My Christmas Eve Growing Up

I'm a Pagan now, so this just another day for me now, but one full of memories. While growing up, it was very different. I was adopted by a Episcopal Minster, and a United Methodist Organist / Choir Director who went back to college and became a Deacon.

The picture has nothing to do with this post other then I really like it. The National Christmas Tree light up in front of the Capital Building. I see it as a nice holiday picture.

Christmas time was very busy in our family. My mom had a rehearsal and two services. My dad also had two services as well. I would sometimes go or as I got older stay at home.

My mom would make some clam chowder, and oyster stew a few days before. The chowder is a family recipe. I have seen the original recipe, and it starts off with have husband go claiming. Its a Rhode Island, clear broth style chowder. One of my mom's favorite things is oysters, so the stew was a treat for her.

Members of my mom's choir who live on the outskirts of town, or in a near by town would stop for some food in between services. They lived to far away from the church, or the weather was bad, or my parents were just social with them, so they came by in between services.

We all have some shrimp as well, or some special cheddar cheese from Harman's Cheese & Country Store. This store is near where my mom grew up in New Hampshire.

Many members of my parent's churches who drop off lots of food, and sweets. They were so good as well. I guess this is one of the up sides of being a child of two preachers.

Thinking about this now it is amazing to me that my parents could do there jobs and still pull off a near postcard perfect Christmas for me as well. It must be one of those Christmas miracles.

When my parents came home from midnight services, we would all open up one present together; then it was off to bed. My parents would sleep in, but my stocking was always waiting outside my door in the morning.

We have fresh buttery croissants and danishes for breakfast. On top of that, we have whatever was given to us as well.

The coffee would be flowing as we opened presents as a family. I would go under the tree and hand them out one by one.

My parents would then go off to a service if they had a Christmas Day service. I guess it just depended on the church they were serving at the time.

I hope that as a parent, I really hope that I can create memories like this for Zac and Jenna that they can remember all their life.

While writing this I'm really starting to have craving for my mom's homemade clam chowder. it was so very good!

My parents are so cool. I know it kind of lame to say at my age, but it true. The made have liked or agreed with everything I decided, but always gave the freedom to follow my own path. Sometimes I was wise, and other time I had just enough rope to almost hang myself.

As an example, my parents sent me some of Harman's Country Store's Cheddar Cheese for Yule. Yule is the winter festival for Pagans, Witches, and Wiccans. How great is that !!

No matter your faith, Blessed Be !!


For more information on Harman's Cheese and Country Store visit, http://www.harmanscheese.com or call 603 - 823 - 8000 0r write the store at 1400 Route 117, PO Box 642, Sugar Hill, NH, USA, 03586 or if your are in northern New Hampshire, stop by the store itself.