Memories from A round Town readers

This year Around Town asked our Facebook what their fondest Christmas memory was. Below are the comments we received. We did a drawing for a spiral ham and the winner was Tonya Mattox of Flemingsburg. Thank you to all for sharing with us, it’s always great fun to read them!

Connie Porter Saunders — Going to see Santa Claus on Christmas Eve at the Fleming County Courthouse. He somehow managed to find time to stop on his whirlwind trip.

Barb Hill — Every Christmas is a wonderful memory for me! But the most remembered and cherished gift I got was from my Dad. I was 10 years old and Dad loved to make a game out of gift giving so this year I had to look for my present. He had tied a ribbon on the most beautiful pearl and diamond ring and hid it on a branch on the Christmas tree I thought I was never going to find it I will never forget how beautiful it was and how happy it made me! I sure miss my Dad.

Kathy Donohew Sorrell — During Christmas 2015 my mother was very sick. We had been taking care of her and doing the housework etc… for a while. We all prepared the dinner but none of us can make the gravy the way she could do it. She stood up on her walker and made the gravy for our family’s Christmas dinner. She would have to sit down several times but she got it done the way only she could do.

Dorothy Hardymon — I have lots of memories, as Christmas is my birthday. We had very few toys but we were happy. We always had fruit n candy. I received a metal kitchen set and dishes. I loved it!

Sherry Maze — My favorite memory, my Mother’s wonderful tasting jam cake, she made one every Christmas.

Angie McIntyre Lee — Memories of coming to town to see Santa Clause at the Court House, we didn’t come to town often or go many places so this was extra special. We would always eat out and that wasn’t done a lot and I can remember getting a coke in a glass and how it would burn going down. Just watching everyone being so happy, standing in line for Santa and getting your bag of nuts and candy that you were so proud of even though you didn’t like much of what was in the bag.

Brandy Jones — My favorite memory is of my dad’s parents who lived in New York always sent me packages at Christmas. They always had home made sugar cookies. They were amazing!

Nettie Hallman — My favorite memory is walking to town with my Mom on Christmas Eve Day and picking up apples, oranges, nuts, candy and food for Christmas Day. Then on Christmas people would come to the house and it was like big party just people laughing and enjoying themselves. The kids would run to each other’s house to see what everyone got for Christmas.

Amber Hester — My favorite Christmas memory was when I was little we would go to my grandparents houses and eat the most delicious food!

Stephanie Hamilton Hawkins — Since my birthday is just a few days before Christmas it is hard to remember if it was a gift for birthday or Christmas. However, I have a great memory of a blue aluminum table and chair set. It made me feel so grown up and special.

Regena Crawford — When my mom and Dad and my brother was living and we all gather at moms for Christmas and big Christmas dinner and we all talked laughed and had a good time miss all of that.

Jessica Lamar — One memory of Christmas I haven’t forgotten when I was little my papaw took us to see Earnest Saves Christmas I have said since then it’s not Christmas until I see Earnest. Holiday’s are hard but you never forget the memories.

Tiffany Vanlandingham — My favorite memory was going to both my grandparents house! Both sides are gone now and its something I miss so much! Wish my daughter had gotten the chance to meet them all!

Charlotte Bromagen — My favorite memory is watching my children be so excited looking at the stuff Santa brought to them!! They were such good girls that they always got a lot of wonderful presents!

Amanda Roland — Always gathering with my family on Christmas Day and spending time with them is my favorite memory every year!

Teresa Conway — On Christmas Eve right before we head to bed, I read the book, The Night Before Christmas.

Kionna Jolly — This memory hasn’t come yet but this year it’s our sons first Christmas can’t wait to watch him with all the presents!

Vanessa Davis Martin — My family always hosted the annual Christmas Eve party. I remember one year the adult’s put all of us kids to bed in one room so that they could continue the party. They woke us up at midnight after Santa had come to open gifts. It was the last year of our annual party before several of our loved ones passed on. It is a precious memory.

