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| green top stockings are the new additions to our family...the spouses...so next year will have two more green stockings |
I had so much fun reading everyone's comments on starting to stuff my stocking. It's amazing how many of us were raised with oranges stuffed in the bottom of our stockings. I wanted to share this link which tells how this tradition began - http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1853/#b. I am looking forward to putting oranges in all of our stockings again this year.
Along with the unexplained tradition of oranges were the nuts that filled in all the spaces of my Christmas stocking...we have done the same with our children. We would pour them out all over the floor and then, later, gather them into a bowl to be enjoyed by all.
This year, the symbolic nuts in my stocking are the giggles from children. My Benjamin is a source of continuous giggles in our house. To watch the world through a young child's eyes allows us adults to also giggle...sometimes out loud and many times a giggle in our spirit.
Christmas provides times of plentiful giggles...Charles Dicken's Christmas in McKinney...The Dallas Children's Parade...Viewing of Christmas lights...The windows at Neiman Marcus...Making Christmas cookies. Stories being read at bedtime during this season allow the giggles of a child to pour out into adults' hearts.
Here are just two stories from our "giggling machine" that I place in our stockings, along with pictures of his eyes of wonder.
As we were riding along listening to Christmas carols, Benjamin heard the song about being naughty or nice. I didn't think anything about his silence..which means his brain is churning. Finally, the song ended and he voiced very matter-of-factly, "I think I am in the middle of that list!"
The pure honesty of a child just warmed our hearts.
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| my last two boys at home...Stephen 16 and Benjamin 6 |
Another night, he was helping me set the table for dinner, filling all of the glasses with ice. I noticed that he selected the ice dispenser that gave out large cubes for everyone's glass except one, in which he placed crushed ice. I didn't ask why... When I sat down, I poured the tea in the glasses and started to drink from the glass he had put crushed ice into. He shouted, "Stop! You can't drink that. That glass is Dads! When he orders a drink he always ask for little ice so I made sure he got little ice!"
My heart was warmed that this little man wanted to honor his dad with the request for little ice, even if his dad meant the volume instead of the size of the ice.
So this Christmas season, I pray you have the joy of a child. Our Savior came as a child and he beckons us to come as a child to Him. May your stockings be filled with giggles.
Good morning Janette! Loved this post. Benjamin's thoughts made me laugh right out loud, haha. Perfect logic..."little" ice. : ) And nothing like the honesty of kids. "somewhere in the middle" haha.
ReplyDeleteLove to start my day with such logic and a smile. Enjoy yours!
Very sweet post, yep, it is filled with so much joy and laughter to have little ones to tell you about what they see. I love the story about the ice. Yep, I had a orange in the toe and all of the nuts as well. Of course that ribbon candy too.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are finding things to reflect because it helps me too. Have a lovely week.
I think Ben is doing better than me...at least he's in the middle. Some days I feel near the bottom of the list.LOL!
ReplyDeleteA little ice...how cute is that!
ReplyDeleteIt is being added to my Giggle List.
Question; I know I'm not the only one who will ask why one green stocking, why?
The mantel looks really cute with so many stockings. Anyway to fill up all those stockings (oranges, nuts,etc.) makes sense.
adorable! i think i'm in the middle of
ReplyDeletethat list, too! i have thoroughly
enjoyed your Christmas traditions.
The ice story made me laugh out loud. I love seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Oh that "we" should be more childlike at times.
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you we had both nuts and oranges in our stockings as a child, my parents grew up in the depression and these were treasured treats, so it was a tradition they did with us growing up.
Such sweet funny stories! My dad always said he only got fruit in his stocking, no toys. And coal if you were "bad" supposedly. Seeing your pictures makes me realize how much I miss store windows and their Christmas displays, especially in big cities where they seem to do it up big (or they used to).
ReplyDeleteAw, Benjamin has probably learned to respect his father from his mother!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a difference in the boys heights. You are blessed to have a nice large family, Janette.
I bet you home is full of lots of laughter on the holidays.
I love kids and Benjamin is a darling. I also love the way they think and all that innocence that gushes out so naturally.
ReplyDeleteThose stockings are so cute! I wish I had someplace to hang ours. I just usually hang them on the knobs of a shelf or the china cabinet.
Blessings & Prayers~
Precious-the little ice was so sweet. Thankful for little things that they do like that. Love you-setting down with a plan to make a time we can get together soon. Hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jill
So sweet. Your son is a gem. Love his heart.
ReplyDeleteFrom the mouths of babes, Janette. They are so honest and understand things so simply! Why do WE make things so complicated! I do declare!
ReplyDeleteNow that's alot of stockings to fill, my friend! And two more next year? Think you should grow an orange tree!
My kids think I've lost my mind most of the time because I seem to be so child like when I let my guard down. Christmas is joyful when viewed through the eyes of a child. Thanks for the beautiful reminders!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, he is a sweetheart and I am certain that he provides a lot of sunshine at your house. What fun to know how he thinks about things.
ReplyDeleteAbout the oranges in all of our stockings -- I am one also == but sad to say I did not look forward to have one in my stocking -- I'd rather had more candy - peanuts, orange and a box of lifesavers candies.. that was all in my stocking. Not like it is today in some kids stockings I know (wink, like my own kids).. Love you post today -- kids do say the sweetest things.. Thanks for reminding me about the stocking.. I am writing my history and forgot about that part of Christmas growing up!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Oh Janette! In the middle of this very busy season, you have given me a big huge smile...and yes, a giggle.
ReplyDeleteGive Benjamin a big ol' squeeze from me - a precious boy. Loved the way his mind thinks!
GOD BLESS!
Seeing the world through the eyes of a child makes life so much more fun! I have twenty of them as you know. They get so excited this time of year. I love the ice story and how kind and thoughtful Benjamin is.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and love,
Debbie
Love that boy! Love giggles. Mine have been nuts over our Elf lately... Hope we get our kids together one day!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Leslie
I love the way you think. Really, I DO. The grounding of the orange in the toe was wonderful, and the giggles as the nuts is just plain out inspired. You are so right about those giggles filling in our empty spaces. Really, I LOVE that.
ReplyDeleteI read your anecdotes with Benjamin, and I couldn't help but think of another mother who had a child at a rather "unexpected" age.
If I'm not mistaken, that little fellow's name meant "he laughs", right?
Out of the mouth of babes!!..how adorable!! I wonder if we ever make God giggle like that? I bet so!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been out of blog land for a few months. I've missed stopping by. I finally put up a new post and would love it if you could come see me Janette.
I started to sign off with enjoy the holidays, but I can tell from your post that you already are.
♥Lee Ann
You're so blessed to have a little person in your house at Christmas! I'm enjoying the antics of our grandson (walking now), but by Skype only. Still, it's a joy to watch his wide-eyed wonder.
ReplyDeleteLike you, we do oranges and nuts our stockings--plus bananas. Fun!
Benjamin sounds like a little sweetheart and I love the stockings and little stuffies on top of them. I love the sounds and sights of Christmas and especially through the eyes of my dgts. My kids insist we have a tree and put lights outside and in. It's a bit strange to me but I do it for them.
ReplyDeleteLittle ones make the holidays merry and bright. Older ones are welcomed and loved but at some age we morph from merry and bright to responsible and a bit dull. (If you know the remedy to that pass it on.) We are heading to New Orleans for the holidays. Will be picking up L from his finals at UT and heading south/east. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete