'I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
Psalm 37:25 (NKJV)
Guest Post #3
"Two Favorite Christmas Memories" by Chris West
"First, when I was 11 or 12 maybe, Dad (who was a pest control man by trade) was between jobs and times were a little hard, even though we never went hungry in the least. My mom had collected S&H green stamps during this time and had gifted to her (begrudgingly donated by my grandmother on my dad’s side) some green stamps as well. Best Christmas I can remember! I got a bathrobe, a 110 camera (most folks won’t remember that, lol) and something else that I can’t remember. Mom and Dad worked very hard and would take us out somewhere and do little tricks to make us think that Santa was real, but at this point, we knew Santa wasn’t real anyway and truly appreciated Mom and Dad for what they provided for us and working so hard for us to have a good Christmas. This was also, most likely, the catalyst that made me realize Christmas was so much more than material things.
The second story was when my first born son, Aaron, was maybe 2 1/2. He could talk and carry on a conversation like an adult at the time and his love at the time was Jurassic Park. I swear, my ex-wife and I bought him every single thing related to Jurassic Park. We were filming it as he opened his presents and after about the tenth one he said “oh great, another (mild expletive) dinosaur!” Worlds apart from the first story, but still showing how much a mom and dad wanted their kids to have a good Christmas."
Bio: Chris plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals for Blue Moon Rising and has written his fair share of the band’s original material through the years. Chris was taught to play guitar by his uncle, Tony Thomas, and has played in several bands with Tony through the years. Along with Tony, Chris was influenced heavily at an early age by the music of The Knoxville Grass, Boone Creek, The Country Gentlemen, and the Stanley Brothers. Chris enjoys writing new bluegrass, gospel, and country songs while trying his best to make them sound like they could have been written decades prior.
You can read our Homespun Devotions' Exclusive interview with Chris by clicking HERE!
Also, I hope you can take the time to enjoy listening to one of our favorite songs written by Chris!
Revival - Blue Moon Rising
Written by Christ West
Connect with Blue Moon Rising on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
A big thank you to Chris for sharing two of his favorite Christmas memories with us!
In case you missed them, you can read previous Christmas Memory Sharing Posts by clicking these links:
Christmas from the Dumpster
Matthew Timmons Shares his Heart this Christmas
Tipper Pressley Shares Christmas Memories & A GIVEAWAY!!
(Don't forget to stop by Tipper's post by clicking HERE to enter for her giveaway!
The drawing will be on December 10th.)
A big thank you to Chris for sharing two of his favorite Christmas memories with us!
In case you missed them, you can read previous Christmas Memory Sharing Posts by clicking these links:
Christmas from the Dumpster
Matthew Timmons Shares his Heart this Christmas
Tipper Pressley Shares Christmas Memories & A GIVEAWAY!!
(Don't forget to stop by Tipper's post by clicking HERE to enter for her giveaway!
The drawing will be on December 10th.)
I enjoyed reading the memories today. I, too, received a 110 camera for Christmas one year. My parents struggled a lot to give us just one gift each year but we were always taught about the greatest gift of all. Jesus. Wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
So true, Betsy! I think it is during those times of struggling that we truly learn what matters most, and we are taught the true meaning of gratitude. Thank you so much for your sweet visit and kind words! God bless you this Christmas season!
DeleteGreat memories here, Chris. Thanks for sharing your stories here at Cheryl's place.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you for your sweet visit and kind words, Martha! God bless you!
DeleteI love how you've swung wide the doors for your readers to share their stories, Cheryl. What a blessing for writer and reader alike!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda! I am enjoying it so very much!
DeleteS&H Green stamps... That brings back some memories. And so does that thin 110!
ReplyDeleteAnd my how the times change... I'm healing from a bite on my leg from my grandson! He told his mom, "I wike biteen!"
Oh, my goodness! LOL! I hope your leg heals quickly! I guess it is hard to be upset at them when they talk that cute! But, ouch! That must have hurt really bad. Hearing Chris talk about the S&H Green Stamps brought back memories to me, too. God bless you, brother.
DeleteI remember S&H green stamps and having to paste or lick the backs of them to put them in the books!! I enjoyed reading Chris' memories of past Christmases.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do, too! It was always so neat to see what all we could buy with them! I so enjoyed Chris' memories, too. Thank you for reading and your kind support, my friend!
DeleteOh, I remember S&H green stamps! Sweet memories from Chris and thank you for sharing, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI remember them, too! I hadn't thought about them in a long time until this reminder from Chris. Thank you so much for reading, sweet friend. You are such a blessing!
DeleteI don’t remember the stamps but I do remember the 110 cameras! I think I got one for Christmas one year as well.
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat! It is sweet to remember those memories from long ago. :)
DeleteThe S & H green stamps are in m memories, as well. We had a set of dishes that made my mother so proud! I love how the sweet music from the heart is shared as well as the wonderful stories. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAw, that is such a sweet memory about your mother being so proud of those dishes! Thank you so much for your sweet visit and kind words, my friend!
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