A Long Ago Christmas Memoryby Patricia CrisafulliThe old farm on a dirt road in the backwoods of northern New York State was described to me so many times, I can imagine the place, even though I never saw it: the big frame house with the wide porch, the pair of maple trees out front, and the barn in the back where my grandparents kept a cow or two, pigs and chickens, and a team of work horses.That … [Read more...]
12 Pearls of Christmas: How to Cope with Christmas
How to Cope with Christmasby Stacie Ruth StoeltingLast night, I dreamed that God resurrected my beautiful adopted aunt, Mary Jo Hoffman. But morning renewed my mourning for her: Christmas trees, snow globes, and music greeted my grieving heart. Relate?In previous years, my maternal grandpa (a.k.a. "Papa Ray") died near Thanksgiving and my adopted "Grandpa Morley" died near Christmas. Now, people … [Read more...]
12 Pearls of Christmas: Too Precious to Wear
Too Precious to Wearby Sarah SundinOne Christmas when my mother was a girl, she received a string of pearls from her father. Since her parents were divorced-an unusual situation in the 1950s-she treasured the pearls as a sign of her father's love. When he passed away her senior year in high school, the pearls took on even greater significance.When I was growing up, my mother talked often about the … [Read more...]
12 Pearls of Christmas: A Tangible Reminder
A Tangible Reminderby Mary ByersLast year I read Me, Myself, & Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer, creator of the Veggie Tales video series. I was interested because my children grew up on Veggie Tales. But I was also interested because somewhere along the way I noticed Phil Vischer was no longer with Big Idea, the company he founded. I knew there must … [Read more...]
12 Pearls of Christmas: Coming Home for Christmas
COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMASby Virelle KidderMy mother had remarkable zeal for Christmas. Weeks in advance, she would come home from teaching school and bake late into the night. I helped clean the house and decorate the tree while my older brother Roger wired the house with Christmas lights, transforming our humble red house into a place of magical beauty. Following the church candlelight service, a … [Read more...]