The Christmas Ornament Party

Okay ladies, start your stretching exercises because the annual family Christmas Ornament party is this weekend! Some of my sisters and other female relatives have shopped all year for this night. In fact we have so much fun some say Christmas is over for them when the party ends.

My heart begins to race just thinking of it! Let me explain the reason for this madness. The main goal for this party is to search out all the shops and stores for just the right ornament or Christmas decoration. Your goal is to purchased the item that will cause the most fury. You WANT everyone to fight over your ornament! At least that is my goal. The men stuff themselves and find a good chair to take this female frenzied event all in.

Everyone brings in food and a feast is enjoyed by all. I try to get there early and sneak my present under the tree before anyone can see which one it is. I can't even begin to tell you how exciting this is. As all the plates are being cleaned up and the kitchen restored you can actually feel the excitement fill the Christmas Tree room as all females young and old begin to eyeball all the brightly colored large and small boxes. I never get suckered into the large box desire. I know that some of the most beautiful and expensive ornaments have come in small boxes.

It begin as a right of passage when any female girl reaches 13. She is then allowed to join the party. Just remember this is not a game for the weak at heart. Everyone is out for the most gorgeous gift. The game rules are pretty simple. This being said it did Take several years to get (all) the game rules down.

This is how it's played. All females are asked to draw a number out of a hat. The girl that draws the 1 picks the first present and opens it. The person who has drawn the 2 goes next. She has the choice of either taking number 1's gift or drawing from the pile. This goes on till all the presents are opened. There are some rules relating to when a present is dead to everyone else or something like that. My sisters keep up with all that because at this time I am too far gone with the stress of it all in trying to keep my favorite gift. I get so caught up in the game I forget to breathe!

This year seems to be one of the greatest with so many relatives flying in or driving to be with us all. What a party!! And everyone is saying this year THEY have the greatest gift! Can I stand it all, I ask myself! Well my tomorrow I will be in cookie making form and my house should smell life cinnamon, ginger and vanilla frosting with lots of Christmas sprinkles. So much to do and such little time to do it all in. This Christmas is going to be so special. Larry and I put so much of ourselves into our gifts this year.

I will pick up my blog after the Holiday but till then my family wishes your family and even "The Green Phantom" a very Merry Christmas and may we all have a wonderful New Year to look forward to.

I would also like to add that my youngest son Jeremy decided to marry his sweetheart in the dead of winter 5 years ago. Don't ask me why but December 18th was the month and day they picked out for their wedding Day. May or June would have been my choice but the festive month near Christmas suited them just fine. My parents married on the 20th of December running off to the Jusice Of The Peace after Mom got out of Choir practice so I guess my kids were in good company.

Christmas weddings are beautiful. I've been invited to several and the colors of reds and white are gorgeous. Everyone is also in a wonderful mood during the Holiday, so much that it's a shame we can't carry that feeling over into January. Anyway, Happy Anniversary Jeremy and Paige. May you walk through this life hand in hand , heart to heart. Aunt Onie
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

The Dawn Of A New Dad

Seems like everyone is busy expanding their family or just starting one. Babies quite simply are everywhere! And just like in years gone by the mommies and mommies to be get all the attention. That's where the similarities stop. There is a change a brewing that has never been seen, at least not in this country. It's the Dad's role that has began to change drastically. Dads now have become the second and sometimes the first caregiver.

My dear Larry has never changed a diaper in his life. Don't get me wrong, I tried to get him to because everyone knows that changing a dirty diaper is a sure way to bond with your baby! Let's just say he came close to changing one once but didn't quite make it, leaving him with a few nightmares later. Not so with Dads now a days. My two sons often amaze me when left alone with their sons they easily become so efficient when caring for them. They don't give a second thought to grabbing a clean diaper and changing their sons while they talk with me. I sat there and watched them as they both easily maneuvered the babies legs, doing a great job or cleaning the baby up and putting the new diaper on. And they did it in record time too. Yes, times sure have changed.

Not only are the new Dads great at changing diapers they are capable of cleaning the house and doing the laundry and still have total command of the Barbecue grill. Amazing! My son Jeremy can do it all. When called upon he can shop, cook dinner and still have time to play with his son Noah all after working a full day! When I was growing up men never went near a dirty diaper and the only time you talked to them was when you were in trouble.

Now a days Moms and Dads work together in caring for their children which should make a good impact on future generations, only time will tell. As for my son Adam his job as a Basketball coach and teacher has him very busy during Basketball season and he tries to make up for his absence with story time before bed. Instead of hitting the couch he takes over the care giving as soon as he hits the door. All this makes his son Cannon feel loved and cherished by his father. In this everyone wins. When I say everyone wins, I mean everyone. The mother wins because she feels she is not alone in the raising of their child. The child wins because he has a loving and nurturing mother and father. The father wins because he becomes a part of the child's daily life and society wins because this child will become one of it's cornerstones.

