Journaling: One of my fondest memories growing up as a little girl I can remember my grandfather making homemade Hot Chocolate on the good ol' woodstove. He had a large dutch oven and a big laddle. Us kids would come in after playing outside in the snow just froze to the bone, covered in snow stomping off our feet all the way to the wood stove. We'd stand there for what seemed to be forever getting warm by the fire, drinking our hot cocoa and watching the lights flicker on the tree. We'd wait and right about sunset we'd get anxious to open our presents on Christmas Eve but oh no, we had to take a horse drawn sleigh ride across the countryside, with our way lite by an oil lantern. Of course us kids were upset...we wanted to open those presents!! But I look back at it and think how special it was that he gave us that little treasure from his past. The last sleigh ride I took was nearly only 20 years ago. But it has made such a huge impression on me! yes, the cars did beep at us as they drove by. Jingle Bells was always the first song all of us kids would break out singing followed quickly by Jingle Bell Rock of course. What kid can't resist that song. As we woud ride by peoples homes I remember sitting there cuddled next to grandpa to keep warm holding the reins and watching the neighbors come to the windows or come stand in their doorways. As I think about it now, we must have been pretty loud. There was one older couple that sticks in my mind the most. Every year they would come stand on their porch holding each other and watching us. It didn't matter what song we happened to be singing they would always join in and wave. Grandpa would wave back. My favorite Christmas song of all would have to be Walking in a Winter Wonderland. As we returned home this is always the song grandpa would start us kids off singing. We'd all pile out of the sleigh singing. The other kids would run inside and I'd lag behind helping put the horse back in the barn. He'd put his arm around me and we'd walk back to the house silent, soaking up the moment watching the snow glisten in the moonlight. Eventually he would start whistling the tune the rest of the way to the house. Now that I think of this I wonder if that was his favorite song? If so, I’m sure for a different reason than mine. ~ Written by Jan Myers November 2009 Credits: [url=http://www.heritagescrap.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=110_119&products_id=510&zenid=552a95f657cf6531ea5e80608c8ef638]Warmest Wishes by Lynn Griffin[/url]