Today is Thursday, December 22nd, 2005; Karen's Korner #699
I asked people to share a Christmas memory or family tradition. There are four who responded and I have included them here.
First, please indulge me with a memory of my own:
** In the 36 years, that Jim and I have been married, Clarion has had basically three community Santas: Dennis Olson, Ken Anderson, and now Tom Simmons. All three know how to be a good St. Nick. They know that loud "ho, ho, hos" scare the little , so they spend some time talking with kids to get them onto their laps for a short talk, and/or a photo. Dennis passed away a number of years ago.
Several weeks ago, Ken Anderson, the one who looked the most like the jolly elf in real life, died. He was a large, gentle man who didn't have to put on a Santa beard; he wore a white one in real life which matched his own white hair.
The Andersons were Minnesota people but were transferred to Clarion for Ken's job. They thought they would live here for a few years before they moved back "home". But our community adopted them; and they adopted us! People loved both Ken and Doris.
Both assumed leadership roles easily, in their church and in our community. Ken served on the Chamber board of directors, eventually becoming its President. Mark Young, a former Clarion pastor recalls, "I met Ken when he and I were on the Chamber board and I always admired him thereafter. I admired his humble leadership."
When a gang took on the huge volunteer project of renovating our depot which was in terrible disarray, Ken was in the middle of it. Previous Chamber Director Nancy Nail said, "Ken loved his community here in Clarion and working to maintain its history." He served on the depot committee, keeping the building active after it was restored; until his ill health caused him to quit.
When Ken died, he didn't return to Minnesota either. We kept him; his remains are buried in our local cemetery. But we didn't cancel Christmas in Clarion this year, because Santa didn't die in 2005: he lives! God is in the business of restoring bodies and lives....
..... and Ken lives in the hearts and minds of each of us who called him friend........
** With all of the hoopla over Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays. Here is a note that I received several days ago from Bonnie Young:
I heard an interesting little tidbit yesterday. Someone said that the word "holiday" is a contraction for "holy day."
** Arlene Lockwood wrote a Christmas memory from her childhood:
"I was about eight years old and in the third grade, one brother and I attended school in Meservey, while two others in Thornton. My best friend was Karyl Ubben from Thornton; we both had hearing loss and shared a lot of the same classes as well as attending a speech therapy class in school. It was the first time I'd had a real friend - prior to that the kids made fun of me or ignored me due to my hearing loss and speech difference." Arlene recalls her father working as a farmhand, living in a farmhouse as part of his pay, and not having a lot of extra money. One extra expense that year was a brother's appendix surgery. "When Christmas morning came, there was just two presents under the tree: one with my name (it was a doll) and one for my th ree brothers to share (a portable record player and a couple records). But we were happy, we were warm, we had a Christmas tree, we had food to eat, warm clothes to wear, family and friends- we had love."
** Carol Needham shared a couple of Christmas traditions at the Needham household; here is one:
"Since the children were tiny, we have had a Christmas devotion before opening presents. This includes scripture, special music by the children, devotional thoughts, and prayer. This has continued over the years as the children have grown and the grandchildren have come along, one graduating from college with a minor in piano, and several others playing the piano, vocal numbers, a trumpet duet with our son and grandson accompanied by our daughter-in-law. The highlight of the morning." Carol said the family is looking for 24 people at their home the day after Christmas, with seven members of their son and his family, who are in Cameroon as evangelical missionaries, not coming. "Our family continues to grow spiritually and in numbers. We are blessed," she said.
** Sharon Peterson shares a similar family time each Christmas:
"Everyone participates, by singing Christmas carols, playing instruments, poems, and the best is the portrayal of the Nativity. Our oldest grandson reads scripture and the little ones portray Mary, Joseph, wisemen, angels and of course baby Jesus, which is usually the family doll. Everyone looks forward to our program. Grandpa Whitey concludes with his poem which his Dad and Grandpa always said 'Christmas comes but once a year, but when it comes, it brings good cheer'."
Back