I think we have great things to look forward to with this new and improved Dad, don't you? So next time you are visiting a new family, make sure you include the Dad in your praise of the child's achievements and goals, odds are "Dad" had a lot to do with it too.

With Christmas just a few days away I would like to wish you and "your" family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. May you gather your family together with wonderful meals and good times. I'd like to announce we have just added another member to our ever growing family.....My niece Mel and her husband Dan just had a baby on the 14th of December, a little boy named Daniel, a whopping 5lbs 13 Oz's. Man, does he need some of Aunt Onies cooking! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!

The Christmas Baby

When your Birthday comes around you naturally think of your Momma. Today's my Birthday and with it comes happy memories of my mother. She often told me stories about how she and daddy were getting me ready to come home from the hospital and an old county judge was visiting a sick friend and happened by the nursery window. He had to come in and see momma and tell her what a beautiful baby she had (I'm just repeating the story, no conceit intended). Anyway the story goes that when she and daddy got home all my other sisters and brothers gathered around me and they all sang Christmas carols. Momma said the little wood stove had the house all snug and warm and the Christmas spirit was all around. This story always made me feel somewhat special.

Now with Momma gone my Birthday doesn't feel that special. Even though my family comes together to celebrate, it just doesn't feel the same. It's the way you feel when you celebrate your Birthday with the one who gave you that Birthday that made it so special. Momma always teased me that I wanted my Birthday to last all week.

It was Momma who always remembered every ones Birthday and anniversary. She would get up early and put your name on the radio so when you got up you heard your name announced. That was great.

When it came to her Birthday it was just the opposite. She hated that we made a big deal out of her Birthday which was June 1st. She really got mad at me when I announced on live radio that she wasn't 84 anymore. I didn't say she was 85 like she told me not to. On Mommas 83 Birthday I took her to the Ft. Leonard Wood Military Fire station where they let her look inside to her hearts content. They were so nice to her and she loved it. Her zest for life was so inspiring to watch. On her 84th Birthday I took her in a medium semi truck and we made a delivery to a factory I was working with in Washington, Missouri. She loved the truck ride and climbed right in (with a little assistants) the cab. We took the scenic ride all the way and she had a blast. I will always remember the time we shared on that trip.

So today is my Birthday and if I sit quietly with my morning coffee I can hear her sweet voice say...."Happy Birthday Christmas Baby!" Thanks Momma for giving me a wonderful life....remember when your celebrating your birthday be sure to remember to give your Momma a big old hug, because no one wishes you a bigger Birthday wish then her! Happy Holidays everyone! Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me.........Aunt onie

An Imaginary Life

During this festive time of year a person can start to believe that all your dreams are possible. I am here to tell you that I have had a dream and imaginary life that has kept my poor husband on his toes for years.

During my 35 year marriage I can now admit to all that there has been another man in my life. He is rich and owns his own multi-million dollar company, has his own private jet and commands attention wherever he goes. He has sent me red roses on numerous occasions and I keep his picture framed above my computer screen for all to see. You see I have been having a torrid affair with Victor Newman, CEO of Newman Enterprise's (The Young and The Restless Soap Opera).

My husband has been patient through this ordeal and is dealing with this other high power man in my life as best he can. When ever bills are tight and Larry and I argue all I have to do is bring up Victor Newman's name. With the day to day grind of bills, work schedules and taking out the trash Larry knows that at any given moment Victors private helicopter can swoop down in our back yard (right next to the fire pit) and whisk me away to Paris for lunch. Victor has given me so much during many a harsh winter, beginning with beautiful gowns, fine dining at the best New York restaurants and all the Broadway plays I would eve want to see! He has blatantly shown me off to all his socialite friends and quite simply he adores me. He does however knows that my heart belongs to Larry and patiently waits for me to come to my senses and leave Larry one day. This thought keeps Larry on his toes and a leery eye to the sky for Victor's private jet.

In the mean time all my family knows about Victor and no one is ever surprised when celebrating my birthday at my favorite restaurant that red roses are mysteriously delivered to our table with just a small note attached. (See note above)

Even renewing our wedding vows on Larry and my 35 wedding anniversary Larry was still a little leery as all who attended kept one eye on the sky just in case Victor would show up. Victor has been a part of my imaginary life so much that I think Larry wouldn't be surprised at all if Victor really did show up! I believe every woman should have a imaginary life that they can retreat to when real life gets to be too much. It can put possibilities, hope and dreams in your marriage as well as a few laughs.