Sue Hawkins Harmon — Going to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve night with all of my aunts/uncles/cousins.

Jan Brown — Going with our dad to pick out and cut our live tree out in the woods.

Stephanie Ramey Kabler — Performing in the Christmas play on Christmas Eve at Locust Methodist church.

Marie Hunt — Was when Santa brought me my Poodle dog.

Connie Johnson — One of my favorites, we didn’t have a lot but there was a dollar store down town Flemingsburg and every day when I walked home from school I looked in the window at a little record player and I told mom and dad that was all I wanted. I know now they sacrificed to get that for me dad always tried to make sure we had some candy and fruit and I also enjoyed going to see Santa at the courthouse. The first time I ever remember him in town was in front of Wright’s Hardware store many years ago.

Tonya Renee Bailey — My favorite Christmas memory was 10 years ago. Our furnace quit on Christmas Eve. We had a family member come and assist in trying to repair it. Several parts were removed and it was determined it would not be able to be repaired until Dec. 28th due to holiday store closures and the weekend. I refused to leave our home on Christmas Eve. (Stubborn.)

So we borrowed several electric heaters and I stayed up all night watching the heaters for safety. Around 3 a.m. the temp in the house dropped to around 47, even with the heaters. I prayed aloud, went to the hallway and looked at the thermostat and asked for a little miracle.

Returned to the sofa and the furnace kicked on. Parts and all lying in the hallway. It worked until we could get the new parts on Dec. 28th. That is by far, my favorite Christmas memory of all.

Sandy Foster Hamilton — At eight years of age, I dreamed of a Barbie camper. It took everything my parents had, but I got it!

Janice Cox — The year after we moved into our new house he bought me a big lamp that was in 1968 still have the lamp.

Casey Royse Weaver — My grandparents gave us a letter and $20. The $20 was to pay it forward to someone else. So I have three children. So we would receive $80. There are 56 people in our extended family. So you can imagine how neat it was to see and hear how all those pay it forwards played out. My favorite Christmas memories. I miss my grandparents so much!

Debra Johnson Alexander — The Christmas celebration in Flemingsburg with Friendship night and the parade. Town was so busy with all the shoppers. It was all so festive and sometimes snowing. A big part of Christmas!

Jerri Metz Highley — My whole family being together has always been my sweetest and best memories.

Mary Lynn Vice — Going to both grandparents home and Mamaw and Papaw Stephens would come home with us to stay all.

Rhonda Leet — My greatest Christmas gift died on a cross for my sins. Thank you Jesus.

Paula Jane Gray Hunter — Going Christmas caroling through Cowan with the church and enjoying hot chocolate and cookies after.

Lisa Emmons — Going to my grandparents and all the family coming together.

Rachel Gray Emmons — Driving around looking at everyone’s Christmas lights!

Bill Cannon — Coming home from a year and one day in Vietnam (USAF) first part of December 1969 - was so great to be with family and friends. Still makes me think about this time of year every year. Thanks- “Merry Christmas” to ALL!

Cathy Harris — My greatest gift was being raised in a Christian home, and every Christmas morning before we opened gifts, my Dad would read the story of Jesus Birth from his Bible.

Tonya France Mattox — My very first cabbage patch kid!! Bonnie Schwartz Porter — Going to courthouse to see Santa Claus and get a paper bag full of treats.

Georgianna Sparks — Christmas waiting on line by age on the steps of our house.

Stacy Holbrook Bowlin — Family getting together!

Kim Crouch — My first Christmas gift from my husband in 1985 it was a rocking horse music box.

Kay Gulley Hargett — Spending time with family!!

Melissa Hall — Two years into Landon’s diagnosis of Leukemia, he was well enough through Christmas, so we made bags of gifts for all the Children in the Hematology/Oncology Children’s UK Hospital and delivered them...all the sick children who were spending Christmas in the Hospital sick and weren’t able to be home...It felt so good to give back a little, as we knew very much what it was like to spend Christmas at UK. I pray for all those children every day.