Last night at the King Family Christmas party, our friend Wendy got up and told the story of her childhood Christmases in Australia. Her father ran a general store that was open 365 days a year, even half a day on Christmas. On Christmas, she and her brothers would watch Christmas shows on TV, and wait for their father to get home from the store. Their father believed in each person getting only one gift, so they'd wait all day to open their one gift, and that was Christmas. She asked her father, "Why can't we have a Christmas like they have on TV and the movies?" and her father said, "That stuff is only on TV. It isn’t real." But Wendy never stopped dreaming about those sparkly Christmases she saw every year on TV.
When she grew up, Wendy came to California on vacation, where
she met and fell in love with a lovely man - and because of him, she would never leave California.
They were married twenty years ago, and had a family. Little did she know when
she met him that this man was part of the King Family- the family known for
their annual Christmas specials. Troy and I have been part of the King Family’s
annual holiday party and Christmas Show for 15 years, and let me tell you-
nobody does Christmas like the King Family. Wendy’s Christmases now are far
beyond the ones she saw in the movies. Every year, Christmas is sparkling and
full of song and family and joy. I love Wendy’s story because it is such a strong testament to
the power of dreams.
Sing-a-long at the King Family Christmas party. |
Christmas has always been a special time of year for me.
After all, I’m born in December and named after a Christmas plant. But beyond
that, it is a time of hope. It’s a time when my family always pulled it
together to be our best selves, no matter what else was happening in our lives.
My childhood was not so bright and merry. Domestic violence,
a dad in prison, and being shuffled around to relatives made me long for a
normal, stable life. I would count the days every week until the Partridge
Family show came on TV. I was riveted to the screen. Like Wendy watching her
Christmas shows, I watched the Partridge Family and not only wanted to be like them, I wanted to BE them. And my favorite Christmas album? ---------->
Many years later, I married a musician,
raised some musical kids, and now we record Christmas songs together every
year. This is my Christmas/Partridge family dream-come-true. Our Christmas Family album
is our gift to you, (download for free and share with friends, if you like) in
the hopes that it inspires you to never think a dream is too big, or that you
can’t have it, or that it doesn’t exist. Remember Wendy’s story, and be
inspired.
Our wish for you this holiday season in that you hold on to
your dreams.
(Listen to our Family Affair Holiday Album while you peruse the internet by clicking below, or feel free to download the whole album for free.)
<3 you!
ReplyDeleteLove to you and your family, Laura. Especially those little munchkins.
DeleteYou, Dexters, are so beautiful, inside and out. Thank you for this. Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year. Love you, Tina Cole
ReplyDeleteThank you Tina! And thank you for sharing your beautiful King family traditions with Troy and I every year. We are so honored.
DeleteBig love to you and all you magnificent Kings!
These are truly beautiful stories! As someone who comes from a big family that goes all out for Christmas, I can only imagine Wendy's Christmas' growing up and what the transition to the King family Christmas was like for her. Your family Christmas album is fantastic and I wish you the merriest of Christmas'!
ReplyDeleteEliseo Weinstein @ JR's Bail Bonds