the ladies from church are sponsoring a couple families with 12 days of Christmas. One family is a couple and the other is a single mother with 2 children. The boy is 6 and the girl is 4. Tonight was our turn to play elf. Our 16 and 13 year old were our "runners" and placed the gifts on the porch, rang the bell, and ran. It was a hoot watching them. I also know the families really well and I know how much the kids will enjoy this. I'm also proud of my girls because they volunteered to be "runners" for other people who bought gifts but aren't fleet of foot.
Originally Posted by Larry Sr.:
Volpin
So cool!
Son arriving home from Afgan tomorrow. were headed to his home in Enterprise Alabama in the early AM. Your song hits the spot. I couldn't help but listen to it twice.
Larry
Larry, please thank your son for his service and sacrifice on our behalf. What branch is he in? Glad I could help out in some small way. 
Originally Posted by MartyE:
This year work is keeping me from the Christmas Spirit. Vacations that were scheduled are slowly disappearing. The work load and time tables mean less time off and more stress. I don't see this being a stellar year for Christmas spirit for me until we hit December 24th.
Marty,
For a guy that contributes as much to this Hobby as you do. You deserve the Spirit sooner …I mean that!
Hopefully you’ll get jump on the Spirit and not have to wait till the 24th..
Happy Holidays to you and your Family..
K.C.
Thanks to Everyone …so far, for all the Spirit Boosting thoughts and suggestions.
For Everyone else who are still Spiritless don’t forget to try the Smell trigger..
Sometimes the smell of Cookies and baked goodies can help!!
Perhaps a good whiff of Ozone from your favorite Engine will help you get your Spirit on..
Seasons Greetings..
K.C.
For Everyone else who are still Spiritless don’t forget to try the Smell trigger..
Sometimes the smell of Cookies and baked goodies can help!!
Perhaps a good whiff of Ozone from your favorite Engine will help you get your Spirit on..
Seasons Greetings..
K.C.
For me, one flurry is all it takes to start jingling. K-LOVE starts playing a carol or two, then a local station goes all-Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, then the cards start showing up and the guys put the lights up. This year is special because we nearly lost our neighbor last summer, and he was well enough to do his big Christmas light display.
We winnowed the new Christmas stories down to a dozen (well, ten Christmas and two Chanukah) and we're finishing up the photography. Even starting early, we didn't have the paper copies ready, but there'll be a (free) .pdf of it all.
The holiday music is really what gets me excited, and so many ideas to draw out Christmas art or running my trains. It's always the thing that comes first in making Christmas sink in for me.
Does it for me.
Originally Posted by Volphin:
When I go shopping for the kids and grandkids and this song plays on the radio.
This is one of my favorite Christmas albums.
Christmas Music and a good stiff drink.
Buying a nice PW Lionel steam engine- like a 763 or something like that. My Xmas spirit would be on overload !!
Church and a" A Charlie Brown Christmas".
No matter what network TV, cable TV, commercials and what weirdo's do and say to change it...into HOLIDAYS and SEASONS and XMAS.
CHRISTMAS is a religious holiday...PERIOD.
Originally Posted by Dennis:
Church. If you attend church regularly it's pretty hard to not get in the mood. By the time you celebrate His coming all through Advent, you are well into the spirit. The shopping for family gifts keeps you in the spirit too. At my age, memories of joyous Christmas's past abound. Being a life-long church choir member with all that beautiful music really gets me in the mood too.
.....
Dennis
Well said, Dennis. I'm not in the choir, but church is what gets me in the Christmas spirit for sure. Celebrating the world's most important birthday.
Art
Originally Posted by wild mary:
Does it for me.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Michael Buble and all my Christian and Country Christmas music I listen to from Third Day and Casting Crowns to Blake Shelton and Jim Reves. My music folder just for Christmas music alone is almost half a gig. Can listen for a couple days non stop. Has been helping some this year and even started thanksgiving night.
Good choices in singers Rick. I imagine the music will be equally as good. Bob Severin
Grew up listening to my mom play those old Christmas records and never get tired of listening to the old crooners. I like to set the player to shuffle, so you never know what song or artist is next. I like the mix of styles and diffrent versions of the songs together. George Strait would finish then a track from Polar Express or something else. Since the file lists all the songs by Artist first then track number, I can listen to an album or let it run depending on what I'm in the mood for.
I must confess, it is hard to have spirit post my mothers passing last year. She made all my Christmas's so very special. Her presence is greatly missed by my father and I.
Yet, I know she would not want my father and I to sit around sulking and feeling bad either. So, I put up all those lovely decorations my mother collected throughout the years and did what she would have done. Add to that a special personal touch and my father and I both feel Christmas Spirit.
My Mother will never really be gone so long as I remember her and all she did for our family.
Pete
The movies on the Hallmark channel. The Christmas decorations in the stores and on people's homes. Hearing Christmas songs on the radio.
Originally Posted by jim sutter:
The movies on the Hallmark channel.
