CHRISTMAS PAST

Send a Christmas Tree!

A few pictures of Christmases long ago. Well, not THAT long ago, actually.
These are pictures of my children in the 70's and 80's. To me, of course, it
was just the other day!!! Don't you just love to go back and look at pictures
just to see the changes? And for me, it's a nostalgic adventure that softens
my heart and brings tears to my eyes. Now all grown up, and one now with
4 children of her own. Time does fly.




My babies, so many years ago!! Willie, Kendra and Mandy. I don't even remember when
this was. Of course, it was Christmas! But I am not sure of the exact year. I am thinking that
by the ages of my children, it probably was around 1980. I have a bad habit of not writing
the years on the backs of my pictures. And then I have to try and figure it out on my own!
Check out our "fireplace"! The only time we have one is at Christmas! Well, what a waste to
have a real one here in southeast Louisiana! When we built this house, we made a wonderful
8 foot long built in bookcase on the wall where a fireplace was supposed to be! That gets used!


This is Kendra with Santa. Every year since we are in this house (this coming up being #26)
we have gotten a visit from Santa. Now he comes to visit the grandchildren. What a guy!!


Willie with Santa when he visited us at our house. Must be about 20 years ago.


This is Mandy with Santa, and Willie looking on to make sure l'il sis gets a gift!


This, I know, was Christmas of 1978. Mandy was 7 months old. This red bean bag chair
was one of Kendra's gifts. After Mandy was dressed, we put her on and saw how colorful
it looked, so we took a picture. That has always been one of my favorite pics of Mandy.




Why do bells for Christmas ring?
Why do little children sing?

Once a lovely, shining star,
Seen by shepherds from afar,
Gently moved until its light
Made a manger-cradle bright.

There a darling baby lay
Pillowed soft upon the hay.
And His mother sang and smiled,
"This is Christ, the holy Child."

So the bells for Christmas ring,
So the little children sing.

the poem above written by ~ Eugene Field

This one was probably around 1981. Growing up so fast.





CHRISTMAS GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I couldn't get to sleep that night,
the time just seemed to creep.
I'm sure I didn't doze at all,
but Mom woke me from my sleep.
The smell of Christmas dinner
hung warmly in the air;
Chicken gumbo, roasting turkey, custard tarts
cooling on a chair.
"White Christmas" sounded through the house,
boy, could that Bing sing!
Through all the opened windows,
I could hear the church bells ring.
At 10 years old the sermon
seemed to just go on and on.
I was so anxious to get home
as I sang the ending song.
I didn't know what excited me more,
the gifts or Christmas dinner.
I just couldn't wait to get back home,
for both of these were winners.
I had gotten a "Tiny Tears" doll
that I treasured more than self,
And a miniature China tea set
that today sits on a shelf.
That Christmas many years ago
stays vivid in my mind;
The smells, the sounds,
the church, the gifts,
are the pleasures I still find.
For though the years have
slipped away into the memory pages,
my doll, my tea set, and chicken
gumbo, will be with me for ages.
I hope someday my children, who are
now all grown
Can fill a memory bank one day,
of a Christmas all their own.

written by ~ Jeanette (Nette) Brunet

A CHRISTMAS FOLK SONG
The Little Jesus came to town;
the wind blew up, the wind blew down;
Out in the street the wind was bold;
Now who would house Him from the cold?

Then opened wide a stable door,
Fair were the rushes on the floor;
The Ox put forth a horned head;
"Come, little Lord, here make Thy bed."

Uprose the Sheep were folded near;
"Thou Lamb of God, come, enter here"
He entered there to rush and reed,
Who was the Lamb of God indeed.

The Little Jesus came to town;
With ox and sheep He laid Him down:
Peace to the byre, peace to the fold,
For that they housed Him from the cold!

the poem above written by ~ Lizzette Woodworth Reese

EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE, CHRISTMAS TONIGHT
Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright;
Everywhere, everywhere Christmas tonight!

. .by Phillips Brooks. . . . . . . . .

Here are a few more poems that I grew up reading over and over in our
World Book Encyclopedia Child Craft Books. These are for winter & Christmas.

FIRST SNOW
Snow makes whiteness where it falls.
The bushes look like popcorn-balls.
The places where I always play,
Look like somewhere else today.

. .by Mary Louise Allen. . . . . . . . .

ICE
When it is the winter time
I run up the street
And I make the ice laugh
With my little feet --
"Crickle, crackle, crickle
Crrreeet, crrreeet, crrreeet."

. .by Dorothy Aldis. . . . . . . . .

A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings
were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there; the children were nestled all snug in their
beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And
Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our
brains for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose
such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and
threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave a luster of
mid-day to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes
should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it
must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash
away, dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with
an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers
they flew, with a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof, the prancing and
pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning
around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was
dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all
tarnished, with ashes and soot; a bundle of toys he had flung on his
back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -
how they twinkled, his dimples - how merry. His cheeks were like roses,
his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. A stump of a pipe
he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed,
like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and
I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his
work, and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk. And laying
his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all
flew, like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove
out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.!

. .by Clement Clarke Moore. . . . . . . . .

"NETTE'S WORLD" LINKS

CHRISTMAS MAIN & LINKS


midi is Jingle Bells The Christmas Fanatic

Email: jeanettebrunet@yahoo.com