ABC's of Christmas ~ T

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like the bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do to others is good you do yourself. ~ Norman Wesley Brooks - 1976, from "Let Every Day Be Christmas"

ABC's of Christmas ~ T

Hello my lovely friends and welcome to another ABC's of Christmas. Today's letter is T.

is for...

Tinsel, Toy trains, Christmas Tree, Tradition, Turkey...

Did you know that the Christmas tree originated in Germany?

Queen Victoria and her beloved German Prince Albert introduced Christmas trees with the intricate ornaments to England in 1840. Glass ornaments, decorative beads, paper baskets with sugared almonds and hot air balloons adorned the trees.

And did you know that the early Christmas trees were typically trimmed with real candles, wafers, gingerbread cookies, fruit such as apples and garlands of cranberries, candy, as well as paper flowers and tinsels fashioned from tin and silver?

This is my Christmas tree which I had up in the family room a couple of years ago. It is decorated with ornaments and decorations collected from over forty years. There are no candles but you may find a gingerbread man, apples, and flowers. 

Toy Trains ~ I have always been fascinated with toy trains. My father had a wonderful train set when I was growing up and I have always loved them. I always dreamed of having a train set of my own, running around beneath the tree. Real trains bring back fond memories of our family travelling to New Brunswick to visit my grandparents. Those were the days!

Source

My son gifted me with this Chattanooga train a couple of years ago. 

I think trains have a most charming quality about them. Someday I hope to have a train set. The four foot tree in the family room would be a great spot for it. 

Turkey~ What is Christmas dinner without a turkey? When I was growing up, my family always had a turkey and I still have a turkey to this day for Christmas dinner. It's called Tradition and I'm very big on tradition, especially at Christmastime. 

Source

I make my simple but tasty dressing/stuffing using bread crumbs, potatoes, onion, summer savoury, salt and pepper, and I cook it outside the bird. I add some of the drippings from the turkey to it which makes it very tasty.

I think one of the nicest compliments I ever received from my mother was that she told me my dressing tasted just like her mother's; my grandmother's. I adored my grandmother so whenever I make my dressing now, I always think of my Granny. I like to think that she would be pleased with her granddaughter.

Please come back tomorrow for the letter U.

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

The ABC's of Christmas ~ S

The Letter S

Snow flakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share.

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there.

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see,

Such spirit through the year. ~ From A Charlie Brown Christmas

 Today's letter is...S

is for....
Star of Bethlehem, Silver Bells, Snowflakes, Stockings, Saviour, Sugar Plums.

"And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
And they came to the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh." ~ Matthew 2:10-11

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." ~ Luke 2: 11

"Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livinston and Ray Evans.

                              

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Snowflakes~ The magical thing about snowflakes, is that there are no two alike. Each one is unique and beautifully created.  

Courtesy of the Internet

Each one of you is like a lovely snowflake. You are beautiful and unique, and there is no other like you in all the world. God has made only one like you and you are precious to Him. 
During this beautiful Christmas season, I invite you to get to know Him. He is the reason we are celebrating Christmas and the best you could give Him, is yourself.

When I was growing up, my mother always made sauce pan cookies at Christmastime. Once I got married, I started making them. I suppose many of you in Blogland have a similar recipe. A few years ago, I added green and red cherries to the mixture and now they are called Sugar Plums.

They are tasty little morsels made of dates, nuts, rice krispies, and cherries, then rolled in coconut.

Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee, icy-window filigree, sugarplums and candle glow, part of Christmas long ago. ~ Jo Geis

This is my stocking. Many years ago, my aunt had made each of our boys a red and white Christmas stocking trimmed with bells. Each stocking had their name on it and every year they were hung with care. My middle son took his with him one year while visiting so I don't hang them any longer. Did I ever mention that my children are sentimental about their childhoods?

Thank you for visiting today. I hope you will stop by again tomorrow as I do the letter T.

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi