What is your favorite Christmas memory? Was it a Christmas as a child or as an adult having children? Maybe it was your first Christmas as a newly married c oupl e or as a single adult out in the world on your own for the first time. Yet, perhaps it is a memory of being with friends from school or a church group, all as adults now.

I have many memories of Christmas. Christmas memories as a child in South Dakota with lots and lots of snow and cold temperatures to go with it. I remember Christmases with all kinds of family. There are Christmas memories being with a girlfriend and future family once married. And I can never forget the Christmases with my kids.

Going to bed at night wondering who would be the first to wake up and announce that Santa had arrived and left presents for all. Or, when we traveled to family for Christmas day, we would always go look at the lights Christmas Eve and Santa would mysteriously come while we were out, bringing much delight to the kids when we arrived home.

Gifts of Christmas were always plentiful it seemed. Gifts from clothes (jeans, shirts, socks and underwear) to coats, shoes or maybe toys and electronic gadgets.

But, as I think of my favorite Christmas memory it brings me to a time when I was 12 or 13. We lived in Tipton, Missouri. Dad’s work had relocated us there for a short while. It wasn’t a bad place, it just wasn’t home. We knew no one. It was kind of hard to make friends when you knew as soon as the job dad was working finished you would be moving.

The weather was also different. It was cold, stinking cold (single digit temps and negative wind chills). And, snow, there was lots of snow. Then with the snow, it seems like there was freezing rain and sleet. To top this off, we couldn’t go outside much and we were forced to entertain ourselves inside. Remember, there were no iPhone or cell phone, laptops or tablets, cable or satellite TV, or internet (wasn’t even a thought).

Christmas was approaching. Too cold and wet for dad to work. All of the family was miserable, homesick and there was just not a lot of Christmas spirit in our house. So, mom or dad suggested we load up and go the Alma, Arkansas to mom’s folks for Christmas!

Well, that cheered us all up and away went the four kids scurrying to pack up and go on a road trip. Wished it was all that easy. We had to go over the river and through the woods…with snow falling all the way. And the way included going from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Fort Smith on old Highway 71.

Now, many have traveled that road recently on the new interstate I-49. Nice highway, subtle curves and hills with 4 lanes to travel on. That is new highway. The old highway had nothing subtle about it. Steep hills and usually on a switchback curve and you inevitably got behind a log or chicken truck and had no hope of passing. At one time this highway was one of the top ten deadliest roads in the United States. And here the Perkins family was traveling it a few days before Christmas, with snow falling and in the dark. What an adventure!

But we didn’t care, we were going to Grandma’s house! We got there late that night. We were all so excited. Granny had the Christmas tree up and some other decorations. She also had some pallets made on the floor for us to sleep (sheet, blanket and pillow for those who don’t know).

We unloaded the pickup and settled inside. Granddad asked where the presents were. Mom and dad hadn’t been shopping any didn’t bring any. That was all that was said and we all went to bed quite tired.

The next morning, the grown-ups left for a day of shopping and believe me, there were presents under the tree for Christmas. Probably wouldn’t measure up to the standards of today’s gifts, but to us, we hit the jack pot.

But the best gift was being with family for Christmas. I have so many memories of time spent at Granny and Granddad’s house. It was a house where there was always love and acceptance… and lots of food, too.

Not really sure why that Christmas stands out the most. It was certainly not one marked with lots of great gifts. There wasn’t an abundance of people (family and friends) present. It was a simple but traditional dinner served. I guess it was just being with the ones you love and enjoying the time together.

Then I think of the Shepherd’s out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Cold, lonely and an uneventful night. All that changed in an instant and with the visit from an angel and his announcement. The shepherds’ lives changed and after seeing the “babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.”

They told this story to everyone they met. They had a memory that would be with them forever and passed down to others in the years to come.

What is your Christmas memory? Take time this year to remember your favorite or maybe make one.

Making Memories & Merry Christmas Bro. Tim