Second Chapter of Christmas Memories by

Evelyn Joye Hamberlin Grubbs

Christmas at My Mother’s Parents

I remember a wonderful Christmas at my Grandfather and Grandmother Lindsey’s. They lived in a beautiful big two-story home. It was Dr. Winn’s home before he moved to Gilmer. In the two-story home he had an office building in front, near one corner of the home. Grandpa had three other houses nearby. As his children grew up and married, the first one lived in the office building. As another one married, they lived in the little one and the first couple moved to a larger house as they began to have children. This change continued as others married.

We always had so much fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s. This particular Christmas they had a huge tree in the living room. The ceilings were high and the tree touched the top. When we got up Christmas morning – guess what! Santa was still there sitting in a chair. He lifted me up on his knee and asked Edith to sit on the other knee, but she was afraid of Santa.

My cousin, Edith Carter, was also my best friend. We were the same age and always played together when I went to our grandparents. They always lived near our house. We went to our grandparent’s a lot on all holidays.

Christmas Tree at the Kelsey Gym

I was in the first or second grade in Kelsey School. My teacher was Sister Dorotha Christianson. The missionaries taught school there. They were great teachers and had a love for their students and desire for them to learn in all fields of study. The prophet, President Heber J. Grant said the cream of the crop was sent to Kelsey to teach, and they surely were. We were so blessed to have them.

Besides general education, they taught us in drama, dance, and many other supplementary subjects. We were in many plays, floor shows, and dances in the gym. They made it so much fun and enjoyable. This particular Christmas we were in a Christmas play. A great big Christmas tree was in the gym in the corner between the bleachers and door on the right side of the stage where all the performers waited to go on stage. The parents all brought a gift for each of their children - unknown to the children, for it was from Santa. I was a rabbit in the play wearing a rabbit suit with a ball of cotton for a tail. A boy pulled my tail off.

One of our traditions was to make a gift for each other at Christmas, depicting the Savior’s gift to us. We were always taught why we celebrated Christmas. My older sister, Vaughn, read Christmas stories form the Children’s Friend magazine. We didn’t have much opportunity to go to church for it was too far for us young ones to walk. When we went to our grandparent’s home, we went by wagon. We would jump off the back of the wagon and walk part of the time. My mother always packed a big trunk full of food when we went to my grandparents.

Christmas as a Teenager

We moved to Gilmer and lived at Frees Lake. We could now go to church regularly for it was not too far to walk. We only had Sunday School and Primary. We had no church at night. We were few in number and had no Priesthood holder to carry on part of the time. Brother Shirley walked seven miles from Kelsey to Gilmer and back so we could have church.

We always drew names and exchanged gifts which was fun. We had lots of friends and many parties at our place because my parents had planned and built a big play-ground up behind our house that all ages and adults enjoyed.

When living there, we usually went to my mother’s parent’s home for Christmas to be with our many cousins. We had a car then. My mother always cooked and took lots of food for the Christmas dinner. Missionaries came to our home and would go to the dinner with us.

During the Many Years of Christmas with Our Family

What a joyous time of year celebrating the birth of Christ. To us it was getting together with our family. I know of no better tradition, for my family was always more precious to me than anything or anybody. They were my life. I always enjoyed giving gifts and I really miss not being able to. I love the spirit of giving and doing for others. It’s all so different when you don’t have all the family around. I miss the wonderful spirit of giving. It makes me feel sad, but time changes everything. I just miss all those wonderful years, but I’m so thankful for my family. We lived through many years of Christmas celebrations, so thank goodness for the memories. I often think of my grandmother. She had 108 grandchildren. She gave a lot of herself. She had not gifts to give, but she gave each one of them some little item at one time of another through the years. I was so proud of what she gave me. I kept it on the tall antique of Mama’s. It was just a little bench about 1 inch tall and 2 or 3 inches long. It was always as special to me as anything I ever had because I felt she gave her all like the widow’s mite.

One Christmas before we had children, we lived on Surfside Island next to the Coast Guard Station. I remember opening a gift from Grubbs’ mother and sister, Louise before Christmas. It was a picture of his sister. As soon as I half-opened it and took a little peek of it, I quickly covered it, for I felt terrible I had opened it. I like surprises, and it was no surprise then. That taught me a lesson. I never, ever wanted to do that again. It was a beautiful picture of her and I always treasured it. That was my first Christmas away from home which I missed much. That was the only time I was away, for Grubbs sent me to his home to sent money to support his mother and sister. They both worked and we only had service pay. We went back when Bill was a baby in 1945, but Grubbs was shipped out to Florida and I got on the bus and went home after he was gone. The bus was crowded – lots of soldiers. The driver said I couldn’t get on. I told him I was going to get on and I stepped up in the bus with Bill on one arm and suitcase in the other, determined I would not be there alone with no family at Christmas. I stood up until we got to Houston (about 60 miles) and a service-man insisted I take his seat. It was good to be home.

After Grubbs was out of the service we stayed home Christmas because he wanted to watch the ball games. We had a few years like that with the kids always wanting to go and be with cousins at my parent’s so the kids and I went to Mama and Papa’s from then on. We had our Christmas tree at home. Our tradition was to go to the woods at my parent’s and get a real pine or cedar. The smell of pine to me is like a wonderful part of Christmas. Another tradition was to decorate the tree with some of our old favorite ornaments. We decorated with stars, a reminder of baby Jesus and lights were special to light our way. One tradition was to take cinnamon rolls or German Stolen bread to the neighbors, also to go caroling to neighbors and some of the members of the church. One more tradition was my mother’s chicken dressing, her tall layered coconut cake, and many pies and never leave out her delicious yeast rolls. Last, but not least important was our Holiday Wassail drink served in little dainty cups. Oh! How good to have a hot sip of that before Christmas dinner.

We always went to Mama and Papa’s as long as they were here. So many wonderful Christmases. All our love to them for their sacrifice and work for us to have enjoyment ourselves. Many other thanks to my sister, Fayrene, to open her home to us after our parents were gone. I really appreciate her because she and her family help fill the void of not getting to be with all of mine. I’ve had a good life and am thankful for my health and all my family near and far. You light up my life. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Love Always & Forever,

Mother
Granny Joy
Gran Gran