As for Victor, does he know that I even exist? Perhaps not, or does he? Larry will never know for sure. "Listen.....is that a jet I hear?????? May you fill your marriage with intrigue, mystery and love......Aunt Onie

Real Heroes

With all the constant news breaks of golf legend Tiger Wood's apparent driveway accident, it's no wonder our children have such an unhealthy attitude of who they should look up to. This is so apparent when they see their parents glued to the TV when ever a movie star or worshipped athlete is caught up in unfavorably and questionable situations.

Children learn through actions not words. Words can go so far but it's the daily actions of adults that sets the standards for children to pattern themselves after. So what does it say about this new generation that we are raising, when all they see is how the wealthy can bend the law to accommodate their "hero status"? What is a real hero anyway? Someone who can hit a hole in one everyday? Someone who has broken all baseball and basketball records? I think not.

As a kid in the 50's a real hero was a fire fighter, police man, the President of the USA. We idolized Tarzan and Superman. We looked up to TV fathers like Sheriff Andy Tyler, Ward Clever and John Walton. These were wonderful figures for children to conspire to.

Now with world wide media coverage and multi-million dollar contracts our children are seeing a new range of super heroes. Heroes where adultery, crime and even murder are easy crimes to commit and get away with. It's like we all have blinders on when it comes to these figures, where they have a complete different set of "rules" then the average American.

Woods was allowed to evade police questioning three times till the police gave a press release stating they found no wrong doing on Wood's part. How would they know if they never questioned him let alone performed a drug or alcohol level test on him? Also, when the police showed up at the scene did they not check to see if all the doors were damaged to the extent that a slim, lightweight woman would have to smash the back window with a handy golf club she just happened to have found near the accident and drag her husband from the front of the SUV all the way through the back to get him out? Man, it sure sounds fishy to me?

Our children need to see what a "real hero" truly is and they're not hard to find. I saw one in action yesterday at Wal-Mart. I was coming out of Wal-Mart trying to locate my car in the freezing rain when I heard the terrible familiar sound of metal hitting metal. Looking up across the big parking lot I saw lots of people standing around with their cells phones and looking across the lot to the nearby interstate highway. There in the medium was several cars piled up upside down and on each other. There were men everywhere, either from the accident or from pulled over cars. They were running to all the cars and trying to stop the massive line of semi's as they came up on the wreckage. These guys were "real heroes".

As I watched and prayed no one was killed I caught a glimpse of a woman coming out of the store and she just dropped her two bags on the ground and started running to the highway. The freezing rain just cut through you but she kept going. She crossed the large parking lot, crossed over the outer road and then climbed the steep ravine to the wreckage. The speed she was going could only tell me she was in the medical field. A nurse or a doctor I thought to myself as I watched in amazement. I got a lump in my throat as I watched her in action. She was a living, breathing, true hero, rushing in to save someones life.

Real Hero's have nothing to gain by saving or improving the lives of others. They don't do any of it for the glory or money. They do it because something deep inside them tells them to do it with out second thought to their own well being. To put some ones needs ahead of themselves......Heroes, in every sense of the word.

There are everyday heroes among us. We should honor them, not our athletes or movie stars. Heroes who give blood, volunteer, save lives. They are all around us, these silent heroes. They come when we are sick, hurt or homeless. They come in every age, size and skin color. They are REAL HEROES!

So remember the next time you look up to someone that little eyes are watching you. Take time to visit a fire station. Point out to your children the important and sometimes dangerous job our police force, military force and rescue force has. Show them respect and your children will have a new hero to look up to......you. Let your heart swell up for the real heroes in this great nation....The all American Hero!!! Aunt Onie

The Christmas Orange

THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE

When I was a little girl at Christmas time my father would always buy a huge bag of oranges and chocolate drops. Christmas just was not Christmas without them. One wintry Christmas eve I ask my father why did we always have to have oranges at Christmas time. His reply was a story.

When I was a little boy he began, my father had come to St. Louis from Czechoslovakia. He was a wonderful and gifted master cabinet maker. His life in the old country was hard and very poor and luxuries were few. When he came to America and settled in St. Louis, he started his family and was determined to have a better life for his children.

He did not see the depression coming on and soon any job in the city was hard to come by and it looked like Christmas would be like the ones he remembered in the old country. People would gather each cold evening in soup lines to feed their families.

On Christmas eve my father was fortunate to have found a days work on a loading dock. The work was hard lifting freight from the trains to the loading docks. He was thrilled with the few dollars he had earned for ten hours of heavy work that meant his family might have a Christmas after all.

