82-Lancasler Farming, Saturday, December 15, 1990
Family
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.)
—The Creveling’s two-story Ger
man home in Mount Joy glows
with coziness during the holiday
season.
It’s the little touches that make
Christmas truly memorable,
believe Sue and Rick, parents of
Kristen, 8, and Katie, 5.
Family traditions of turkey din
ners, cookie baking, and sing-a
longs have been passed through
the generations. Now the Crevel
ings are adding some of their own
to enrich their children’s lives.
The Christmas season begins
officially after Thanksgiving when
Rick takes his annual trek to a local
bookstore to find tapes to add to his
stock of Christmas music.
“I think music sets the atmo
sphere,” he said. “It’s amazing
what the kids pick up by listening
to music.”
Then the family cuts down its
own tree. While Sue and the girls
decorate it, Rich picks out music
for the season that spreads an air of
anticipation.
Sue said, “I like the tree decor
ated with things the children make.
Our tree is more of a homey, sub
dued tree rather than a glitzy one.”
Each ornament the child places
is left where attached and not
moved to a more eye-balanced
spot because Sue believes it is
important that children have confi
dence that they do a good job.
“We put on the lights and take
an evening to decorate the tree,”
Sue said. “The holiday music and
the real tree smell put us in a
Christmasy mood.”
A crackling fire in one of the
four fireplaces in the Crevlings’
home encourages drop-in guests to
linger. Sue has a bowl of popcorn
and other holiday goodies ready to
serve guests.
With Sue’s sister, Donna Court
ney, traditional candies and cook
ies, and breads are prepared that
spread a delicious aroma through
out the house.
The open staircase is decorated
with sways of holiday greens. A
lace tablecloth angled on top of a
solid red one, is ready for guests.
Sue found that a tray or dish
draped with red or green tissue
while holiday music fills the house. They use mostly hand
made ornaments or those given by friends.
es
Holidays are shared with extended family memories.
From left: Kristen, 8; Grandma and Grandpa DeSI erdt;
paper and filled with snacks adds a
festive touch.
For creative recycling, Sue cut
in half a lace tablecloth that got a
hole in the middle but was still
good around the edges and draped
it along two of the fireplace man
tels. She tied ribbons at intervals to
scallop the cloth’s edges. Greens,
pinecones, Christmas balls and
poinsettias are intertwined among
the family photos on the mantels.
Each year, the Crevelings give
three gifts that are symbolic of the
three gifts the Christ child
received. The three gifts include
something the child needs, some-
S*- ** »* <'
Drop-in guests are welcomed by this festive table setting. Kristen enjoys serving
guests cranberry bread that is easily sliced when using the wooden slotted bread
holder.
thing the child requested, and a
surprise.
“We don’t use credit cards; we
pay cash,” the Crevelings said.
“Our focus is not materialistic, but
symbolic of the real reason to cele
brate Christmas the birth of
Jesus,” Sue said.
One year, a family member
wrote scripture verses in calligra
phy and rolled the messages like a
scroll and placed them by each
plate. Each guest read aloud the
verse by his or her plate.
On Christmas Day, the Crevel
tngs read the Christmas story to
their children.
Sue recalls that her dad always
took pictures of his children, still
dressed in the nightgowns, coming
down the stairs on Christmas
morning. Somewhat embarrassed
by that during her teen years. Sue
now finds it entertaining to review
each year’s celebration.
iue am
Rick and his two older brothers
recall taking their stockings to
their parents’ bedroom on Christ
mas morning. His father would
light the tree, and the children
would open the presents. Invariab
ly, their mother would ask, “Did
you get what you wanted?”
Then his father would hurry to
the garage to bring in one last gift
for the boys to enjoy.
c H/oips
Ing.
irevel
Like most families, the Crevel
ings find that holidays are even
more special when extended fami
ly members share in the occasion.
Each year, they alternate visiting
between the two sets of
grandparents.
The Crevelings and Sue’s
parents, Arthur and Alice
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