a lost art. I love that song!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such wonderful questions week after week- I love seeing how others share joy and traditions- need to listen to that song!
ReplyDeleteLove that rule your mother had about the street lights. That Christmas morning anticipation is real. I don't think we had street lights on our block growing up. Love the gingerbread construction photos. That song is so good and especially for the times we are living in. Happy December to you!
ReplyDeleteThe Casting Crown version of this is so wonderful, isn't it??
ReplyDeleteI have so many good childhood memories for Xmas...it was hard to just choose one!
Happy December!
Love this beautiful song...thank you for posting it. Listening to it has already made my morning. Kids and adults alike enjoy making gingerbread houses, which makes for some beautiful Christmas memories with family. This adds to the Holiday Spirit for many. Thanks for making these hodgepodge Wednesday's GREAT,
ReplyDeleteA beautiful answer for #1 and 7 is a good answer. Yes, Home Alone is such a good movie. Love your answers for #2. Those are sweet photos of your girls making them. I don't remember them as a child. #4 was fun! I forgot that my parents had some metal trees back then. I sure do love a real tree. That's what Mark and I always had when we got married. Very sweet answer for #5. That is a beautiful song. Thank you for sharing it. Have a great day Joyce.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing the photos of the gingerbread houses in the making. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLinus is a favorite of mine too. Charles M. Schulz got it right in creating A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Oh but I love Linus!! Isn't he just the best...well, all of Charlie Brown:) Everyone talking about gingerbread has me wanting to try something gingerbread-y....maybe I can find a yummy latte this afternoon!! I have to admit, I do not understand the need for multiple trees! I miss the thrill of "the one perfect tree"!!
ReplyDeleteI rarely think of Home Alone but we do love watching that movie. We were always late in putting up our tree growing up (my parents still rarely get theirs up before the 20's of December). My step father often came home with some of the ugliest trees but once decorated they all looked fabulous (he felt bad for the trees he assumed no one else would buy).
ReplyDeleteWe celebrated once on Christmas day ! It was a disaster. We were all half asleep when we got downstairs to look at the gifts. My grandson was maybe 3 and cried because he had got a kitchen which had to be put together. Father and grandpa did their best, while nobody thought of making coffee and without coffee I am in a bad mood, my DIL was angry that they hadn't put up the kitchen in the evening and from this only time on we celebrated as always since my childhood on Christmas Eve. I have never heard your Christmas song. I have to say when I was a child there were only the traditional Christmas songs, like "Silent Night" etc. and we had to sing it. My father sang so false, that we had great difficulties not to laugh, but in Germany Christmas should be solemn and reflective. When we first celebrated Christmas with English people, I thought it was wonderful, and we always made it a joyful Christmas after that. Rick didn't even know a Christmas tree, because in Italy they didn't have any, they had nativity scenes. I managed to put all uses together, the tree, the nativity scene, and on the 6th January the "Befana" who was a witch who brought the gifts !
ReplyDeleteReturning to your blog after not having visited in forever (if you check my blog, you might guess why I stopped doing the Hodgepodge). I'm not a big holiday lover, but your question about the words we use (gravy vs. sauce, etc.) made me think. Btw, you forgot to include "coke" as an alternative to pop and soda. I don't care for gingerbread, but just yesterday created a gingerbread man out of polymer clay. I'm so glad you're doing well with the holiday spirit! Have a lovely December!
ReplyDeleteAren't we blessed to have grown up in close, supportive, loving Christian homes with parents such as ours? I believe our upbringing was very similar regarding holidays as well. We always found our Christmas tree in the woods, but after we left home and returned for family Christmases, Dad delighted in finding the saddest-looking tree he could and "adopted" it to be dressed up for the family. He would even drill holes and add branches if he needed to. I think he was saving things, ugly trees or stray animals that needed rescuing, along with lost souls. That was our "Preacher Daddy."
ReplyDeleteyes and amen!
DeleteI forgot about Cindy Lou and Linus - two favorite characters who really remind me to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Those are such sweet childhood memories, especially the doll with the new dress. Your mother sounds like such a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI love your doll story!! What a great memory to have of your favorite doll and your mom's sweet Christmas morning surprise! Life was simpler in years past, that's for sure. Yes to that song! Says it all. Thank you for another fun Hodgepodge! xo
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce, I enjoyed reading your post today. I like the Christmas song you posted. I sure wish they had the Peanuts Christmas on regular tv and not just on Apple TV. So many more could here the Christmas story that way. One of my trees is decorated with the Peanuts gang. One of those ornaments is that Christmas play. I will have to share that. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI liked your answers
ReplyDeleteLove your description of the season and your memories when you were younger. I love how memories tend to soften toward just the best parts :) Thank you for that song and background on it. Although I love Casting Crowns and I’ve listened to most of their music, I have never paid particular attention to that one until this morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing the carol, it's words and it's meaning. It definitely resonates and I appreciate it's message this morning! You stirred up lots of memories, too - Mamas make the holidays extra special and I miss mine this season. I pray that my daughters have fond memories of our Christmases past! Sometimes simple is best!
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