So, you get into the spirit in August?
Joe Hohmann,
I did watch the Christmas movies when they were on the Hallmark channel this summer. I really love those movies.
#1 Trains!.. It all started at Christmas.
Charlie Brown. Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Guy Lombardo, Jimmy Stewart, and Art Carney....http://youtu.be/P0s3EznU26k?t=25s
Receiving my credit card bill
Originally Posted by electroliner:
Receiving my credit card bill
LOL! I feel your pain!
The whole ball o wax, Nativity scenes, Christmas trees, baking cookies,(yes I do this with WIFEY), decorating, Christmas lights, snow, more snow, and of course trains.
Time is Running Out… What About the rest of You, do you have the “Christmas Spirit” Yet?
Just reading all the Great replies (so far) makes me Love this time of Year all the more.
Thanks
K.C.
Just reading all the Great replies (so far) makes me Love this time of Year all the more.
Thanks
K.C.
All of the above great comments regarding what gets us in the Christmas
spirit. For me in recent years - Ralphie.
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah
Billy C
I get my Christmas Spirit at midnight Christmas morning when the Glen Rock Carolers start their first song of their all night trek throughout the town.
Gene Anstine
Hang in there "train yard" things do get easier. I lost my oldest sister last year in December, my dad 6 years ago on Christmas morning, and my mom 22 years ago on December 14th. Two years ago today I was in a store and lost the ability to lift my foot (foot drop) which required surgery to be able to walk without a brace to hold my foot up. Christmas time has always been a little rough but it is a magical time. I don't celebrate it like I used to because the kids are 16 and 13, so the "magic" is gone. I like to turn my attention to doing something good for someone else. Try doing something like that in honor of your mother. Pick a family and be an "Elf" and make their Christmas magical. It will make yours magical too!
I must confess, it is hard to have spirit post my mothers passing last year. She made all my Christmas's so very special. Her presence is greatly missed by my father and I.
Yet, I know she would not want my father and I to sit around sulking and feeling bad either. So, I put up all those lovely decorations my mother collected throughout the years and did what she would have done. Add to that a special personal touch and my father and I both feel Christmas Spirit.
My Mother will never really be gone so long as I remember her and all she did for our family.
Pete
As a member in good standing of the Broadloom Conspiracy - being told by the CFO that the living room floor is mine to do with as I wish for the next two weeks.
Originally Posted by Robert S. Butler:
As a member in good standing of the Broadloom Conspiracy - being told by the CFO that the living room floor is mine to do with as I wish for the next two weeks.
CFO, Is that the Chief Flooring Officer?
Volpin
Just got back
To answer your question. CW-4 U.S. Army. He fly's Chinooks and Black Hawks.
I will tell him what you said. PTC your right , it was a outstanding Christmas gift.
Thanks Larry
K.C. Jones started this thread 7 years ago in Dec. 2014. I just found it and really enjoyed reading all of the comments. The different things get you in the Christmas spirit. I wonder if the same things still hold true for the guys who posted a few years back, maybe they'll chime in and let us know.
For me, I start getting the Christmas spirit as soon as my favorite eggnog hits the shelves. (It finally made it into the Florida market this season). Then start planning for our big Christmas train display in Jacksonville and playing Christmas music in my train room. Oh, and I can't forget decorating the house.
Doug
Merry Christmas, Doug.
Putting the Christmas lights on the house Thanksgiving weekend, cutting the tree at a farm (not a good crop this year by me), and finally ... walking out the door this morning and getting surprised by snow on the ground (been unseasonably warm this fall).
@boomer0622 posted:... For me, I start getting the Christmas spirit as soon as my favorite eggnog hits the shelves. ...
I just discovered eggnog two years ago. Just the name never appealed to me. Some family brought it over. Didn't know what I was missing. Yummm ....
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@Dennis posted:Church. If you attend church regularly it's pretty hard to not get in the mood. By the time you celebrate His coming all through Advent, you are well into the spirit. The shopping for family gifts keeps you in the spirit too. At my age, memories of joyous Christmas's past abound. Being a life-long church choir member with all that beautiful music really gets me in the mood too.
.....
Dennis
Amen. "On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh!"
Trans Siberian Orchestra! WOW!!
As I was cleaning track the other day I realized I was doing the same things as I did 55-60 years ago. Listening to sixties music interspersed with Christmas songs by Perry Como, The Ronnettes, Burl Ives, Andy Williams, etc. while preparing the platform. But, with not being concerned about homework. As Yogi Berra once said, “ It was like deja vu; all over again “.
We drive around town looking at all the Christmas lights gets me going. Plus knowing I have the last 2 weeks of the year off really relaxes me. Time for trains!
My great niece comes into town around Thanksgiving and we set up the Christmas tree.
I also love "Twisted Christmas" carols by the Bob Rivers comedy group.
That does it for me.
Working lots of overtime to pay the Christmas bills. lol.
