I recently asked this question on-air and on Facebook:

When you think back to your favorite Christmas memory when you were a kid, is it a present?

An experience? Something else? Are there memories that immediately bubble up in your consciousness or does it take some time to try and remember something special about Christmas?

Even as an adult my Christmas memories are vivid, and circle all around my mom (my dad too). I remember making popcorn balls with Mom in our little kitchen in Detroit, cutting colorful construction paper into strips and making a pretty paper garland for the tree and sitting at the kitchen table making cutout Christmas cookies then sprinkling them with green and red colored sugar. And finally, once the tree was decorated my dad lifted me high so that I could place the pretty angel at the very top of the Christmas tree. Those memories still make me smile and are even more cherished now that dad has gone on to heaven. Here are a few of those favorite Christmas Memories (and presents) that were shared with me.

Rosie del Valle

"One year my parents decided to stay in Nebraska year-round for work. I was rather disappointed we weren’t back home in Texas with all my cousins and aunts and uncles, but I remember being so happy that we were at least, together as a family. I loved having lots of hot chocolate, blankets all over, and it was my very first white Christmas. My grandmother made tamales for the entire neighborhood and we took tamales to friends as we visited. What I loved the most in every Christmas memory was my grandmother’s warmth and how she made every place feel like home."

Kimberly Johnson

"My mom raised me as a single parent since my father left us before I was two years old. My grandparents were helpful, but my mom always wanted me to have a special Christmas each year.

This particular doll was out of her price range, but she didn’t let that stop her from making sure I had the best. She sacrificed often so that I never missed out. I still have all of the dolls, all in great condition as I wanted my mom to know that I appreciated all of her love and sacrifice for me. This is a photo of the first 'dolly' she ever gave me."

KariAnne Van Weelden

"My dad lost his job when I was 10. We had very little money. Christmas became a time of just being together. The best Christmas was when the ONLY thing I got was a comforter ... and I cherished it."

Taryn Brenneman

"Experience. My three sisters would gather in my room in the middle of the night and we would go two-

by-two downstairs to check out the presents. We would tape X’s on the stairs the night before where the wood made a creaking sound so my parents wouldn’t wake up. My dad would always change all the X’s around."

Michelle Bates-Phipps

"It is the traditions that we grew into as a family. Fruit in our stockings so we had a nutritious breakfast before we dug into the candy and chocolate that were also in there. Being able to open one present on Christmas Eve and spending the majority of Christmas Day with my Granny and all the family. I long for those days!"

Shannon Burgess

"Experience. My dad worked at the Muskegon paper mill. The company rented the L.C. Walker arena and hired talent for a Christmas show with of course Santa appearing at the end. Every child received   a gift. One year I picked a doll (Mrs. Beasley). Another year I selected a saucer (the good metal ones). The best part was our family all going together ... no fighting ... no bickering ... five girls you know!"

Tom Weschler

"It’s all of it! Christmas morning 1963, after getting in late from midnight Mass I rolled out early and under the tree was a box that read: 'Open me first.' It was a Kodak Super 27 camera, that went on to

be my go-to camera for my series of photographs of my TV, with The Beatles on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.’ It made my day and my life."

*Note: Tom went on to become a famous rock- and-roll photographer who documented musical history via photographs for over 40 years.

Dawn Vaculik

"Definitely an experience. I barely remember the gifts. But I remember the feeling of Christmas, waiting for my grandparents to arrive, the food, the endless hours spent opening gifts (mom over-did it) a puzzle being worked on, a marathon Monopoly game being left as-is. The year we dressed up to go out to dinner on Christmas Eve. I loved Christmas. Still do."

As memories fade over the years, it appears we can still recall some of those extra special experiences that made a lasting imprint on us. So, as you go about trying to make Christmas perfect in every way, do not lose sight of the fact that being present in the moment while making memories with those you love will actually be the most memorable part of Christmas.

Wishing you and yours the very best this holiday season.   - Kim Carson

Kim Carson - Kim is an Author/Radio/TV/Internet personality living in Southwest Michigan. Listen to her 5-10am on FM106.5, watch her on WGVU TV and learn more at www.kimcarson.online. Kim loves cats, calls her mom her best friend, enjoys hiking, farmers markets, photography and interviewing people because we all have a story to tell.