Grandpa Charlie Laible: It’s not about the tree. It’s about who’s gathered around it!

Santa with the grandsons and their preschool program, shopping, baking, :You name it! Gramma is all about Christmas. However, I miss my mom so much, this time of year. Thirty years ago this was the order of Thanksgiving weekend. We’d have dinner with Tom’s family at noon. Since Mr. Moo Cow had the dairy to care for, the kids and I headed to Cincy. We had dinner with my family at 5p.m. Then on Friday, Mom and I would shop. The kids and I would return on Sat.

When our boys were little, these were our traditions:

*Thanksgiving weekend with my mom/shopping.

*Putting up the tree together.

*Baking cookies and making candy with the boys.

*Christmas Eve my parents would arrive

*Christmas Eve Mass at 4:30

*Dad and boys would milk and do chores.

*Light dinner.

* Open presents Christmas Morning.

*Christmas dinner.

Now we are creating our own traditions with our grandsons.

I praise God everyday for the strong Christian foundation that my maternal grandparents passed down. It brings so much joy to see my son and his wife laying the same foundation for their sons.

Being raised a devout Catholic; Christmas was all about the birthday of Christ. When our sons were little, we always had a birthday cake for baby Jesus.

It’s is a very spiritual time in our family. Mom and Granny always made a big deal about setting up the Nativity. It’s such a blessing to see our son doing the same thing with his family. I still have 2 ornaments from when I was a little girl.

America was founded on the Judeo/Christian Faiths. Praise God, I don’t have to be politically correct when I say “Merry Christmas!”

Midnight Mass is one of the most sacred traditions that many Catholics share. My husband and I were engaged on Christmas Eve, 46 years ago! Good Lord! Where has the time gone?

So I challenge you .If you are not a “Church-Goer,” do something special to put Christ back into Christmas.

Love,

Granny Sue

Fearless Faith