TRADITIONS! TRADITIONS! My father loved seeing the play, Fiddler On The Roof in Chicago a long, long time ago. He's favorite song was, "If I Were A Rich Man." Why NOT? Being a father of twelve children he knew for him it was out of reach. And since my father did have a good singing voice, I enjoyed him singing this song. I'm sure he could relate to so many of the great songs in that play.
Having said all of this, the Rehfeldt family has kept up with our Christmas traditions. Being a large family, my father would load us up in the car during the Christmas season and we would go to several of our Aunts and Uncles to sing Christmas Carols. Then as our family got bigger and bigger via marriages and the kids that come from that union, we started singing to family members in nursing homes and people who just were what we called shut-ins.
My brother, Scott has far back as I can remember has headed up this tradition. It's not only a blessing to the people to whom we sing, but a blessing for all of us. It's so wonderful to see my neices and nephews and their kids join in this wonderful tradition.
After we sing, we usually mingle with the people. Sometimes we were able to bring them treats. On rare ocassions we have called this tradition off. But I trust it will stay with us forever.
We use to meet in one of the family's members home until we just got too big a group. The one we held at our home here in Rockton, we had wall to wall people. Most of the neices and nephews I have talked to like that home atmosphere feeling. But as we kept growing in number, we needed a larger place. Lately, thanks to the wonderful people at the Berean Baptist Church in Beloit, we are able to use their facilities. Great kitchen! Large huge room next to it for the younger kids to run.
While the caroling is going on a lot is happening at the church. Depending on who stay behind, they all pitch in to help get the table and chairs up. Like the photo above of Caleb doing that very thing. The food tables get set. Louise is always there early with the ham and turkey. Then we have a place for twelve bins representing the each of Wayne and Agnes' children. We do one gift per family. It can from a box of chocolate to a gift card to a restaurant. (My brother Bruce usually spoils us with that.) If someone gave me a bag of Mrs. Fischers, I know I would think that is such a great gift. One year my sister, Kathey had made us a very decorated large box to put all our belongings in. Then one year Tim and Judi gave us a bin with a lid to put our goodies in. It's so much fun. And it's become another one of our traditions.
One of the traditions is to bring a dish or two to pass around. WOW, you should see our appetizer and dessert tables. Above we have Aunt Louise talking to nephew Jason and his two children, Oliver and Autumn. Since they live in Chicago, we always look forward to visiting with them. His father, my brother Dave died last December 04 ,2009. So this time is even more precious.
So we all grab a plate and enjoy all the wonderful food everyone has contributed to our annual party.
Another tradition we have is a program. Anyone can participate. It can range from reading a poem you did, singing a song, doing a funny skit (Like B.J. usually does with his cousins.) or telling a story. Above we have Aaron singing while he plays his guitar. This year Louise shared with us how Bruce and her where in a car accident which totaled their car. A man had run through a stop sign. Sheila shared how she got in the wrong van with another man at the wheel. Funny just too funny. Great nieces and nephews either sang or play instrumental numbers.
One of the greatest Rehfeldt's Christmas Eve tradtion is to read the Christmas story. Which we ALL KNOW is the true meaning of Christmas. Sad to report that this was the first year without our mother who always read the Christmas story from the bible. So Carol got the honor.
Another tradtion is to sing...Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! It's a sign for Santa to start making his entrance. My father always played this part. He usually would grow a beard and he already had the body for it. SMILE! When he died, my brother Dave took over. Then the brothers started taking turns. Now we let anyone who is in the family and wants to do the honors be Santa. The funny part for all of us Rehfeldt kids, we know the kids know who Santa is and they all just play along with us. Can you guess who our Santa was this year? It is up to each parent to bring a gift for Santa to give to his kid. That way the kid usually get something he likes. We have always had great Santas. One year Santa forgot to color his eyebrows white....those red eyebows just didn't look right..did they Aaron?
My grandson Sam was a little shy at first when he got on Santa's lap. Then he saw Santa's kind face and warmed up to him quickly.
This tradition is fairly new but has been around quite awhile. Scott in his zangy games. They change every year. One year he gave us all a different number and when he called you number, you got to pick a grocery gift from off his many tables. But this year, he corralled his brothers and sisters to help him. We got to wear these great aprons to help with all the games he had setup way before the caroling event.
Both the adults and the kids love this time of the evening. At each game you could earn gold coins and then turn them in for prizes. Louise and Carol manned those tables. The rest of his siblings had different games to take charge of.
I had the job of letting people get four small disc into those buckets above. It was much harder than you would think. Bryant Sturgill I believe was the first kid to achieve that task. Later Mackenzie (above) achieved that goal also.
As you can see, our evening is packed. And then it's time to cleanup. Everyone helps. We all appreciate Jeannine staying behind with her son to make sure everything is back in place. Since they are members of Berean, it helps us know they will put everything in it's right place. I guess you could say we have family in high places! Smile.
"Sunrise, Sunset...on season following another..." May our Christmas traditions carry on.
We had got Sam a set of musical toys which included a little drum set. Grandpa was trying to show Sam how it worked.
I enjoyed getting shower gel and lotion from them. Sam was enjoying the little phone Aunt Louise gave him.
With a red and green bow on their heads, I guess with Ann-Marie better, this really was our present.
