What is your favorite thing about CHRISTMAS? Help me figure this out...

[Charger Aficionado]

   Well I'm no good for the holidays...   I really don't celebrate any...   Very depressing time of year...   Bad home when I was a kid, never had happy times.   Then the Military, and being so far from anyone, I sorta ignored the fact that it was Christmas...   Then being seperated from my son really killed them for me next...   VERY down time for me...
BTW:   FINALLY got time with him (some pix:      http://www.myspace.com/fifthforce75 )

  I had this GF Julie that had a TIGHT family, and I loved being with them for the Holidays...   They had alot of Tradition...   It was great...

  Is there anyone else that is like me?   Anyone who DOESN'T look forward to the holidays, or am I "Broken"?

  So I thought it would pull me out of this "funk" if I could hear some things you enjoy, times/memories, traditions etc that you may have with you and yours...  

, Jude

[Arthu®]

I can see how you can feel that way. I kind of like this time of year, well except for the cold that is. But the spirit is kind of good plus I like the corny christmas songs. Besides as my parents are divorsed it is a time I spend a pretty good amount of time with both the families?

Arthur

[Charger_Croatia]

I was thinking what to say on this matter. It is hard for me to hear about situation like you have Jude. I had in the past some bad things which I want to put out of my mind.  Beginning this year I was expected to have one more member in my family but something happened after three months of pregnancy and we lost a baby.
And I have more nice things happened to me for holidays.
One of the best was a Christmas lunch with my wife and daughter two years ago (my daughter is 7 now). While preparing for prayer, suddenly little one said "Dad, I would like to say one prayer first, can I do that?" Who can refuse such wish!? So we let her say her prayer. It was one she learned at kindergarten, one about angels. It was so beautiful and we had our eyes full with tears and our daughter was so happy. I'll always remember that lunch and that prayer.

[Charger Aficionado]

So we let her say her pray. It was one she learned at kindergarten, one about angels. It was so beautiful and we had our eyes full with tears and our daughter was so happy. I'll always remember that lunch and that prayer.

wow. that's awesome...  Children bring out the best in all of us...

[Orange_Crush]

I don't know...I came from a close family and I absolutely HATE Christmas.  I put on a happy face for my daughter's sake and my wife likes putting up the tree and garland and all that other happy horseshit, but I wouldn't miss Christmas at all if it was gone forever.

Only one holiday I really like and that's halloween.

[inhrmswy]

I like hunting down the perfect tree.  Usually its way too big for my house (ala clark griswold) and putting lights on the house.  I like driving around and looknig at other peoples lights.  I too like the corny songs.  I really like how most people seem just a little more friendly and nice.  and of course I like the presents.  just kidding about the presents.    I dont like being dragged around to everyones house...oh well we have to go to my dads on christmas morning, your moms on christmas eve my parents christmas evening....if I had a bigger house I would just make them all come to mine if they wanted to see me...but thats not an option really. just my 2cents

[derailed]

I never use to care much about Christmas either until I had my 2 kids. Son will be 4 soon and daughter just turned 1. I like watching them enjoy it and they also made me realize that not all kids have that priveledge which is why I have been donating to toys for tots. I think part of the reason I get depressed around the holidays is some of the rediculous songs they play on the radio

[my73charger]

Well,

I have always enjoyed Christmas and this time of the year.  The only bad thing is I live in Northern Minnesota and so I cannot drive the Charger, but there are alot of fun things to do around here anyway.

