If The Old Walls Could Talk

I am often reminded of an old quote when I think of my childhood home: "A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love an dreams". Ah, the memories are flowing as I think of home especially at Christmas time. If the old walls could talk what would they say?

It would tell you about a family of ten who found their home a safe haven- a place to call home and share their daily experiences. It would talk about that never-ending dining room table that comfortably seated 12 people. They would picture through words a mother's endless love for her family. She made the simplest dishes a gourmet delight.

When I was small families made their own decorations for the tree. Paper chain, strands of popcorn and cranberries graced the tree. The one thing modern we had were white electric candles my mother placed in each window. She saved her Green stamps and she got them each year until she had enough for each window, The house looked so special.

Two days before Christmas each child was given a brown paper grocery bag and some crayons. We sat at that big long table and drew elaborate Christmas designs on them and signed them. Christmas Eve night eight chairs were lined up according to age knowing we would have an apple, an orange, a candy cane. and a handful of nuts in the bag. On the chair would be one special Santa Gift. We had our tree gifts on Christmas Eve so that we would have Christmas morning for Santa. Each person earned money to buy a present for one another. My five brothers sold mistletoe and the three girls did chores for the neighbors like sweeping and doing dishes. We also made gifts in school for our parents.

My father was a carpenter. We thought that was special because Jesus was a carpenter. He made our toys. He made our crib that we all took turns sleeping in. Doll cradles, doll houses, wheel barrels, and wooden scooters were a delight at Christmas. He carved the needle that knitted the net which caught the fish and shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner.

My Mother stayed at home keeping busy with all of us. Keeping house, washing clothes, and always busy doing Mother things. She started two days before Christmas making fruitcakes, pies and a special Christmas coconut cake. The old walls would talk about the wonderful smells of food cooking.
They would talk about a mother who shared music, art, education, love, and laughter. They would talk about those big beautiful laughing brown eyes of mother Katie.

It has a familiar ring to it. The Walton's you say. No, it was the Edwards family sharing their bountiful and happy times at Christmas.