Christmas Memories

Grampasgleanings 20061214

Christmas Memories
December 14, 2006

‘Tis the season to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! I thought it appropriate to remain seasonal with some Christmas pictures from the past.

So last night I got out some boxes of old pictures. They have been stored on a shelf in the garage. I found all sorts of things—all very interesting. Now I’d like to make a pictorial book of our family. I need to do that before I forget the pictures that I still recognize. Don’t hold your breath. I haven’t been able to do a lot of things I’d like to do.

Anyway, I came across these pictures and I thought I’d share a few of them.

This picture was taken by a photographer in Pinto MD, south of Cumberland where we lived after seminary. We had gone there to start a Grace Brethren church, but that's another story for another time.

When things didn't work out we attended a Mennonite Church where he [Bob Johnson] was a member.


This picture goes way back to 1948. It is a picture of my brother standing in front of the Cmas tree--obviously. Can you make out the old black and white 12" TV just to his left? This was taken when we lived at 203 Cameron St in Alexandria VA. I think it was just after the war.


Now this one might be a little more difficult for you. It was taken in 1952 and is a picture of Chuck and Sheryl Lynn Sommer--your cousins. Sheryl Lynn [Rooks] now lives in Barberton OH., along with Aunt Eileen Sommer. Chuck, with his wife Debbie, live in Blairsville, GA. We stopped to see them



This picture was in the Radford News Journal in 1974. Fairlawn Brethren Church was the second place winner of the annual Christmas Parade. I don't know how we made it under all the power lines. It was an enormous undertaking. We must have been crazy.

We had just put up a large metal building on acreage we had purchased for a new church. We held Sunday school classes in it. Eventually they did build another church, but the building was never used much after we left. I also found this poem written many years ago by one of the Glass children. I thought it very appropriate. See if you can guess the name of the author.

What Christmas Means to Me

It means happy children with faces aglow,
and presents, and candy, and glistening snow.
It means a green tree with colors all bright,
and tinsel and candles that shine when it’s night.
It means a big dinner with turkey and dressing,
and bowing our heads and asking the blessing.
But this is not all that it means to me,
For it is the Birthday of Jesus you see.
When Jesus was born our dear Savior true,
He came to this earth for me and for you.
So on Christmas Day we give and receive
As Christ did for us that we might believe.

S/ ______Glass [circa 1970]

Never, ever forget the reason for the season! If Christ is not a part of Christmas there would be no happy holiday!

GpaG