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Children Left in the Cold - Memory #23

Photo by TQS member cjbeg. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Christmas was an amazing, almost magical time. As kids we thought we were rich! We had no idea just how hard our parents struggled, as did just about everyone in the Appalachians. The week before Christmas, every year, we would sit down as a family and decided who we could bless for Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve, we would take them a "feast" that Momma had prepared, and presents, one for each person (often the toys were refurbished/repainted toys). None the less, they were always thrilled!

One particular Christmas stands out in my mind..it was Christmas Eve 1984. The weather had turned really bad, snow and ice. Daddy and my two older brothers left a little earlier than usual to deliver our Christmas Blessing....the receiving family was in tears they were so happy but something else caught my father's attention.....two small children in shorts and t-shirts huddled together on the porch of a small trailer across the road. Daddy trudged over only to discover the freezing children had been locked out because their parents were having a party inside!!

Daddy picked up the little boy and girl and brought them home! He contacted the Sheriff and told him that if anyone reported those babies missing, they were with us!! Twenty-five years later they are still with us!!! My parents adopted Christy and Larry......this is my best Christmas memory...the year I got a new brother and sister!!!!!!! - Sharon Emory, San Luis, Colorado

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Do You Believe? - Memories #22

Quilt by TQS member annlp. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.


About ten years ago when my son Matt was about 12 or 13 years old (a couple of years past believing in Santa) he and I went to a local grocery store to do some shopping. As we were leaving the store we passed by a gentleman sitting on a bench by the exit. The gentleman had white hair and a white beard. He was wearing green pants and a red shirt. We were both starring! As we walked by the gentleman looked Matt straight in the eye, pointed his finger at him, and said "Have you been good?" Matt's mouth dropped open (so did mine!) and he said "Yes sir!" Walking to the car Matt's eyes were big a saucers and he said that he couldn't wait to get home and tell his younger brothers who he had seen! Matt was a believer again! My boys are all grown now and I very much miss the "magical" side of Christmas. Can't wait to share it with grandbabies! - Sherry from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Twenty-Five Days of Heartwarming Memories #21

Photo by TQS member ocdquilt. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

Christmas Eve service in the Old West Church was undoubtedly the highlight of my youth. There is nothing like it in all the world. The candlelight, woodstove heat, crowding together and gleaming faces of our neighbors across the way. Hearing the Christmas story read from Luke interspersed with carols accompanied by that antique pump organ ... and leaving the church to it's old bell. Filing out into the frosty air and crunchy snow then driving to Maple Corner for cider and cookies ... no ... there's nothing like a small town Christmas anywhere. - Sonja Naylor from Calais, Vermont.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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A Pony for Christmas - Memories #20

Photo by TQS member NancyAnn1959. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

Santa was due most any time, and my brother and I were on pins and needles waiting the visit of the great man. Suddenly there was a terrible clattering out on the front porch accompanied by lots of laughing and whispers to be quiet. We ran to the door and were greeted by a little shetland pony who really did NOT want to be there. It had taken my dad, grandpa, and uncle to get him up the two stairs into the porch! Puddy took one look and was off and running as hard as he could to get away from that pony. That only made the men laugh harder. They could hardly get the pony back out of the living room and into the stable dad had
built.
The next day, we were the most popular kids in town. That pony was the hit of the neighborhood. We both learned to ride bareback and often think of the fun the adults had planning our best Christmas gift. - Ginie Mains from Downey, California.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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A Soldier Sees Santa - Memories #19

Photo by TQS member ckbellneville. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

I always belived in Santa Clause, and I was very certain that I would see him before I died, I just did not realize how long it would take. On Dec 24th, 1997 in Sarajeavo, Bosnia the sun was setting as I entered the US compound and passed the armed Turkish gaurds, wishing them a merry Christmas. I drew my weapon and cleared the 9mm to insure there were no rounds in the gun, and the chamber was clear.

This had been a long and hard Christmas eve as I had smoked 7 large turkeys for the NATO enlisted soldiers to enjoy and remind them of their homes and families around the world. A light snow had begin to fall as I entered my quarters and should continue all night - so much for not having a white Christmas.

