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According to Angie Roop, “Christmas is all about love – God’s love for us, that
He gave His only Son to die for our sins, our love for Him and for our family and
on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, their son Jonathan and his wife Olivia
friends. Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving
visit as they all open gifts and indulge in a delicious dinner. “My dressing doesn’t
each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and
compare to Mama’s, but I always try!”
less fortunate. Even the decorations reflect our joy and celebrate the season. The
As an adult, she may not anticipate Santa’s arrival as much as she used to,
spirit of Christmas should stay with us throughout the year.” It is this spirit that
but Angie has found new ways to get excited about Christmas. This includes
Angie enjoys seeing in others every December.
decorating her home. “I usually start the week after Thanksgiving. There is so
Growing up in the 1950s, Angie was the youngest of three girls. Christmas was
an exciting time of year. Angie’s father, a department store manager, stayed busy
during the holiday season and only had half of Christmas Day off. Angie loved
spending the day with just her parents and siblings. “The first tree I remember
is the one where Daddy went out and cut down two scrawny pine trees and tied
them together. Once we put lights and icicles on it, it was pretty. We put out shoeboxes and Santa left us fruit and nuts in them. Then, our gifts were left unwrapped
much stuff for us to unpack and put out. It takes days to get it all done. Once all
the boxes are down from the attic, I move some furniture around to make room
for the main tree in the living room. I gradually start with organizing things into
groups in the rooms they’ll be used in. Kitchen Santas, gingerbread men, carolers
are sorted in the kitchen, all on the table and counters; other carolers and Santas
and elves are grouped in the living room and den, and so on. After the sorting,
I start on the big tree. I want it finished before I do the rest of the decorating.”
Angie enlists the help of her close friend Leigh Sanders in order to get every-
around the room. It took me years to figure out that all our gifts came from
thing done in time. “I love all the decorations and the joy of the finished product.
Daddy’s store.” Her favorite memory, however, is when the family was able to get
It takes several days to get it all in place just right. Then VOILA! I love to sit by the
an aluminum tree with a revolving color wheel. “I thought that was the greatest
fire early in the mornings with a cup of coffee surrounded by Christmas. This is my
thing I’d ever seen! I still have that 55-year-old tree packed away in my attic.”
special time to meditate and pray and read devotionals. At night, I curl up by the
Although the days of her childhood have come and gone, Angie has kept the
with His very own birthday cake. She also cherishes attending Midnight Mass
fire with a good book and Molly and Hedwig, our sweet cats. What contentment.”
tradition of spending Christmas Day with family. “It doesn’t happen at one big
One of her favorite aspects of the decorating process is unpacking and holding
gathering, but we spread ourselves around. Life is so busy, but we always want
each ornament, reflecting on each piece. “I have ornaments from my childhood,
our families to know how special they are.” When her parents were living, she
some as gifts from special friends and family, some from places we’ve been and
and her family would go to their home on Christmas Day for dinner and gifts.
lots from my former students.” Her most cherished ones, however, are ones that
Nowadays to celebrate, they all go to Angie’s sister’s house the weekend before
flood Angie’s mind with memories of her sons when they were young.
Christmas. Angie’s favorite part of the day is when they celebrate Jesus’ birthday
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SHEMAGAZIN E.COM
DECEMBER 2015
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