My Easy Bake Oven
When I was eight years old I wanted an Easy Bake Oven from Hasbro – so badly that I would visualize all the baking that I would do if I had one. This want became a need and so became my favorite memory of Christmas.
We all have special memories of Christmas, some more than others. To this day my memory of that Easy Bake Oven still brings me joy. It wasn’t only because it was one of the few Christmas’s the stars were aligned and we had enough for food and each a present under the tree but rather it was because that Christmas taught me the most valuable lesson of all – if you believed, I mean really believed in something, anything was possible.
You see our family had very little, my parents struggled to feed us. So presents, other than: an orange, a lump of coal (Mom’s idea of funny) and a roll of lifesavers, were luxuries not afforded to us. If Mom and Dad could afford a present for us, we might find a beautifully wrapped trinket from the local thrift store but even that was rare. But that Christmas I had faith and I was determined that this year would be different we would have enough for food and maybe one present each.
This memory so imprinted in me, that to this day, I hold it near and dear to my heart like a treasure one finds hidden deep within the Christmas tree. The memory so impactful, I wrote about it in Frock Off: Living Undisguised the chapter entitled Miracles, Meat Pies and a New Baby.
Each night before I slept I would pray that my parents would not be sad on Christmas morning because we too, like other families, would have a big Christmas dinner (as seen on TV), and that each of us would get one present we really wanted.
I wrote countless letters to Santa asking for him to help our family.
That Christmas all my prayers and wishes came true. We had food and presents! It truly was a miracle. To this day I am convinced that my prayers were answered because I believed that at Christmas anything is possible.
Almost anything is possible if you believe and do all you can to make it so.
So this Christmas,seems like as good of a time as any to believe that anything is possible. We continue to believe we must and can be the change we seek in the world. We as a family are committed to making it so.
Please share with us your favorite Christmas memory; whether it be tradition, toy, experience past or present, we would love to hear all about yours.
My favorite Christmas song? What yours?
This song is so beautiful it’s not about the size or cost of the gift but rather the intent. I absolutely love this song and it puts in perspective the true and heartfelt meaning of Christmas for me. May your season be filled with joy and love.
May this time bring you an abundance of joy and peace.
Merry Christmas,
Love Jo and Family
We are thrilled to report we are donating boxes and boxes of books to local shelters because of YOU and YOUR generosity. This is in addition to funds being raised for Little Warriors and Because I am a Girl.
We are also now on Amazon.Ca
The history of the easy bake oven:
bit.ly/1etdvSU
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