Ever since I was a young boy, Christmas eve had always been my favorite time of the year. I must have fallen asleep on my deck, I was covered with new snow, but not cold. A light was on in my Hummer below me, Santa was sitting behind the wheel, and there were presents in the back. I ran to the Hummer and everything was gone, only the memories of the past would remain with me forever young. Albert Clymer COL (Ret) USA - La Veta, Colorado

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Twenty-Five Days of Heartwarming Memories #18

Quilt by TQS member haymann51. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

When I was a child the night I enjoyed most was the night our family of five went to downtown Indianapolis to see the animated scenes in the windows of the two large department stores, Blocks and Ayres. Each year was a different theme. I recall a Santa's workshop theme and a Currier and Ives theme. Every year I would work my way to the front of the crowd to peer at the moving figures.I loved checking out all the small details that made each scene tell the story.

We then walked to Monument Circle, the center of Indianapolis, to see the lights strung to the top of the Monument creating a huge Christmas tree. The areas that had fountains during the summer were filled with scenes of the Nativity with life size shepherds and wise men. All the while Christmas music playing in the background with the tinkle of the Salvation Army bell ringers bells at each street corner. A true Wonderland.

The trip home always included a stop at the malt shop across the street from Dady's. I always ordered a hot fudge sundae with two cherries. Betty Ann Seeman from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Twenty-Five Days of Heartwarming Memories #17

Quilt by TQS member Libbie. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

When our son and family moved to Williamsburg, we all decided there had to be a colonial Christmas. On Christmas Eve morning, we woke to ice crystals on every tree and wire. It was a breathtaking sight. Then the power went out. No heat, no phone, and no lights!

The church was lovely that evening illuminated with candles. As we drove home, the heavy wires were gleaming in the moonlight, still frosted and drooping heavily.

We all slept on the floor in front of the fireplace (in our long johns under our pj's), pan roasted the turkey on the stovetop, and lit a candle to go to the bathroom. It was wonderful! We spent four days playing board games with the grandchildren. It's not often grandparents who live 3,000 miles away get to spend that much uninterrupted time with teenagers. Neighbors visited and enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate or mulled wine. How much more colonial could it have been? It was absolutely wonderful. One of the best. - Ginie Mains from Downey, California.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Twenty-Five Days of Heartwarming Memories #16

Quilt by TQS member CandySue. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

I have wonderful Christmas memories and not just from childhood or related to my small town. One of the best is from 1985, when I was a few years out of college and still in graduate school. As I passed out presents on Christmas morning (that has been my job since I was about 12), my father told me that one box with my name on it had to wait to last. When the time came for me to open it, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. When I opened it and saw what it was tears started to fill my eyes - there was a quilt inside! A wonderful quilt made of stuffed squares by my 17 year old little sister. She had had a tough year, and to make matters worse had not been able to find a summer job; so, to fill her time she and my father had gone shopping to get what she needed to make me this quilt. It has kept me very warm through some very cold winters. Ron Bedard from Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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Twenty-Five Days of Heartwarming Memories #15

Holiday quilt by TQS member GloriaH. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

Christmas was magical growing up in my lovely town and in my family. Most years my mother would have some sort of holiday mishap in spite of her valiant efforts to make Christmas special for her children. One year the family cat got in the just decorated tree and made it to the top where tree, cat and decorations came crashing down.

In the following years the tree was always tied to a hook in the ceiling. One year my mother festooned the tree with angel hair which I turned out to be extremely allergic to. I spent the holidays laying on the couch itching and crying. One year our Mom "surprised" us by buying a silver tree with pink shiny ornaments and a color wheel that turned around changing the tree to various unnatural pastel shades - my sister and I both cried for days after which the tree was pitched out the back door never to be seen again.

Then there was the year our older brother Donnie informed us dramatically that we were dupes to believe in Santa who was just a man in a red suit - yes, we cried for days that year, too! In spite of all of the above, Christmas and the family memories it brings remains forever special to me. - Lindsey Croft from Alexandria, VA

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD here.

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