Walk down Memory Lane...How do you Celebrate Christmas?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Good morning on this beautiful cold sunshiny 2 days before Christmas day.....wow, that was a mouthful. It is absolutely beautiful here this morning, it is only 39 degrees and clear. The sun is shining brightly and it is expected to reach at least 69 by lunch.
I will be going to town to finish all I need to do before my 3 sons and their families come for our Christmas tomorrow evening. We always try to have Christmas on Christmas Eve (much to my Hubby's dismay) now that the boys have families of their own.
My DH's family or rather his father insisted Christmas be celebrated at their house on Christmas day, no matter what..nothing was taken into consideration, you be there or else..he was just that way. It was tradition. Christmas was celebrated on CHRISTMAS DAY, You arrived by 9 o'clock A.M. and didn't leave until 7 or 8 P M. I always felt sorry for my BIL and family that lived in LA, they would come up on Christmas Eve and Santa never visited the kids in the own home.
Mine and my other SIL's kids never got to play with their Santa gifts after opening them till that night, they weren't allowed to take them to Grandma's cause the other kids might not have that certain TOY and might be sad or upset. "Beside they would be getting plenty at Granny's"
It was a different time back then, and no one bucked Daddy. They, were not mean people, as a matter of fact I loved them like my own, they were good people. Their kids were raised that what Daddy said was law and you didn't question it..it was, that was it. It was just their way or no way.
I never spent  time on Christmas Day with my Mom cause Christmas was to be spent at the Husband's parents. Christmas Eve was spent with My Family. Only because I put my foot down, DH would have spent it at his Mom's because Brother just came up and we haven't seen them in a month or more,
But times, they have changed or maybe I just grew up, but when my kids started having families I insisted we have our Christmas on Christmas Eve, DH was not happy and at first just got really ugly about it, but seeings how Baby Boy and his wife were both on call @ the Hospital and couldn't come to Brookhaven on Christmas Day he relented, I have 2 boys that live over 2 hr drive from us and it was so hard on them to open presents and jump in the car to be here by dinner. so now the kids can stay home Christmas day and enjoy their presents, all 3 of my DI Ls love it cause they can enjoy starting a new tradition of celebrating Christmas in their own homes while their kids are small, unfortunately mine where grown before I got that pleasure. Something I never got to do from 1961 until my MIL passed away in 1988.
How do you divide time between your families? I know things are alot different now, alot of families can't get together and celebate like in the past because of how far they live apart.

No matter how you spend your day, I am Wishing you a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas day.

LOL, funny how I started out to do a sky watch post and ended up here...I just let my mind wander too much sometimes.

Apple pie cinnamon cream cheese spread

Good morning ladies, just wanted to stop by and give you a few made at home gift ideas to give to friends who have everything...lol..or who you just want to say I really appreciate you in my life.
Last week I noticed my bag of apples that I had purchased, with all good intentions of making fried apple pies was starting to rot..gasp, can't have that happening, so I peeled them and cooked them down with Cinnamon and sugar, this alone makes a great side dish with pork chops and baked sweet taters..oh, goodness now I'm getting hungry..lol
Anyway my mind got to turning, how can I use these apples other than just as a side dish. And I started browsing the net, isn't the net wonderful..I found the best, simple to make recipe and it hit me why not make a batch and put it in jars as little gifts to go with the homemade bread I was giving to friends..
This recipe calls for can apple pie filling but since I had plenty already made I used the fresh and it is so yummy on the bread or bagels..

Apple pie cinnamon cream cheese spread

1-8 oz package of cream cheese

1/2 cup apple pie filling mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste

blend all ingredients in blender till smooth

options

you can add a few chopped walnuts or apple pieces after it's blended for a little texture.

store in small container and serve with bagels, bread or crackers of choice..

I put mine in small decorative containers and tied a ribbon around the top, Last summer I found 2 sets of 4 each little Christmas spreading knives for .50 a set.....so I tied one on each jar added a loaf of bread and wa-la, instand perfect gift.

For my homemade breads I wrapped them in foil then placed them in cloth bags I'd made using Christmas fabric, tied them with ribbons and add a candy cane for decorations.

Hope you have a very Merry home made Christmas

Merry Christmas from Dixie to everyone tonight...

