~ from my home to yours, living the Working Pantry lifestyle ~ surviving today's economy ~ a can-do spirit and attitude ~

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Blogmas 2022: 11/26/22

As a child, I remember Christmas being a really special time of the year.  We didn't get toys or anything much throughout the year, so Christmas time was really special.  

As I've shared in earlier posts, as a child we were poor by the world's standard, so whatever we got was a big deal ... that may be why I like Christmas so much as an adult.  

There was a period of time in my life as a child when my mom and dad took in 3 of my cousins for a couple of years.  Their mom had suddenly passed away and their dad, my mom's brother, was legally blind.  He needed someone to care for their children while he figured out what to do.  That meant my mom and dad had seven children under the age of 8 to care and provide for.  

I remember those Christmas' being extra special as my mom and dad received help from the local welfare agency to provide Christmas for all 7 of us children.  I remember they brought boxes of fruit ... fruit?  We couldn't afford fruit, so that was a real treat!  They also brought pecans ... we couldn't afford pecans either!  To this day when I have fruit and pecans, I feel special!

Today, we were given permission from a friend to pick up pecans from their pecan orchard.  You know where I'm going with this!  All the while I was picking up those pecans, I was reliving those Christmas' when boxes of fruit and pecans appeared at our house. I still remember the awe I felt!

I hope you've enjoyed this little trip down my Christmas memory lane.  If you have the opportunity to make a disadvantaged child's Christmas brighter this year, I hope you will do so.  From someone who was once one of those children, I can tell you they will remember your kindness for the rest of their lives!

Until tomorrow!

patsi      

Sharing 42 years' experience of adult frugal living and pantry building 


My second blog:  From This Heart of Mine 

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

A Working Pantry is a way of life, a lifestyle if you will!

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.' 

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9 comments:

  1. Absolutely love this! Some things just bring all those fond memories flooding back. Reading this reminded me of getting fruit and picking up black walnuts at my grandparents house. Thank you for sharing. Hugs across the miles!

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    1. Lori, you're welcome, I'm glad it brought back good memories for you.

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  2. Isn't it funny how it's the little things we remember best. I remember picking pecans at my grandparents' farm in SE KS. Although Grandma died and Grandpa sold the farm in 1978, and a tornado had long since destroyed the house and outhouse, the pecan tree was still standing when I was last there in 2001.

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    1. Frances, It sounds like you have some great memories too!

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  3. Your story is a good reminder to practice gratitude. I think that's what God teaches us when we go through hard times. Don't take things for granted.
    Ellie
    Central Az

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    1. Ellie, yes, gratitude and don't take things for granted ... I love your take-aways from my memories.

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  4. Your parents were real heroes stepping up and making room in their home and hearts for seven 8 and under. I say this because friends just got a new foster child on the fast adoption track because no one in the family wants him.

    We always had a big apple, a big orange and some nuts in the shell in the bottom of our stockings. We truly thought this was special. So different from today.

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    1. Lana, I was around 6 - 7 years old, but I still remember vividly those 2 years that they were with us. Some things just make an impression on you even as a child. Now, as an adult, I appreciate the sacrifices they made and creativity they had to use just for us all to survive.

      A big orange and apple and some nuts in the shell in the bottom of our stockings was the standard fare at Christmas before and after these 2 years. Our stockings were the socks we wore as there were no pretty store-bought stockings hung at our house. But we were happy little kings and queens, we had no idea we were poor by the world's standards!!!

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  5. Thank you for the lovely memory. I admire your parents for providing a stable home for those children. Are you still close to your cousins?

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