Last Day of Christmas in July
- posted by: Legends
- posted in: Uncategorized
- on: July 31, 2007
Congrats to Laura with her Christmas Bible and to Mandiannie- you’ve won a special Fiskateer package, send me your addresses so I can get them to you!
I can’t tell you all how much I have enjoyed reading about your Christmas traditions and hearing your special Christmas stories, it has made me so excited for December!
I have one last Christmas story to tell you about. Two years ago my mother and I got to go to Disney World just before Christmas. I just love Disney World at Christmas time, it’s all decked out and makes me feel like a kid again. My Grandma used to take us to Disney World when we were kids, so my mom and I decided to take her with us. The first day she had a motorized wheel chair and was running lots of little kids over with her chair so the next day I decided to have her get a manual chair and I guided her around the park. We had a wonderful time, we loved all of the decorations and the parades, I will always remember that trip.
When we got home I made her a book about our special Christmas vacation, just the three of us girls. Often I would call her (she lived in New York and I in South Carolina) and she would tell me that she was just looking at the book and remembering all of the fun we had. My Grandma passed away earlier this year, right before I got married, and I was given back the book that I made her. I have been thinking a lot about that special trip we took together and I have been so glad that I made that book for her- it ended up being a gift for both of us.
Okay, here’s the last Christmas in July giveaway- leave a comment and I will randomly pick a winner to receive a big box of Fiskateer goodies!
WendyGibson says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:17 pmI’m glad you got the book back! What a thoughtful thing for you to do for her!
jessica says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:21 pmwhat a nice story! such cute pics too! I love your hair tied up!
Page says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:23 pmI just love Disney World at Christmas, too! We took our son there last year just before Christmas. He was two at the time and although I’ve been there numerous times at Christmas, it was so fabulous to see it all again through the eyes of a child. He was so thrilled with the trees and the lights and the Christmas parade, etc. I was so happy to read your blog about Disney World with your grandma-it really is a special place and holds so many special memories for so many people!
Merlene says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:24 pmWhat a special memory of your grandmother, and It’s so nice that the book returned to you to always cherish.
Laura says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:24 pmI understand, truly, about the gift of an album…I made my Mom a Mothers Day album…with lots of the things she enjoyed…all of us…and her friends…and her puppy, Cody ! I too received the album back. Here’s to a wonderful December ! …and thanks for the prize ! Please don’t include me in the random drawing for this time. Someone else should enjoy a goodie box too !! Thanks again for stirring up wonderful memories !
Sandra Mason says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:25 pmHolly what a beautiful memory. Every year we take our children to a department store chistmas cave, it is the same cave my parents used to take my sister and I to as children and my mother used to go to the same cave with her parents when she was a child. According to Mum the different scenes are exactly the same (although they have had a makeover to keep them running just as smoothly)as when she was a little girl. We also have photos of the 3 generations as children with Father Christmas in the cave
Sandy says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:28 pmHow awesome1 I am planning a Trip to DW for November of next year and can not wait. It will be our youngest DS’s first trip.
I love those two pictures you posted. What sweet memories.
Kelly Jo says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:29 pmCongrats to Laura and Mandiannie!
Holly, that is a wonderful story about your Grandma. I’d love to see pictures of your book. =)
Now I’m off to make a Wish Upon a Star that I’ll be your random winner! I would love a box of goodies from You! =)
Jennifer #1626 says:
July 31st, 2007 at 10:30 pmGreat pictures. How nice that the book was returned to you. That makes it extra special.
Linda A. says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:12 pmYour story brought tears to my eyes, because I have a similar Christmas gift story - I had cross-stitched a Christmas poem for my Grandmother one year. She loved it so much that she left it up year round, and after she passed away,it came back home to me. To honor her memory (and her love of all things Christmas!) I keep it up all year as well. I also have the very last Christmas card that she gave me less than a month before she passed away. It has been hanging on the closet door where I put up our cards every year ever since. You know, I should probably scrap that story! Thanks for the inspiration!
Jennifer C says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:27 pmWhat a touching story—-just this past week i had a dream about my grandmother and i woke up so sad and missing her. she never got to see my scrapbooking because she passed before i really got into it. I do remember always looking at her pictures and cards she kept—we would look at them over and over..thanks for sharing with us !!
Bethany says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:28 pmThat is such a sweet story! My DD’s great grandma (96 years old) just came out for a visit…I put together a mini-album of her visit for her, too.