I do remember one Christmas when I was about 15 that was especially poor for my family.  My dad and oldest brother had both lost there jobs and everything was real tight in the money department.  My brother decided that we should all exchange home made gifts because nobody could afford to buy anything.  We all made what we could from art work to baked goods.  Our family had recently started going to church, you could say that we found the Lord.  We did.  Anyway, my brother decided to make everyone a prayer bench.  We were so broke that year we didn't even have money for a decent Christmas dinner so we weren't sure what to do.  On Christmas day, early in the morning, matters only got worse when my brothers landlady showed up at the door and evicted him and his family.  Talk about rotten luck and bad timing.  After that dismal visit a few of us decided to make use of our new prayer benches and find a spot to pray and think.  Around about 1:00 in the afternoon there was a knock at the door.  My brother answered it and it was our new Pastor and a friend that attended the church.  We didn't know it at the time but this friend was wealthy and owned a local Hotel and Restaurant.  She had decided to bring us Christmas dinner as the Pastor had shared our dire straits with her.  She brought a ham, turkey and all the trimmings and desert we could eat.  Best meal ever.  Anyway, I guess maybe those prayer benches were a Godsend cause we made use of them and things only got better from that moment on.  Some would say that this was just lucky coinsidence but I know better.  God has always played an important role in my life.  I haven't always been as faithful as I should and lately is no acception, thats where I hope His grace has me covered.  Enough of my rambling.  I will say a prayer for you and your family though if you don't mind.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

[dkn1997]

Jude, you gotta try and not let the past bring you down.  I speak from experience. Not the best time in my house either growing up. ambulance in the driveway christmas eve.  Let's just say the old man was half in the bag,  so my brothers and I wished him a merry fistmas and seasons beatings.

It was never the same for me after that (I was 17)  What brought me out my "funk" was my kids.  My oldest is 5 and, like the previous poster, I am with good woman and her family has a lot of christmas tradition.  I used to get down around the holidays, dwelling on the past.  Now when I see my family and how much they enjoy it, I can only picture the good times I had on christmas growing up (there were some). 


I hear people say that christmas is "for the kids" but to tell the truth, I get so much enjoyment from watching them.  I almost feel guilty for enjoying them too much.

maybe I am a sucker because I buy into the "magic."  So be it. 

[JimShine]

I do not set up for Christmas. Mainly because I do not have children. I am not Christian, so I wont set up for myself. But I would do it for kids.

I go down and visit my father on Christmas. I enjoy the decorating he and his wife do. I appreciate the tree and the festive feel more that way. We usually stay up all night catching up (I only see him a few times a year). Then on my birthday (the 26th) he takes me out for a movie like he did when I was a kid and we sometimes hit the bar.

This is how it is now. Years ago it was miserable dealing with Christmas. I have learned to just enjoy the night and try to escape any stresses and problems you have on your mind.

[Silver R/T]

ya its better to spend it with family but with all this work and business I usually dont feel holidays

[Brock Samson]

i like the commercials,.. i like the way the volume goes waaaay up when the commercials come on,.. I like the sense of urgency to buy all the crap they can cram in the stores and i really, really like the way the day after Holloween the stores started decorating for christmas,...
i like lemmings,.. so see, i like some animals.. 

[4402tuff4u]

I have to say spending time with family and friends. Also seeing my daughters full of health, joy and happiness. I have to admit, it's become a major commercial/business thing and that puts a damper on it. Seeing people pushing each other, walked over, to get a piece of merchandise before the next person gets to it first is downright ludacris and nuts. I basically see Christmas more like Thanksgiving - I mean in purpose. I think everyone should reflect on oneself's situation and find the positive things in life that you are blessed with and basically thank the almighty for what you have, especially if you have your health and someone who loves you. All other things have happen to you for a reason and make you a better loving person. Merry Christmas! 

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Maybe it is because I am religous, but this and easter are two of my favorite times of year. I can understand how you feel Charger afficianado, I Just can't relate. This is the time of year that I get to see my family that is getting larger as the years go on. We laugh, tell stories, catch up on the goings on. I wish everone had a family as great as mine. I pray that it works out for you and maybe you can figure out a way too turn this into a Father son thing as your son gets older. Children have a way of making any situation better. That is the only advice I have for you right now. I will pray that it all works out for you in the end.

Take care!
HJ

[RD]

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Couldn't have said it better than that!  Amen brother!

Jude, examine your heart and devote this time to exalting our Lord, for it is He who shall bring joy to your heart.  Remember that this time of year is because our Lord was born unto this earth to sacrifice himself for our sins.  Raise him up and you shall also be raised.  Remember that no matter what you do, as long as you have Him in your heart and soul, your actions will be righteous.  Christmas is a time for us to celebrate what we have been given.  That gift of forgiveness cost more than any present.  It cost a life.

Merry Christmas Jude, may God show his grace upon you and your family!