DISQUS

Emily-Sarah · 1 year ago

Exuberant and full of faith, excitement, and love, like the ones of my youth when I saw and felt things from a child's perspective. Real and genuine to the core, even with more distant relatives not seen often (getting through small talk to truly learn more about one another).

CristinaCC · 1 year ago

Simple & humble but elaborately filled with laughter, hearty food cooked by many, and great conversation. Intimate, sweet and loving.

Traci · 1 year ago

I love the way my family gatherings feel. When there is someone new in the mix, inevitably they say that they can't tell whose children belong to whom and who is married to whom and who was born into the family and who married in. We are one unit, as opposed to several units pushed together. I adore that.

I also adore Stealing Beauty. I vote for Jeremy Irons as King of the Universe.

Ellen · 1 year ago

I'm with Danielle on this one....I love those dinner scenes from Stealing Beauty.

DanielleLaPorte · 1 year ago

yes yes...it's a vision that pulls me forward. "Tuscany" is a mantra for me.

laurie_matthews · 1 year ago

Warm, filled with conversation, laughter, games and music. Surrounded by family and close friends. Time stands still.

Storyeller · 1 year ago

fun that borders on frostbite, at least three generations gathered for a reading of St Luke around the fire place, a turkey so big it barely gets into the oven, carols - the only time of the year I hear my grandpa singing.

candylee · 1 year ago

Warm and fuzzy, funny movies, laughter and hugs, and lots of hot tea.

shannon · 1 year ago

Our family gatherings feel wonderfully warm, welcoming and never predictable. We love to have friends join us and it's not unusual for us to include people we know that might not be able to be with family. We have an abundance of music, food and storytelling. I love to hear our children sing and play music with their father ..... it's the Maritime way. Our tradition of a Christmas Day Family Run has grown to include friends and neighbours and a post run brunch.; so I love the feeling of community. Thanks goes to my Uncle Skip for the family run tradition (we do it for Easter and Thanksgiving too).

Chynna · 1 year ago

When I was a little girl the only sense of family I had was when we got to go to our grandparents house at Christmas. Helping Grandpa decorate the tree, smelling the turkey cooking in the oven, Bing Crosby on the stereo....*sigh*

Now, my partner and I have family two provinces away--some as far as Nova Scotia and Australia!!--and my kids just have us. So, I try my best to make sure I give them fond Christmas memories every year. Especially for Jaimie who isn't able to enjoy the holidays the same way the rest of us can with her severe sensory issues. BUT...we open a few gifts each day, have lots of calm down time, provide easy to taste foods and life is good.

All I want is for the kids to have fun. Nothing else matters as much.

Chynna

TheresaL · 1 year ago

I like gatherings with family, friends and "the girls" to feel warm, happy, comfortable, at ease, content, cozy .

Soft lighting, pretty serviettes and table cloth, great music - the type of which depends on the gathering or celebration, lots of laughter and light conversation; good food - usually Italian, Thai, BBQ or variety of fish. Always some type of "salad" or greens and cheeses, to be enjoyed with really great bread like, baquette, focaccia, cornetti, or piadina, and of course great vino - chilled white and always, not matter what is being served, the family favourite - our homemade red-dry.

Everyone arrives feeling welcome and everyone leaves feeling truly blessed !

Kristen · 1 year ago

At the end of the movie, "Cheaper by the Dozen", when Steve Martin is quietly watching his family at Christmas dinner. They are laughing and story telling and the look on his face says, "This is what it's all about." I love to sit back at the height of the chaos and do the same.

Cobby · 12 months ago

I want our family gatherings to feel just like they are when we spend Christmas at my parents' house. It's the "glorious chaos" and noise of a big family who all have mutual admiration for one another. My mother does Christmas so well that it just feels right. She makes the house beautiful and comfortable with surroundings that feel warm. My sisters and I cook (one of us requires the assistance of her significant other because she's such a bad cook but that's okay too). Food and beverages flow as does the conversation and joking. Stories are told, new ones are made from our guffaws and we all leave with bellies and hearts full.

GenuineTreasure · 11 months ago

Relaxed and comfortable, accepting. Everyone lounging around, making themselves at home, laughter, hugs.