=0 )
Such a special thing scrapbooking can be!
Betsy says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:30 pmThank you for sharing the story about your grandmother, Holly. It brought tears to my eyes. I love this blog.
Jennifer Muller says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:36 pmWhat a beautiful story! I, too, am very close with my grandmother and am thankful for everyday that I have with her. I hope that she stays with us long enough so that my daughter can experience such a wonderful woman. Thank you for sharing!
Jena says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:38 pmWhat a wonderful memory, Holly! I too lost a most beloved Grandmother a few months ago and one of my favorite Christmas memories took place at her Christmas table. I come from a big Italian family and my Grandma Gusta was an authentic Italian cook and would make the best Christmas dinners. All of us would gather at her house for the big event on Christmas day. However while she was cooking she would stuff all of us Grandkids full of sweets. The year my little brother was 5 he was especially stuffed with sweets. Then during the Christmas dinner blessing my Mother was scolding him for eating too much and telling him that he HAD to eat some of the Christmas dinner. Then during our annual quiet moment of inner reflection during the prayer he blurted out “but I HATE spaghetti”. Everyone laughed, my mother turned 8 shades of red but Grandma Gusta just smiled and gave him another canoli for dinner.
We will all miss her dearly at the Christmas dinner table this year.
[Amy] says:
July 31st, 2007 at 11:39 pmWhat a touching story you’ve shared. Thank you! As a child, I used to spend the summers with my grandparents and looking back, I really treasure those times and the fact that I got to build a good relationship with my grandparents.
Earlier this year, we found out that my Grandpa’s cancer has spread to his bones, and there’s nothing left to be done. In a few weeks, I’m going for a short summer visit, and I know this time around I am going to take a ton of photos. I’m already looking forward to scrapbooking them and so many of my memories with my grandpa. I love the therapy that scrapbooking can provide, even in the hardest or most sad times.
Thanks again for sharing your story. :]
Nic #1033 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:02 amoh wow those pictures with your grandma must be so precious! what an amazing memory for both of you!!
tammy b says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:06 amwhat a touching memory…it’s almost identical to one i have of my MIL…i made her an album FOR this past christmas of our 3 girls (her last grandchildren, and she was in s. dakota, we in washington) she had it on the end table next to her chair and looked at it often. she passed on st. patty’s day this past march; when i got the book back, it was well worn, and still included the heartfelt letter i had sent with it. made me cry all over again. i’m glad i was able to share my girls with her in this special way……..tammy b
melita says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:08 amWhat wonderful memories! So glad that you and your grandmother got to enjoy them!
Kelly Muir says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:23 amSorry to hear about your grandmother, but those memories are precious… it sounds like you had a fantastic trip and the book was an awesome idea, something she so obviously cherished and now you will remember all those special moments.
Jen B #258 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:24 amWhat a neat trip to enjoy with your grandma and your mom. I’m glad you were given the book back after she passed away so you could have something special to remember her by. My hubby and I went to Disneyland for our honeymoon at Christmas time and then to Disneyworld a few years later for our anniversary. Its such a magical place, even for grownups!
Valerie Williams says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:28 amYour post reminded me of when my daughter lived in L.A. and I live in Canada and one year we visited her before Xmas but after Thanksgiving. Anyway we went to Disney Land and it was spectacular. There where no grand children then but we loved the atmosphere and the decorations and just being together before the holidays.
Deb says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:31 amWhat a wonderful story… and memory. Its sounds like you had a very close relationship with your grandma… tfs.
Bianca says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:33 amYour story brought tears to my eyes.
When my grandpa passed away a couple of years ago, I went back for the funeral. Afterwards, we had a get together of the family at my parent’s house and my grandma brought down all these old non acid free albums with photos of all of us from babies to now. I was amazed at the photos but I also wanted to help my grandma save the memories. I made a trip to the city (my parents live in a VERY small town), got some acid neutralizing products, a photo safe pen and some acid free storage boxes. That night, I helped her free some of these old photos and preserve them for later.
My SIL scrapbooks and I talked with her before I left about getting grandma into scrapbooking. My grandma has always been a crafty person so I knew she would do great. About 6 months later, I found out they were getting together about once a month to scrapbook and grandma had started helping the nursing home that my grandpa had been in with a scrapbook for their activities. She was also helping the residents with their own books. I was so proud of my grandma. When I went back for Christmas this past year, I finally got to see my grandma’s work first hand and I was in tears. I was so excited and happy to see these memories preserved by my grandma. I know they will be cherished for years to come.
