The best gift I got was when my sister, Lori, was born. She was the first of my nine siblings. I love being part of a large and loving family. The second wonderful gift I got was when I married my husband and became part of his, then much smaller, family. Holidays are a time when I especially think about both of those amazing gifts of love.
When I married we began the tradition of one year with my family at Christmas and the next with my in-laws. As my siblings married, they fell into the same rotation so we could, hopefully, all be together at least every other year at Christmas. It worked well until my parents divorced. Initially, my mother moved to California, but once she came back to the Midwest, every other year split between Mother’s or Daddy’s. A little more complicated bookkeeping, but manageable. As grandchildren arrived, schedules became more unwieldy and some years we weren’t all together.
Since I’ve lost both my parents, my family focuses on summertime reunions to try to get together or the occasional Schnepper girl weekend somewhere warm in winter–but that is just siblings and spouses. The last time all my siblings were together was for a funeral years ago. In Canada. It makes me sad but time marches on and weaving together everyone’s schedules and managing within their means can be very hard.
My husband’s family started small and grew prolifically. He was the baby with only one brother and one sister–both much older. His sister has two married children and one grandchild. His brother had one son and two girls who are all married and have taken then Biblical directive to go forth and multiply quite seriously. Most of them live in or near the small town my husband grew up in. That fact makes orchestrating a gathering slightly easier but everyone still has to make the effort to come together.
Last week we celebrated an early Christmas at a Mexican restaurant with my husband’s family. We couldn’t find a free day for 100% of the target attendees but we did for most of them. People who had to work or conduct youth group managed to get together and visit with us before the main event. We so appreciated their efforts to see us while we were in town. We missed those who lived farther away but many of them had been home at Thanksgiving this year. There were thirty-eight of us for dinner. Lots of hugs. Lots of smiles. And Christmas joy at being together as a family. We were in a separate room off the main dining room so we could move around to talk. It was wonderful. Our Christmas celebration on the day will be just the two of us this year starting a new tradition.
I know that everyone can’t get to see their families at this blessed time of year. Distance, work, sickness, financial worries–all put up impediments to getting together. I hope you’ll consider making a family experience with the friends who are near or volunteer to help someone who is alone and share the love you have. Embrace the joy of the season and let it shine from your heart!
As Tiny Tim would say, “God bless us every one!” Merry Christmas to you! May the New Year bring you peace and happiness.
Kim, we too discovered the blessings of a large family and as the family multiplied with grands and great grands on both sides, we worked to find times and dates most could attend. Truly an evolving situation and your story captured the blessings of family who work around the scheduling challenges to ensure the next generation grows up knowing their extended family. Happy New Year to you and your ever growing loving family!
THank you a beautiful tribute to family. They mean the world to us. Love to all and merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year
What a beautiful and thought-provoking post! It’s wonderful, isn’t it, to have cherished memories from years gone by? And it’s positively splendid that you, your husband, and your families still make an effort to be together, especially during the holidays.
And this year you will be making a new unique and special memory to hold dear. May it be beautiful.
I think it’s also wonderful and very typical of you to encourage sharing time and love with others in celebration.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, dear Kim! Wishing you joy. God be with you.🙏🏻❤️🎄
That is so cool Kim. My son, Kevin has nine children, eight girls and one boy (the boy is not the youngest). It is rare to see big families today. The oldest girl is sixteen and the youngest is five months. We love spending holidays at their house because of the children. I also teach the younger children art on Wednesday afternoons. Have a great holiday!
I do miss our large and some what chaotic gatherings. Feeling blessed this year as we will be together with all our children, grandchildren and daughter-in-laws (-1, who is with her brothers that she has not seen for several years). Happy Holidays to all where ever you may be. Love you Lisa
This is beautiful, Kim. Merry Christmas to you and to your entire family!
Thank you for sharing. I so enjoy to here from you and your books. Merry Christmas to you and all your family.
Sandra
God bless you and yours, Kim. Have a Merry 🎄and a Happy 🎉🥂 from Canada 🇨🇦
Hugs,
Marsali
What a beautiful post, Kim. Family is so important and finding time to share with as many as possible is wonderful. Growing up –and even when I was a young mom–my family always gathered without fail every year–mom, dad, my brothers and sisters, aunt, uncle, cousins grandmother. What a houseful that would be and so very happy and loud 🙂 Now my parents, aunt and uncle and grandmother are gone, and the rest of the family spread out, we seldom all get together at once. And even now that my two sons and all their children are grown (or off at college), finding a time for everyone to gather is, like your family, pretty difficult to do. And that’s just the immediate family. Getting the extended one is even more so. I’m happy that you are able to spend time with yours as you can. God Bless, my friend, and Merry Christmas.
Such lovely sentiments. I don’t know any other families that did Christmas quite like we did!🎅🏼
Wishing you and Jim a very Merry Christmas. Love you!!❤️
Merry Christmas dear sister, love and miss you so very much <3
What a lovely post. This reminded me of the holiday parties my mom and dad would host. There were five siblings and my mom insisted we come in December for the annual Christmas party which was held on a Saturday in early December. My parents huge home hosted the ever-growing family members. Thankfully, my husband and I lived in the same town, so we left for our respective beds and quiet at the end of the day. Those crazy, fun-filled weekends were always a highlight of the year. The grandchildren loved them! Sadly, my dad has passed away and mom no longer lives in the “big” house. Though we try to get together once a year (my siblings and I), we look back fondly on those lovely memories while we continue to make new ones. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kim! xo
Merry Christmas to you and Jim and thanks for the blog. Our direct family gets together every Thanksgiving along with Janet’s sister and one of her daughters and 2 children. Janet has 1 brother in Louisville and I have my sister in Louisville and we manage to see them once a year.
Thanks so much for sharing, Kim. Lovely to see how your families have evolved. May you and yours have many blessings at this special season!
Thanks for sharing, Kim. I remember some of the Christmas times with you mom, dad and the Schnepper girls. Those were very special times for me too. Please pass along my holiday wishes for your siblings.
Bill(y)