Thursday thoughts: Making memorable memories

I think the older I get the more I realize how important it is to cherish every moment - to make the memorable memories. Christmas is one of those times.

The first thing I think of is remembering the Christmas story - the birth of the Savior of this World, Jesus. That is truly what Christmas is all about. A baby, born of a virgin, to save people from their sins. The most memorable meaningful birth that has ever occurred. That is the memory that is first and foremost in my mind.

Although as I get older and have adult children and grandchildren, I am more aware of the memorable memories I want to share and leave with them. My desire is for there to be sweet family time where we can all enjoy being together, laughing, and making a memory that hopefully will last long after I have left this world.

I think about the memories that my parents and grandparents left with me. I was the middle child of the three girls my parents had. I remember every year my dad coming up with some set up to make our Christmas cards. He would wrap presents with our names on them and we would sit dressed up in front of them for the picture. One time he had us sitting on the stairs in our pajamas with our stockings with our names on them. He always had a creative way to make the Christmas cards different. It was a memorable memory that I can see because it has been etched in my mind.

Another thing we did as a family when I was a child was we would go to our grandparents' house on Christmas afternoon. My grandfather worked for a dairy company and he always had peppermint ice cream in the freezer for Christmas. It was my favorite and if I get a peppermint milkshake I am always reminded of my grandparents. This is a memorable memory that I can actually taste and remember.

I will tell you about one of the fondest memories I have of my children growing up. We struggled financially when my children were little. I was a stay-at-home mom. We had three children and lived on just my husband's salary. I was very frugal, especially at Christmas. That year all my daughter wanted was a dream house for her dolls. We actually could not afford to get her one. I found one in pretty good condition at a garage sale. I bought it for $10, cleaned it up, and set it up for Christmas morning. She was overjoyed with that house. I will always remember her words when she told me her friend had a dream house, but her mom had bought it at a garage sale. My daughter never suspected that I bought hers at a garage sale too! This is a memorable memory that I hear in my mind of the grace, mercy, and provision of God.

Over the last five years or so I have started leaving a note for each of my grandchildren in their stocking. I try to think about the things they have accomplished for that year, or the obstacles they may have been faced with, or maybe even something silly that happened, but I really just want to tell them how much I love them. I want them to have memories of God's faithfulness in their lives, memories of lessons they may have learned, memories that can inspire them to stay dedicated to God's word, and memories that bring them joy. Isaiah 46:9 says "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me."

If there is any memory at all I want to leave those I love it would be about God. God knows the beginning to the end, and He is in control.

So this Christmas I am focusing on making the memories. I want to be present and not busy. I want to share experiences, laugh, and continue to create traditions. I want us to celebrate the birth of our Savior knowing that He is the reason we even have a memory to share.

What memories are you creating this Christmas? I think if we share Jesus and our love in meaningful ways you can see, taste, hear, and feel they will live on as memorable memories. I can't think of anything better than memories and Jesus to make this Christmas special.

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