The Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 18PAGE 18.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016.
Special tree ornaments amother/daugher tradition
A family event
The Hoppers have plenty of traditions when the holidays roll around, one of which is brand new
ornaments for the children every Christmas Eve from their mother. From left: Jenna, Roger,
Debbie and Caleigh Hopper. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Christmas around the Hopper
house near Belgrave has some
deeply rooted traditions, while at the
same time it gets a bit of a face-lift
every year.
Debbie Hopper, an employee with
Wingham Community Living and a
dedicated member of the Knox
United Church congregation,
ensures that she and her husband
Roger's daughters, Jenna and
Caleigh, each receive a new
ornament for the Christmas tree
every year.
The Hopper Christmas tree is
adorned with numerous handmade
or hand -painted ornaments bearing
the girls' names. These are in
addition to a number of ornaments
that hold personal significance to the
family, including one that belongs to
Roger, an employee of Huron
Bay Co-op, that harkens back to
his pet dog that has since passed
away.
The special ornament tradition
goes even further back, however, for
Debbie and her family.
Debbie's mother passed away
when Debbie was 13, so the
ornament gift is really one of a
mother/daughter symbol that holds
great significance for both Debbie
and her daughters.
When Roger was growing up in
Kitchener, the youngest of four
children, Christmas was always held
at his parents' house and it always
finished off with a big turkey dinner.
Debbie was one of six siblings
growing up on Cardiff Road and she
also remembers a big Christmas
meal every year.
Merry Christmas
From Our Family To Yours
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Broker: Steve Nixon
Wingham
519-357-2222
website:
wwwstevennixon.com e�
It was important for Debbie and
her family to have a real Christmas
tree, which was new for Roger, who
had his first real Christmas tree in
his first year with Debbie. For
convenience, they have now moved
back to an artificial tree.
They both remember that under
the tree, whether it was real or
artificial, was home to plenty of
Christmas presents. Both Roger and
Debbie say they were fortunate and
perhaps a bit spoiled as children.
Together, Roger and Debbie have
done their best to provide a good life
for Jenna and Caleigh, but also make
sure that they keep the needs of
others and the less fortunate in mind
over the holidays.
For the last six or seven years, the
family has always attended
Christmas Eve service at Knox
United Church.
Over the years they have also
made a point to volunteer throughout
the community around the holidays.
One year all four Hoppers
volunteered at a special free
Christmas dinner at Crabby Joe's in
Goderich, working as servers for
those who came for the meal.
They also always participate in the
local Salvation Army's Christmas
campaign and Debbie volunteers as
a driver through Community Living
for the annual free Christmas dinner
in Wingham and last year Caleigh
accompanied her. The meal, Debbie
said, traditionally feeds a large
number of people, more than she
would have thought. Last year, she
said, there were likely 250 people at
the outreach dinner.
When Jenna thinks about her
family's Christmas celebrations, she
says that nothing specific sticks out,
just that it's always a good time.
After Christmas Eve service the
family always makes a point to
spend Christmas Day together, just
the four of them. Debbie says that
time is important and as Jenna says,
it is always a good time.
The day begins with a special
breakfast that all members of the
family help prepare. Caleigh
specializes in setting the table for the
event, while the rest of the family
takes on other jobs.
The normal breakfast menu is
improved for Christmas Day at the
Hopper house with eggs benedict
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Wishing everyone
a joyous holiday season.
5595 Rd. 130, R.R. #1 Brunner
519-595-2343
220 Industrial Park Dr., Brussels
519-887-8763
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and plenty of sides served.
The girls agree that their parents
are always very generous when it
comes to Christmas and
remembered last year's holiday
when they received a gift that
trumped many of the others.
Roger and Debbie bought the girls
VIP tickets to see Canadian band
Marianas Trench in Kitchener. There
was screaming and tears according
to the girls.
Caleigh was able to go and meet
the band, while Jenna had to miss
the show in order to take a trip to
Florida.
The Hopper house is always
profusely decorated, Debbie says,
which means that the Christmas
season near Belgrave actually begins
much earlier than December.
In late November, the first true act
of Christmas sees Debbie sending
the rest of the family into the
basement to retrieve the numerous
tubs of decorations and the
Christmas tree so that they're ready
for the beginning of December.
Merry Christmas
and thank you for your business
ill/
JOHN HOCKEY'S
Automotive Repair Inc.
Est. 2001
John, Erin, Ryan and Blake
Service and repairs to all makes of cars and light trucks.
6590 Perth Line 72
Atwood
SFR 519-356-9000
0
- • -
From our Home to yours
we wish everyone
a wonderful Christmas
and a healthy
& prosperous New Year!
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