We made it to Christmas week —- Christmas 2020 will certainly be one to remember  and many of us will have have new story to tell about this year. Today I want to share stories of traditions that have been shared by some of our listeners. It all started with realizing that talk with my mom about christmases past had brought a lot of joy to both of us. She at 96 will be alone in her nursing home. One of the workers that was giving her a bath asked my mom if she knew what lefsa was (mom made it every year) and a great conversation was started! The worker's grandpa was Norwegian and they started talking about all kinds of Norwegian traditions. I shared this story on my facebook page and asked for other to share theirs. These are just a few! Cathy  - My dad didn’t cook in our growing up home, except when mom was in the hospital having our baby sister. But at Christmas, we would all be in the kitchen together making Christmas treats. Fudge, divinity, taffy (we’d butter our hands and dad would let us pull when the taffy had cooled enough that it wouldn’t burn us.)  We made quite a mess with all the different treats, but what fun we had! —— Les - When we were younger we would all take a different counter in the kitchen and make our favorite Christmas Cookies. KC - Cookie baking marathon on Christmas Eve. The kids and hubby have always helped and look forward to it every year and the Christmas meal: Colleen- We also had chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes... just a bit of starch Tina - My husband's family always has cinnamon rolls and chicken and noodles on Christmas day!! I'm sure this started because it was a way to feed a lot but now it's a tradition that we cherish!! Shari - Christmas eve..grandma always made stew with turnips & rutabagas ..I always thought it off but now that she is gone..I miss it terribly.. (don't we all relate to that?) Samantha - Family dinner!!!!!! We would start cooking the day before and always without fail we always forgot the corn in the microwave. Janice  - My earliest memories of Christmas in Queensland, Australia, is sweltering heat but sitting with Mum Dad,  my sister and Nana eating a roast dinner and Christmas pudding Church services: Candle light services were mentioned by many! Deb, Betty  & Cathy  - all talked about going to church on Christmas eve - maybe having a kids program - and going home with a sack with an apple or orange, nuts and some candy. I had forgotten that we did that too - so how fun to be reminded! Marsha- Church on Christmas Eve - this year it will be 15 minutes in the church parking lot singing Silent Night with candles. Hope we don't all cry. We won't be able to hug each other. We are be thankful to be alive! Other Traditions: Twila  - I don’t think my mother intended for this to be a tradition, but every year it seemed like she would forget where some of the presents were hid and through out Christmas Day more presents showed up as she would remember! Brenda- Still love filling a thermos with cocoa and driving around looking at Christmas lights in our jammies! Katherine Connors - Baking having my children open up one present on Christmas Eve when they were small that was always PJ's and now I continue that tradition and get PJ's for my grandchildren Jean - In New Zealand on Christmas eve we put a pillow case on the foot of our beds for Santa. When we woke we explored the pillowcase 1 big present and fresh fruit nuts lollies and balloons and other bits. Family gatherings: Barb - I have 8 younger siblings, 5 sisters and 3 brothers. I'm the oldest, both my parents are gone. Last years count was 148 people. We rent a hall. Will so miss this year not gathering, Heather - For the past 22 years my family has gathered at a roller skating rink where my mom and her siblings grew up. It turns out to be a pretty nice crowd... And a bunch of extended family comes as well. It's been hard knowing that I won't see these family members till next Christmas. Several shared about this is their first Christmas being spent along - or perhaps they have lost someone very important this year and will miss them terribly. I just want to say It OK if this is a hard Christmas - if you miss someone so very much, its also means you were blessed to have them in your life - and you have precious memories stored up! You can be grateful and sad and lonely - all of the things at the same time.  Christmas itself, is, after all the most important story of all.