Paula Clark says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:35 amWhat a lovely story Holly - it reminds me so much of Suzanne Walker’s story of her “regifted scrapbook” (believe me I had tears in my eyes reading her story).
One day I would love to travel overseas and experience a white Christmas - I wonder how I’d cope with it being so cold when I’m so used to Christmas being so HOT HOT HOT.
Brenmarie says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:39 amcongrats Laura and Mandiannie! This has been so much fun Holly. Even if you made me think of Christmas shopping ahead of time. It want be as bad once Christmas come around!
Naomi says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:44 amHolly, these are great Christmas memories and traditions that you can pass onto your own family. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I wish it would last all year long. I love the decorations, the music, the lights and the special times spent with family and friends. Have enjoyed your Christmas in July blogs.
Kay Brown says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:49 amThank you for sharing your special Christmas memories with us. I have found that scrapbooking is always a gift to me, even though I might give the end product to someone else - the process of creating and remembering is a gift!
Sandy Wilkins says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:10 amI have a Disney Story too. When I was 25, my Mom took a full time job for 4 months and earned enough money to take her niece and nephew (my cousins) to Disneyland. They were 9 and 11 years old. They had been promised for years that they could go, but their Dad never came through and these two were growing up way too fast. They were handling all the responsibilities of the house and not being children.
When I found out what Mom was up to, I save every penny I could and I went with them. They opened the gift (a word scramble game with the word Disneyland) on Christmas morning and we flew out a few hours later. I’ll never forget the Christmas parade that night, nor the way we were treated at the Disneyland Hotel. A corner suite with fruit and snacks everyday and we were only paying for a regular room. (Yeah, Mom had a friend that worked there.) It was safe back then, for the kids to come and go as they pleased, since we were attached to the park by monorail. We had a great time, a great Christmas and my cousins got to be children for one short week.
Lorig says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:30 amThank is a touching story. Memories like that are the reason I scrapbook. (I also enjoy the artistic side but what really prompted it was recording those moments).
Debbie Buckland says:
August 1st, 2007 at 2:09 amThat is such a sweet story!
My grandmother’s eyes are failing her but she is still trilled to receive my pressies to her…. so far it has been a framed pieces of my kids and numerous “fancy” embellished letters.
Nicole says:
August 1st, 2007 at 2:32 amlove the story you shared and I think Disney World at Christmas would be magical!
Hisaho says:
August 1st, 2007 at 2:50 amHow wonderful that you were able to share that Christmas with your grandma. I love Christmas time at Disney too–although we are here in California, not Florida. I still have some LOs to do from Xmas a few years back.
Veronica says:
August 1st, 2007 at 3:17 amThanks for bringing a little Christmas cheer to these muggy summer days! I love Christmas and all the holidays leading up to it in the fall.
My family made a huge deal of it, so I am lucky to have so many great memories of Christmas!
Rachel Greig says:
August 1st, 2007 at 4:59 amThat’s such a gorgeous story about you and your Grandma. Thanks for sharing! My Grandma is 90 next year, and my greatest memories as a child are of her in her kitchen. She cooked the most amazing cheesecakes and apple pies. When we peeled the apples, she would make us throw a long strand of peelings over our head behind us (on the tile floor in the kitchen), and when it landed we had to see what letter of the alphabet the peels looked like. As Grandma’s legend goes… the letter symbolized the initial of the person we were going to marry. Grandma’s initial was always G (Grandpop’s name is Gordon), and mine always looked like an S (and I married a Stewart!) It was a fun game, and every time I peel a green apple I think of her!
Rachel Greig says:
August 1st, 2007 at 5:01 amAnd no, I haven’t scrapbooked that story yet! I better get to it, huh!
Tamara says:
August 1st, 2007 at 5:09 amLast time my Grandma visited she brought with her a pile of photos of my grandfather’s father from the war that none of us had ever seen.
She and her sister (who was also visiting) sat down with Mum and I and told us what they knew of him and his family. Granddad passed away when I was a little girl and I’m the only grandchild that still remembers him. It was nice to hear about his family and see photos of his father in Egypt during the war. I’ll treasure that day we spent together.
