Christmas past and present

christmas present and past

It’s been 20 years since this photo was taken.  I used to sew matching Christmas outfits for the girls and they actually had no problem wearing them.  That was the fun of having girls; dressing them up for holidays and special events.  This was the days of big hair, and small paychecks.  I scrimped and saved and worked two jobs to support my girls.  Money was very tight.  At this point in time, I had been divorced for two years, with two little girls to raise on my own.  Life was not easy.

But I made sure that Christmas was magical even then.  The girls never knew that money was short.  They only knew that presents were under the tree, they had lots of love from all their family, and home-made cookies and treats were in their stockings.  Oh, and that Santa’s lap was just a bit scary without mom.

Poor Santa looks squished.

christmas past

I did meet a great guy, remarried, and with Christmas came new traditions.  One of those new traditions was cutting down a tree.  Every year, we trampled out into the fields looking for the perfect tree.  The magic of Christmas remained with us and grew with each passing year.  New traditions became established traditions.

christmas past

I love looking at these old photos.  Especially now during the holidays when I am missing my kids.  The girls of course had to both grow up and get married and move off.  Such is life.

The husband and I are now attempting to establish new traditions, just for the two of us.  We are making sure that the magic of Christmas survives in our house.

christmas present

And twenty years later, some of the old traditions do survive.  Because actually, the magic never really left.  It has just changed and evolved from the past to the present.

christmas present

Merry Christmas to you and yours.  May the magic of the holidays always be with you.

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