I am being a little nostalgia this morning, I am so Blessed and thank God for all he has given me.
Scroll down and turn on player while reading...enjoy
I really love this song by Alabama, it says it all to me, all my love and wishes to my friends and Family. But it also holds dear tender memories for my oldest. When this song came out in the 80s my oldest had just been in Germany for a 6 mos. and had turned 21 alone over there on the 13th of Dec. 2 weeks before Christmas...he had never been farther than 2oo miles from home for more than 4 days in his life.
This was a time of unrest and the cold War was still raging. Alot of kids joined the Army back then because they couldn't find jobs..one little boy, I say little, he couldn't have been over 17 yrs old got on the plane to go to Germany with my son and all he owned was the clothes he had on his back...Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful it was not Iraq or The far East like today, but we were in constant struggle with terrorist. My son lost several Buddies to bomb blast in German. Any way's when this song came out I sent him the video as part of his Christmas package, he shared it with the guys in the rec-hall, now as I said he had just turned 21 but he was considered the old man of the Unit. He wrote home about how home sick so many of these little brave guys were. When the song started playing, he said
there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Of course he said he made it fine until the part "and from Jackson, MS", and that did it, the water works flowed from him too.
While we are home with our families and enjoying the comforts of families celebrating together, please remember the young men and women who make it all possible, by giving up their time with their Families and friends to keep us safe. God Bless our men and women in Uniform.

Charles (Chuck) Leonard Smith Jr. 1986

Fort Benning Ga. Aug, 1986

The guy on the far left is Andy Fegley from up state New York, he and Chuck started a life time friendship this year of Basic and would serve together for the next 3 yrs.

2009, their Friendship still holds on, I didn't get a picture, but Andy came to see Chuck last Weds while he was at Camp Shelby in Hattisburg..these boys form bonds that last a life time when they are on their own and all alone in a distant land.

Ilishaim, Germany 1986 on the Czechoslovakia boarder

Good morning when a man can't take any more.

Well, I seem to have woke up among the living again...lol..not complaining, we all have times when our body says enough is enough, slow down. But we are too stubborn to listen and our body must take matters in it's own hands. This seems to be what mine did.
I was sick back in Oct. went to Dr and got shot and meds. He told me too slow down, take some time out, rest, sleep, but I was so busy and had sooo much that just had to be done, the Judgement House, Cleaning out my junk, getting ready for Thanksgiving..  I didn't listen, not even when my body moaned and groaned, s-s-slow down, we're not as young as we used to be, let me sleep just a few more minutes. Now don't get me wrong, I don't consister myself old, but I am getting close to 68, My body can't take what it did at 30 and I must realize that. My body finally took matters in it's own hands and shut me down, starting with the eyes. I had no choice but sleep, after crouping and pushing myself for two weeks and refusing to stop or go back to the Dr I hit a brick wall..
I am feeling so much better, still a little weak. but have decided I will not stress over the Holidays, The Holidays are for sharing precious Moments with the ones you love. How can you share Memories if you are to tired or sick to remember them. If the candy gets made ...GREAT, if the Breads get baked, WONDERFUL, if not SO WHAT...we  are sharing love and time together.
I am still weak so I won't be blogging to much this week.
Dear Hubby has bought me a wonderful program for my computer that I will share at a later date when I get it up and running..yea, no more typing. "We hope"...lol..
I just wanted to share a PICTURE I RECEIVED IN AN EMAIL, I DID NOT TAKE THIS..SURE WOULD HAVE LOVED TOO THOUGH...LOL..

Reminded me of my body taking over me..lol

The caption was

When a Man, Can't stand anymore..

picture from the net

Y'all have a great week-end.

Need a little help from my Friends...

I'm just dropping by to say I'll be away from my Computer for a few days or so. And ask you to please keep me in your prayers.

I believe God hears all of our little whispered prayers,

When I woke up this morning with my eyes hurting and itching and pouring water, that was bad enough but the pain from the light really helped me made my mind up to head to the Dr. He said my sinuses had really gotten infected bad this time, I have developed a Staph infection in the sinus cavity behind my eyes and it has settled in the tear ducts cause infection in my eyes. It is extremely painful and light, any kind of lights, causes it to hurt even worse. He gave me 2 shots, antibiotics for my Bronchitis, which is still bad, {thankfully it hadn't developed into Pneumonia } & Staph and a cream to put in my eyes 2 times a day.

So, till we met again, which i hope is real soon, I'm taking my meds and slowing going a little NUTS....

Hope you have a blessed week. I will try to catch up on your blogs as soon as possible.