Above / “For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas…,” Charles Dickens wrote.
If you have young children in your life, talk to them. Read to them. Sing holiday songs. Unplug your electronic devices when you’re with them. Connect with them. Play together. Share riddles. Work a jigsaw puzzle together. Simply give them the precious gifts of your time, attention and love every chance you have.
The other day I watched our almost-two-year-old granddaughter go through all the motions for “Wheels on the Bus” with her dad. What joyful giggles went with her windshield-wiper swishes!
The holidays especially are a wonderful time to focus on love, life and laughter while trying to find simple ways to create lasting memories throughout this season to be jolly.
For dozens of years, my Aunt Ruthie has set up a “crafts table” at our Mitchell Family Thanksgiving reunions so everyone who wants can create whatever clever design she comes up with for the “ornament of the year.” And every year we participate. Today, whenever we decorate our tree, that hand-crafted collection saved with all our cherished Christmas ornaments finds a wonderful way to remind us of Aunt Ruthie and the creative experiences she’s given us.
One memorable idea that doesn’t take the kind of planning and preparation Aunt Ruthie devotes is to purchase holiday tins of butter cookies or shortbread and simply invite a youngster to help you decorate them with buttercream frosting and colored sprinkles. You can crush candy canes with a meat mallet for toppings, too. No need to even bake!
Share joy and peace in memory of special people
This past year has been one that my mother mentioned about 20 years ago. Back then in her early 70s, she was mindful that many in her family and older friends had begun to depart from our world.
During the past 12 months, a large number of Napervillians near and dear to me, inspirational folks who also shared their gifts of time, talents and treasures with many others, have passed. Terry Jelinek, Justin Wegner, Lee Lindberg, Chuck Price and Jim Baird are just a few of the kind-hearted folks who touched other hearts, including mine, with their dedicated service and caring spirit.
Plus, my beloved Dad died in August at age 96, and more recently my Uncle Jim passed at age 89, both lives to celebrate for the wit and wisdom they shared; and the love for liberty they left for their families, friends and me to pursue.
As my thoughts turn to my Dad during this most wonderful time of the year, I recall many Christmas Eve days that were our time together; wrapping gifts for his business associates so he could deliver them just in the nick of time before my mother hosted her annual Christmas Eve gathering.
I’m also mindful that we were playing bridge around my brother’s kitchen table the Wednesday before Dad died on Tues., Aug. 6. And even that last weekend when I called him on the phone, he asked as he always did when we were about to hang up, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
No matter what the season, our loved ones are the best gifts to us. Enjoy the simple pleasures of the holidays. Life goes on. Celebrate safely.
– Stephanie Penick, PN Publisher
One more thing… Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone who let us know the paper was late in arriving at our news racks all around town! Our press date was changed to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday and so we could include the Little Friends Parade of Lights in the centerfold. We hope you’ll curl up with this month’s cover and sing for the holidays. Cheers!