Kimberlee says:
August 1st, 2007 at 7:13 amFamily vacations are always a little extra special then ones that you go alone. It’s nice that you made a special keepsake about it as well.
Meghan E says:
August 1st, 2007 at 7:36 amWhat a wonderful story! It just goes to show how important scrapbooking truely is
Casey #1111 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 7:54 amCongratulations Laura and Mandiannie, have great fun with your Fiskateer packages.
Even though it has been extremely hot here, I have really enjoyed feeling the warmth of Christmas. So excited for it to come this year. Thanks so much for the stories. =)
Sandy2 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 8:20 amWhat a great memory of your grandmother!
Joan says:
August 1st, 2007 at 8:21 amIt is really wonderful that You got a chance to spend that time with youre gradmother.It is also nice that you got the book back as memory of that special time that you got to share with youre grandmother.You will be able to pass that book down to youre daughter and she will have something that she can can remember her grand mother by.
Sara says:
August 1st, 2007 at 9:31 amYou’ve got some great Christmas stories!
Vanessa Baker says:
August 1st, 2007 at 9:39 amThat is such a sweet story! My grandfather and I were VERY close and I too lost him right before my wedding. After his death, I recieved the “guest” book that I made for his memorial service (among others)
Love the memories!
Laura says:
August 1st, 2007 at 9:53 amI love Disney at Christmas time…we were there as teenagers and it really was magical
Bonnie says:
August 1st, 2007 at 10:00 amOh, Holly, your story brought tears to my eyes!!! What a wonderful trip the 3 of you were able to share!!!
Candy says:
August 1st, 2007 at 10:06 amHolly,
I remember this so well - but reading it again made me both laugh and cry. Grandma was crazy in that powered chair the first day!
I also have to comment on a comment from Jena - I, too have a spaghetti story…
We always had spaghetti whenever we went to my Aunt Betty’s house for dinner. One time when I was small (around 5, I think)our family went to Aunt Betty’s for dinner.Tired of always eating my Aunt Betty’s spaghetti - I asked what are were having for dinner? When I was told what I already feared - that awful spaghetti again! - I went out to her front porch and refused to come in for dinner! I can remember sitting on that porch with my arms folded for what seemed like hours before my I relented (with a rumbling stomach!) and went inside and ate spaghetti with everyone else!
Merry Christmas in July everyone!
Barbara says:
August 1st, 2007 at 10:29 amThanks so much for sharing the story - and for all of the Christmas in July fun! It’s put me in the holiday mood already!
Michelle M says:
August 1st, 2007 at 10:29 amI love all things Disney. I grew up in CA so we made many trips to Disneyland. Now living in AL, I’m a bit farther, but still enjoy regular trips to Disneyworld. Disney always brings special memories.
mm #88
patti smith says:
August 1st, 2007 at 10:51 amWhat a wonderful story Holly… I love Disney World as well. I had never been until 5 yrs ago and my husband surprised me with a trip on our anniversery. Thanks for sharing with us and Congrats girls on winning!!
Gabby #2140 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 11:21 amThat is a beautiful story. The book will be such a family treasure as time goes on. I am glad you got it back!
Thank you for sharing!
Jenna says:
August 1st, 2007 at 11:56 amWow! I am so glad that you got to spend that special time in a magical place with your grandmother. My favorite tradition is one that has had to be discarded — every year (EVERY) for over twenty years my great-grandparents had a Christmas party at their home for all of their descendants. I remember the weird picture with eyes that would follow me around the room. I remember that there were only a few kids so we always got great presents. And I remember Grandma always making a great big feast. After they died, my grandma & then a cousin had it at their homes. Now that we live a long, long ways away, we have started having just our own little party. Still fun to remember! I love Christmas!
Julie says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:08 pmWow, that is so touching. I am so motivated to do something ’special’ for my Grandmother now!! I have to do a 22×22 canvas for a DT that I’m on. Hmmmm… it would be cool to do one of her 13 Grandkids and 20 greatgrandkids. Thanks for the great inspiration! Too often we ‘think’ of doing neat things like this and then never end up doing it. I’m so glad that you went ahead and made that trip and then put together that album. What a blessing that was to her!
Amy J Bagnall says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:23 pmThanks for sharing your wonderful story, Holly!
My Mom had never been to Disney World, nor had I,so to celebrate her 70th birthday, I took her there. (We also went on a short cruise, as well.) I have pictures of both that I will always cherish - and that I need to scrap. I am lucky to still have her with me, at 80, so I need to get the photos in a book, so that she can enjoy the memories often.