He hurried to the St. Louis open market to find something extraordinary for this cold and wintry time of year. Entering into a small shop crowded with holiday shoppers, he was acutely aware of his appearance compared to the smart dressed men of means browsing the shop. His eyes took in all the wonders and glories the shop held! There was hams and turkeys, sweet potatoes and brightly colored lights. As his eyes eagerly searched for just the right gift for his children his gaze landed on a large wooden bin sitting in the corner, full of bright juicy oranges. Oranges in December! What a wonderful Christmas it would be! He spent his whole days pay on them and that night my dear mother filled all of our stockings with fresh oranges and chocolate drops. All my brothers, sisters and I were thrilled with our sock treasures. Momma had even knitted us all new scarves! How excited we were when we pulled out our wonderful, delicious gifts. As a small boy it was the best Christmas ever! That is why the Christmas orange means so much to me, my father ended.

So now you too know the Christmas Orange story and our family would like to share this tradition with yours. As you offer up gifts this year, include a bright juicy orange and pass on the Christmas Orange story to your little ones.

If you have a Family Christmas story you would like to share please send it to me. The best part of this season is sharing with others, things that mean so much to us. Happy Holidays!!!! Aunt Onie


Aunt Linda, Larry and Cannon Joe

YES, There Is A Santa!

Is there really such a thing as an ugly Christmas Tree? Whether the tree is real pine, cedar or fir or a lush expensive artificial 10 footer or a little white or sliver aluminum tree, every Christmas tree is beautiful because it embodies the true meaning of Christmas. It's a way we begin the celebration of the birth of our Savior which is Christ the Lord.

As I sit here looking at my Christmas shopping list I realize just how many times the real meaning of Christmas has reached down from heaven and touched my life.

First let me tell you what Christmas was like as a small child in a big family. When it came to Christmas our father was the biggest kid in the bunch. Each Christmas eve he would tell all that we would have to wait till Christmas morning to open our presents. And every Christmas Eve we went off to bed grumbling how could we sleep not knowing what we had under the tree. When we did finally drift off to sleep my poor father couldn't stand it any more and around midnight he would drag us all out of a deep sleep to "open presents!" I can still smell that wonderful smell of my new doll as I drifted back off to sleep around 2 AM! My father who could hardly afford to feed us somehow found the funds to give all of us kids a great Christmas. The joy on our faces was all he ever wanted. There was never a doubt in my mind about how much he loved us.

I was born 10 days before Christmas and I always liked to hear Momma tell the story about the cold winter Christmas when Momma and Dad brought me home from the hospital. Momma always called me her "Christmas Baby".

As I grew up I cherished my memories of Christmas with my father and all the love he had for the season of giving. I carried it with me when I became the parent. Like my parents before me, Larry and I struggled to make ends meet when Adam and Jer were young. When Jer was just 2 months old Larry was working the midnight shift at a local hospital. I had already read Adam the "Night Before Christmas" and he was all snuggled down in his covers. "Go to sleep" I whispered. "Santa's coming tonight." He was all excited and happy. As for me I had no idea how Christmas was coming since our bills had taken all the money Larry brought home. Tucking little Jer into his bassinet I walked down the hall of our mobile home. I can still see the cheery little kitchen curtains as I parted them and looked out at the clear cold starry night. "Santa", I whispered. "Are you out there????" I offered up a small prayer thinking God for everything he had provided for us. A new baby, a steady job and a warm, little house. Just then the back door opened and I jumped at the sound. Could it be??? Larry stood in the hallway with both big arms full! "What is all this?" I asked him. Helping him unload his arms I gasped at all he had. There was a stuffed toy for Jer and candy and toys for Adam. There was tins of homemade fudge and cookies. There was socks for Larry and even a huge bag of potatoes with a ten dollar bill stuck inside the bag. Larry said there was even a turkey still in the car! He explained that all the cooks at the hospital got together and baked and bought presents with their own money for Larry and his little family. These wonderful ladies had brought Christmas to our house. I wonder to this day if they ever knew how much their sacrifices meant to us. Santa did come! He came to us in the form of seven hard working women who took the time to make a difference in some one's life.

Many Christmases have past since those hard times but I will never forget just how rich we were that night. It always reminds me how God is always watching over us and how holy his love for us really is.

This is the season to let God work through you. The simple and small things you can do for someone can make a mountain size difference in some one's life. So this Christmas give of yourself and you will get the biggest present in return. The gift of giving. There is a Santa, and he lives in all of us!!!! Merry Christmas everyone.....Be safe this Christmas season, and may your home be cheerful and may your family be blessed. Aunt Onie