Christmas Time

It’s that time of year again and Christmas is in the air. Some don’t like that it seems to come so early, but I just can’t seem to get enough of the feelings it brings. When there’s even a slightest possibility that the radio stations may be playing Christmas music, I start scanning the airways.

When I see the lights and hear the sounds of Christmas, memories flood my mind as remembrances of times long past wrap me warmly in their embrace.

When Christmas songs play on the radio I’m once again snuggled by my grandpa’s side as we drive through our small town searching the neighborhood roofs for Santa and his reindeer. I’m almost positive we spotted him one year.

We’d laugh and chat as we wondered what treasures we’d find under the tree the next morning. Then we’d make our way down Main Street, “Ooohing” and “Aaahing” over the brilliant lights and decorations covering the streetlamps and storefronts, while the sweet sounds of “Silver Bells” drifted dreamily from the car radio.

My grandpa has been gone for several years now and though there are no more Christmas rides through the small town I grew up in, I still have those memories to bring him close once again.

Looking back I can’t recall many of the gifts I’ve received through the years but I still remember and cherish the memories of the time spent with my family and the traditions we’ve shared.

I have children of my own now and we’ve started traditions with our children in hopes that they too will have memories that they will treasure throughout their lives.

One of our traditions includes an annual Christmas Eve trip to Grandma’s for dinner and a “talent” show with all the cousins. The cousins have a gift exchange (they draw names earlier in the year and all the presents must be under a set amount).

Then finally, the best part of all, they all open their present from Grandma and Grandpa. Every year it’s the same present – pajamas. The kids laugh and giggle as they watch to see what kind of pajamas everyone gets and then they race to an empty room to put them on and come out for pictures.

Grandma has asked the kids over the years if they wouldn’t rather have something different “this” year and each year she is met with the same answer, a resounding “NO!” Each grandchild whether they’re 9 or 23 insists that they must get pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa. It’s tradition and they’ll have no part of changing it.

According to the article, “Family Traditions Are Important” by Marsha K. Weaver, “Family traditions are the threads of life that bind us together as families.” Traditions not only strengthen us, they help connect us to our pasts and give us a sense of who we are and where we come from.

Our families are a great blessing and the holidays are a wonderful time to thoroughly enjoy them and help create memories that will bind us together and last a lifetime.

Marathon Men

Do you ever feel like some people are just gluttin for punishment? Some days I think that would describe my husband and my son.

They ran their marathon in September. They did pretty well but didn’t finish in quite the times they would have liked to so DJ is saying he wants to run another one, Dave’s not so sure. He’s done this twice already.

As part of the preparation for their marathon Dave and DJ decided to ran a half marathon the month before the actual marathon. On the day of the Half Marathon Dave ran the race in the morning, then went and played a soccer game afterwards and then they both hiked to the top of Mount Timpanogos, coming down the mountain that night in the dark – that’s 33 miles in one day. I heard the trek down the mountain in the dark was quite an adventure.

They started their day at 4:30 AM and got home the next morning at 2:30 AM. Some people’s kids…

It was cold and rainy on the day of the Marathon but Dave said the rain didn’t last long. The cold however stuck around. One of Dave’s best friends from High School flew in to run the marathon with them. Dave said they ran together the first mile and he didn’t see his friend again. His friend has been running regularly and Dave told him to go on ahead.

Dave’s knee locked up at about mile 8 and he at times was dragging his leg to keep going. Some of the other runner’s offered him some Ibuprofen but he doesn’t like to take pills so he turned them down. Finally at mile 18 he accepted a big horse pill of Ibuprofen. He didn’t have any water so he had to just put it in his mouth and let it dissolve. It was disgusting. He finally found someone with some extra water so he could rinse his mouth.

The pain finally stopped at mile 19 and Dave could finally stop running again. He finally caught up to DJ at mile 22. DJ was having a hard time too. He was very sore. They both said if they do this again they’ll train more.

Suffice it to say they limped around for a couple of days after the marathon. The things some people do for fun!