Looking back we all have our most memorable Christmas. Whether it was a favorite gift, happening, person present, or place you were it just keeps coming up as a special time. Mine was the year I was 7; for some reason my Mother went over-board with gifts for me, I got a doll, a baking set and a doll carriage. Now for some people that would not seem like much, but for our family that was a BIG Christmas. My parents weren’t wealthy and I know that something was sacrificed for me to have all that. I think it had to do with my age and the fact that Mother thought I needed that stuff then. As I watch the grands get bigger I realize they are out-growing certain toys (and it breaks my heart) so if you don’t grasp the moment the fun will be gone. That doesn’t necessarily have only to do with material stuff but with making memories in things you do with them. Recently I had the privilege to keep to Great-grands that live in Maine, we took them to Chocolate World and had a good time but I know that in 2 or 3 years that just won’t do it. So grasp the moment.
Christmas Shopping Then and Now
When I was a little girl I had a Christmas Savings Account that each week I would go to the bank and give them 10 cents and they would stamp my book and tear out the page. Then about December 15th I would get a check in the mail for $5, that was my shopping money. I lived in the country but we went to town every Friday and that is when I shopped. In those days I would go to stores all by myself, it was quite safe in Mount Joy, and off I would go to the few stores that were there. I got gifts for my parents, brothers and most of all my dolls (they were very real to me). The $5 covered that, looking back it seems unreal, but there was a five and dime in town and it really was a place to buy things for a nickle and dime, so the money stretched.
Now I shop online and only go to the mall if I must. The shoppes in Mount Joy have changed completely but we do have some that offer nice gifts that aren’t costly. A few years ago I bought most of my gifts in town at those neat shoppes. This year I made something for everyone so the shopping is minimal. I can’t tell what it is just in case my kids or grands actually read this 
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Christmas in Lancaster County
Can you believe I was watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel this weekend????
Well, as much as I live in denial of where the times goes, we are approaching the season and it comes earlier and earlier every year. Merchants, like QVC were marketing gifts before October, and I admit, that probably for the first time, I did some catalog shopping in August. Christmas is so much more than all this stuff. Lititz Moravian Church does a beautiful Christmas Service several time before Christmas, it is worth the effort. The Littiz Historical Foundation is also doing a Carol Sing in December. Many churches in the area have cantatas as well. The reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.
Speaking of Christmas
Okay, maybe you weren’t really speaking of Christmas but stuff is crossing my desk about Christmas, so I thought maybe now is the time for you to give it some thought.
Here at Vogt Farm we are not going to be issuing Gift certificates any longer but we recommend that you purchase them from the Authentic Bed and Breakfasts of Lancaster County. I would love to have your friends and family so they can use that Gift Certificate to stay here. If you want I will send you a rack card to put with the gift certificate, just email or call.
That covers the gift idea for Christmas but there is much more…..the dinner theatres, American Music theatre,the house tours (I don’t have the full list yet), shopping, and don’t forget Pa Ren Faire. So you see we have lots of ways to celebrate and have fun. Some of this starts even before Thanksgiving.