Deseret News
‘Christmas I Remember Best’
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By Pat Nelson Bair
This is the seventh of 10 essays selected to be published in the Deseret News annual Christmas writing contest, “Christmas I Remember Best.”
It had been a busy time of year, even though most of the Christmas presents had been purchased early and carefully hidden away. It wouldn’t take much to please our three small children, the oldest being only 4.
To help with family expenses, my husband had taken an extra job at a department store for the holiday rush. Now all that was left was last-minute baking. A good thing, since our checking account showed there could be no more trips to the store.
Deseret News
‘Christmas I Remember Best’
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Matthew Curtis
By Matthew Curtis
This is the fifth of 10 essays chosen to be published in the Deseret News annual Christmas writing contest, “Christmas I Remember Best.”
Though some memories are painful, time has a way of healing hearts and casting even dark times into better light. The Christmas of 2012 is definitely memorable but one I have chosen to avoid thinking about much.
My father, whom his grandchildren called “Papa,” was dying. He had fought cancer heroically for the previous eight years and we felt we had all been the recipients of miracles during the ordeal.
Deseret News
‘Christmas I Remember Best’
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Michael Probst, Associated Press
By Sandra Beecroft Allen
This is the fourth of 10 essays selected to be published in the Deseret News annual Christmas writing contest, “Christmas I Remember Best.”
During World War II our father was killed in a tragic accident while he worked at the large copper smelter in Douglas, Arizona. This left my widowed mother, Ruth Beecroft, with nine children to raise on her own. Times were tough and money was scarce. The Christmas I Remember Best was in 1946; we called it “The Giving Christmas.”
I had a wonderful older brother named Robert who was often called “Bob.” Bob was a star in our family. As a high school student, Bob had an outgoing personality, a great “Mickey Rooney” smile, and a disposition to match. He was well liked and considered “popular,” so I listened carefully to everything he said.
Deseret News
‘Christmas I Remember Best’
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Adobe Stock
This is the second of 10 essays selected to be published in the Deseret News annual Christmas writing contest, “Christmas I Remember Best.”
My husband and I had been thinking of adoption since our marriage five years earlier, fostering children along the way.
We had picked (actually my husband was impressed strongly by God) a large sibling group who lived half a state away, and hosted them for a trial at Thanksgiving. They agreed to come and be adopted and did so on New Year’s Day.
We had bought presents for other children over the years of course, but this year as we shopped, worked and planned for their first Christmas (albeit, slightly delayed) with us, we were intentional in our choices, including some things we hoped they’d keep to show their children some day.