1367. More Family Christmas Stories from the past -- Special memories
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL YOU DEAR FRIENDS!
I wrote this last year in blog # 1304. I'm sharing it again, as I do at Christmas time. The experience first mentioned, happened last year in 2020.
I had a tremendously exciting experience this last week as I researched the ancestors back from my grandson's wife's parents. I wanted to find out about the people who will be sharing a pedigree chart with me, about our mutual descendants. I found many very fascinating things, and the next blog I will continue telling about my experiences, and new discoveries on that subject. I'll probably write after Christmas, and begin by telling how I found a (tentative) pedigree back to 0195! Including the kings of Ireland and Scotland -- ancestors of my darling great grandfather. I have never seen a pedigree back that far! The farthest back I had actually seen was back into the 1200s.
So I'll tell that first, when I get time to write it -- after this Christmas 2020! And I'll probably expound on my thoughts a bit about the world we live in, in the 2020s!
More family Christmas stories is a blog I repeat each Christmas. It was published last year as entry # 304, and I have added more pictures this year.
More Family Christmas Stories, first published Dec. 3, 2013.
There are several stories about Christmas in our family, and you may enjoy these: ---- (The photos are different from last year.)
My mother, Ruth, was just 6 years old when her father passed away. In the summer of 1914, her father, John Butler Allen, got a sliver in his eye. Later a horse switched his tail and a long hair cut through his eye again. These accidents caused him gradually to go blind in that eye. The infection from this brought on Bright's Disease (the old-fashioned term for kidney problems). He suffered very much with the infection which now could be cured in a few days with antibiotics. He grew steadily worse until on October 26th, 1914, he finally passed away. There were 8 children in the family, the 9th child having died at just four and a half months, before Ruth was born. His wife was left with 8 children: Vina, the eldest was just 19 and Earl 17, and Adelia the youngest was only a year and 6 days old. The first steps she took were to walk across the floor to her father's casket.
Adelia, my aunt, was the youngest and darling of the family. She had beautiful red hair. During those difficult years, the family knew that Santa couldn't bring them anything for Christmas. Mother remembered one year each older member of the family saving a penny at a time, and they together collected 15 cents, and bought a small hand mirror for Adelia. That was the only gift any of them received that Christmas.
Now, to Christmases in my lifetime. One year when I was probably 4, Mother had put together a modest Christmas, and had it on a shelf in her bedroom. Late Christmas eve, she went to get them, and most of them weren't there! She came to my Dad, asking him if he knew anything about those gifts, and he said "Now, Ruth, I knew a poor family down the street that weren't getting much for Christmas. I figured our girls had enough and I gave some things to them." (That was so typical of my Dad -- to see someone in need, and quietly try to fulfill that need.) Mother was very frustrated, as it was late at night, and all the stores were closed. So our Christmas that year was sparse. I'm sure we children didn't notice any problem.
If any of you would like to watch a short video of someone pulling out the rug you can go to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55fNHs7MovU
There may be other Christmas stories our children would remember which we probably could include, but as they years come and go, our memories become more dim.
In the past recent years, we have given several different books of family histories to our children and grandchildren, and have run out of something else that would be a legacy. We're hoping some things we write in this blog will fill in the gaps! I don't believe the stories above made it in our histories.
The older we get, we are trying much more to remember our Savior Jesus Christ, and celebrate His birthday, and all He did for us. We hope that is the focus in our extended family also. We always have read the Christmas Story in the Bible in Luke and Matthew on Christmas Eve. Below is a picture of Wayne and his siblings, except for his oldest brother, Floyd.
Enjoy your dear children while you can, and then enjoy your grandchildren! But the older you get, I guarantee you'll turn back to your siblings! I saw it with my mother, and see it with me and my sisters, and Wayne and his siblings. It is already coming with our children, some of whom are now empty-nesters! Life goes on! (And on, And on!)
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