A few of my favorite things

Growing up I always wondered why “These are a Few of My Favorite Things,” from The Sound of Music was considered a Christmas song. I think that maybe I’ve figured it out.

Each holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s get to celebrate with those we love the most in this world. It’s the time of year that we all look forward to, even with the hectic days of shopping, gift wrapping and even the endless parties and get togethers.

Taking the time to find that special gift for someone you care about can be extremely rewarding and then seeing their face as they open it is one of the best feelings out there.

Caring about others and the hope for Peace on Earth brings out the best in people all over the world.

This truly is a miraculous time of year.

For some it means a time of many firsts. The first Christmas with a new baby or maybe even the first Christmas without someone we lost. Either way these are milestones in our lives, days that will create memories that will stay with us forever.

One of my favorite memories as a kid was our family Christmas Eve and our Christmas Day with my extended family. Those were some of the best memories I have as a child.

Sharing Christmas with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and of course my parents and siblings. I was blessed to have family nearby throughout my childhood and it is something I miss more often as I get older.

Memories of Christmases with my husband and children are more prevalent in my mind and I am now in the stage where I am constantly wishing for time to slow down — especially with my kids. Thinking that my son will only be living in our home for the next couple of Christmases makes me gloomy and then my daughter will soon follow suit.

Of course Christmas music has and always will be a great provider of memories. Each time I hear Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” memories of my beloved grandpa pop to my mind. Him dancing with me and singing in my ear.

Johnny Mathis crooning any Christmas song makes me think of my mom and her love for all things Johnny Mathis and Mariah Carey’s holiday versions are my daughter’s favorites.

So, I guess when we hear the words, “Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into springs. These are a few of my favorite things.” It makes sense that it is considered a holiday favorite.

Thinking of fond memories is really the moral of the song and isn’t that what this season is about?

The staff here at the Lake Stevens Journal wishes you and yours the fondest memories this Christmas!