Geraldine says:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pmThat is a woderful story.That book will always be treasured by you and youre family.That is a great memory of youre grand mother that you will always have.
Mandiannie says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pmChristmas, that wonderful time of year that brings peace to the house ans home and that wonderful feeling of warmth to the heart. It’s one of my Favorite times of the year. I love the lights twinkling on the window and the tinsel strung over the doorway. It’s an atmosphere that can’t be recreated at any time of the year. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to reminisce about that wonderful time during these hot stuffy days of July.
Christmas and winter are my favorite time of year. They give one a great excuse to stay inside and scrap away!!!!
Mandiannie says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:24 pmMay I share a story, if you like you can read it…on not.
My grandma. i will always remember the story that my mom told me about my first Christmas. I was born in September of ‘81 and was too young to remember much about my first Christmas, but mom had a story for me. Grandma bought a Christmas present and didn’t tell mom what it was. Mom was wanted to know what it was really badly. It was an oddly wrapped present in the shape of a small Christmas tree. She spent quite some time fingering and shaking the package trying to figure out what was in it. So much time in fact that that night she dreamed about that present. Her dream was so detailed that the next morning she went to grandma and told her what was in the package. Grandma was so shocked she thought she had opened the gift. When Christmas rolled around and mom opened the gift to her surprise she was right about what was in it. It was a toy called a Rock-A-Stack. Some of you may remember that one. A pillar that had a round bottom with multi-colored rings that were different sizes. You had to stack them and get the from largest to smallest. I don’t remember that Christmas, but I remember the many times that I played with that toy and how many memories of Grandma it brought through the years. My grandma is suffering from breast Cancer and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wonder how she’s doing and think of all the wonderful things that she has done for me through the years. Grandma’s are special people and I so love mine.
Jacinta says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:49 pmWhat a cool idea Holly. I just checked in and I just want to say that christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. I hate that I missed the chance to celebrate it in July with the Fiskateers.
Cheryl says:
August 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pmLove that story! What a wonderful way to remember your grandmother.
Stacey says:
August 1st, 2007 at 2:50 pmI am just getting started in scrapbooking but I want to make special memory books for family. Your story really shows why I want to do this and how special it is not just to share the moment with our loved ones, but the memory of it too.
Laura says:
August 1st, 2007 at 5:06 pmLovely story, Holly ! Grandma’s are so special….I don’t have mine around anymore..and I miss them! If you are reading this, and your grandma hasn’t heard from you in awhile….pick up the phone, send a card or drive over and give her a hug! Im sure they know you love them…but to hear your voice, or read a card or maybe THEY need to give YOU a hug…. Just cherish the time we all have left ! It goes so quickly…Thanks again Holly…for the memories….of Christmas’ and of Grandma’s !
Inge says:
August 1st, 2007 at 7:47 pmI also really enjoyed reading this chrismas stories! Lovely story about your grandma! A really nice memory, … one to cherish!!
Angela Smith #786 says:
August 1st, 2007 at 11:44 pmWhat a beautiful story!
Hoping I win this time!@ I figure that I HAVE to win one of these times…the odds can’t ALWAYS be against me LOL!
Robyn W #323 says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:07 amohhhhh what a touching story,
thanks for sharing it with us
Amy G. says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:35 amAww, Holly, I’m sorry to hear about your Grandmother. I miss my Grandmother’s too. Thanks for sharing your story with us, I know she meant alot to you.
Wendy Jo says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:55 amThat’s what scrapbooking is all about. Keeping the story of a treasured family memory in the hearts and minds of others for many years to come. Your book is definatley a treasure you will always cherish.
Alicia says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:30 amWow I swear I read and posted to this! My baby is running me so ragged I must be cobnfused! I couldn’t see my reply anywhere!
I think this is the most beautiful story. I made an altered book for my grandma and the pages are thing like the family tree, her highschol picture, etc. I was just thinking of making an album of photos I have that take place at her house. Your post really inspires me to start that!
Michelle Dort says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:56 pmThanks for all the fun Christmas posts!!!
Kim S says:
August 6th, 2007 at 10:23 amWhat a wonderful Christmas memory. I’m sure you’ll treasure that book even more now that you know how much it meant to your Grandma. TFS!!