My Favorite Christmas Tradition

Today I have been feeling really sentimental. I was going through some pictures when I found some from when I was about seven or eight at my birthday party. One picture that really brought tears to my eyes were one that had my Nana and I in it… She died almost 12 years ago, but I still miss her just as much as I did back then.

When I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write for Blogmas day 4, I saw this prompt and immediately thoughts about my nana and my Pa (whom is still alive).

My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas at their house on Christmas Eve. Every Christmas Eve without fail (at least that I can remember). My aunts, uncles, their children, and their children’s children all gather and my Pa’s house to eat and open gifts. The children all received gifts and the adults play dirty Santa. I love it now, but I loved it even more when my Nana was still alive. She had always been the glue that held this family together.

She knew how to keep everyone from fighting.

But I still look forward to Christmas Eve. After having Christmas Eve with my Pa, I would stay the night at my mom’s house. We bake Christmas cookies and drink milk. When I was younger we would leave some out for Santa. Even now I get up excited for Christmas Day. Christmas is my favorite time of year.

Nana

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Day 4: Write about someone who inspires you.

The person that inspires me the most in this world is/was my Nana. She was my mother’s mother. She died in 2010, but she still inspires me to be the best that I can be to this day. I lived with her and my grandpa for a very long time – since she was alive and several years after. They both looked after me.

To this day, I have never heard anyone talk bad about my Nana. She was the most amazing and nicest person I have ever met. She would give you the shirt off her back.

It has been nine years since she has been gone, but I still think about her every single day.

There are a lot of moments I wish I could remember from when I was younger, but being told by my Papa will have to be enough.

Apparently one time, I burnt the kitchen cabinets. I didn’t really burn them down myself, but my Nana was so busy playing with me when I was a baby that she forgot she was cooking something. My Pa jokes that she probably did it on purpose because she wanted new cabinets anyway.

I do remember one time asking her how long she had stopped smoking. She looked at me and asked, “How old are you?” I told her how old I was, and she replied, “That’s how long I’ve quit.”

My Nana was kind, patient and humble. She dried my tears when I would get hurt. She made me laugh. Her (and my Pa) taught me how to farm, clean and do laundry. She kept my Pa in line when he would say things that he shouldn’t. She was rarely ever in a bad mood.

I miss her a lot.

I hope that I am able to be at least half the person she turned out to be.