I think about my family who have gone home all the time, almost daily. This time of year, at times, it escalates to the point of physical pain. Such wise, hard working people. I miss their wisdom, drive and love more than I can say.

Christmas was my grandmother's favorite time of year. She would decorate every inch of her house outside and inside. Every Christmas eve I would stay at her house and watch a Christmas carol. She went to be with the Lord in 2010. I miss her alot this time of the year but I treasure those memories. God bless and thank you for sharing.

So proud of my hillbilly roots. This video brought tears to my eyes, thinking of just how much I miss all my kin, appreciative of all I was taught. To all of you who can relate, we are a very unique people. Treasure our heritage, and honor our forefathers and mothers. May they rest in peace! -Steve, Ohio

What a treasure you are Mr. Laws 💖. Merry Christmas to you and your kin, and many blessings for touching our hearts and helping us remember simpler, but beautiful, times with family, and helping others when we barely had enough to help ourselves. Our Lord always provided for all of us 💖

Remember cutting the top off an old pine tree, drilling holes in the sides that didn't have limbs and filling in with cut off pine branches. There was no money for a Christmas Tree to buy,but Christmas Time was always special. Thanks Donnie for sharing your Christmas Memories with us. Wishing you and your Family a Merry Christmas 🙂.

All of my family have died. I treasure those precious memories of them! Christmas was my momma's favorite holiday, for sure. I'm now older than my siblings & parents were when they died. I hope they recognize me when I see them again. I wish you a Merry Christmas, Sir! 🎄☃️🏡🎄

Man. I absolutely LOVE this guy. His way of telling stories along with his soft voice is so wonderful. I really enjoy the descriptions of things too

What a blessing to have such memories of past Christmas times when it was just the family that matters most. Faith and family and not gifts were the most important thing..we have drifted away from the very things that bind the families together in good times and bad..and my prayer for our entire nation is we stop being lead by the world and return to being lead by our hearts and spirits and embrace our families with the same Love of our Lord and Savior for he is the pure reason for the season. May you and your family be blessed this Christmas season with the light of our Lord.😇🙏⛄🎄

Thank you kindly for your artistic work and the storytelling... My fatherin law worked in the southern West Virginia low coal mines for forty three years. They always saw fit to having the best Christmas for all five girls. Also donated to the less fortunate, especially during Christmas. How we miss them so very much. I wish you the most blessed Christmas. Thanks again.

You're such a wonderful story teller Donnie. This was just beautiful. Yes, we miss our elders. And I've become an elder in my family. I try to bless the little ones the same way my elders blessed me. Until the time I too join them and Jesus in that mansion in the sky. Merry Christmas Donnie Laws. You've blessed my life. Thank you, sir.

I miss my parents and sister all the time, but this time of the year makes that hole in my heart a little bit bigger. I don't have any one left here besides me, but I do have a sister in Florida. I miss being with my family, We were poor but never went hungry. I remember riding with my father to Tennessee to cut down a cedar tree for Christmas. He would find a cedar tree growing along side interstate 40 to bring home, It was a painful experience trying to decorate a cedar tree growing here, very prickly. I wish your family a blessed Christmas, and I know who's birthday this is all about, I know you know that too. Thank you Jesus for coming into this world to save a sinner like me. This year I hope that everyone knows what this day really means. God bless you always Donnie and your family this year and always, . Thank you for the quality videos that always teaches me something or just brings back good memories of a time so much missed by me and I'm sure a lot of people. Thanks Donnie. See you next time my friend.

More QUALITY content from Donnie Laws! My day is made!

Yay❣️ another story from my favorite Appalachian story teller, Mr. Donnie Laws. 😊

When I was a boy here in the foot hills of the Appalachian in NC every year we would gather up as much as we could and go donate it to the Parson of the hills, we just thought we were poor until we got to go deliver toys and clothes, then when we got a little older we realized the mountain people were Rich in so many more ways. Thanks for all your stories.

This will be my first year without my parents and it'll be hard, Donnie. All my elders have gone on to their reward. Funny to think I'm one of the elders now! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, my friend. God bless!🙏🎄💖

Being 65 now, I remember our Christmas was always very simple. There were 8 of us kids. We'd make paper loop chains from old magazines to put around the tree, we cut from out back in the woods. And of course we never got much under the tree. Mittens, a warm hat, and some candy. But to us, that was a great Christmas! Looking back, they were the best Christmases I ever had. We were all together and happy. So thankful for God's blessings. Sending you God's blessings this Christmas Mr Donnie Laws. Thanks for bringing us back to the good old days.

You always remind me of my grandpa who just loves to tell the best stories and has so much wisdom and knowledge... Always love to see you posting these stories it truly does seem like you're keeping the legacy of the mountain people alive 🙏

Donnie laws this hit me in my heart. I grew up in a small town in West Virginia in the early 90s . Even in those time people were still living hard an I remember all the stories the old timers would tell me an the coal mines an the loggers . I remember it all just like it was yesterday. Putting 6 of us in a single cab 1 ton an going down the road we would take turns on who would get the leg cracker seat

Memories are wonderful. They sustain us. Hopefully somehow people will go back to these values and care. Lovely lovely show Mr. Donnie. Thank you. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Donnie, how I loved this one! Your wonderful story of Christmas and being with your family. Mine were different but still, your telling made me nostalgic. How well I remember that Montgomery Ward catalog! My sister and I used to play for hours, picking a random page and then choosing "if you could have anything on this page, what would it be?" It was almost as much fun as actually getting something and I know you know what I mean. Glad you are back and sounding so "chipper", my friend.

Really enjoyed this video. Thank you for this upload. I'm 54, raised by my great grandparents. They taught me all the traditional and old ways. This video helped me to remember my great grandparents..

Wow Donnie! This touched my heart i so many ways. I grew up near where I live now. Grayson County, Va. A little over an hour's drive east of Bristol. I never knew much about the mining area to my west and northwest. I was much older when I learned of the hardships that were faced by these strong folks. But they had love and family. And most of all they had faith in God. I have ventured into your area several times over the years. Of all my travels I have never saw anything as beautiful as the view of Powell Valley from the overlook up toward Wise. There is just something so breathtaking about that area. I have gone to Butcher Holler in Kentucky twice, and was lucky enough to meet Loretta Lynn's brother Herman. It was shocking to see how far back in the mts. that she came from. I only thought I lived in the mts. until I visited her home. You mentioned Bloody Bones and I almost fell out of my chair. I was told the stories about him...and saw him once outside our kitchen window. I was being a little terror...lol...and Mom and Dad told me he would come if I didn't shape up. Well...I didn't and he did!! I have never been so scared!! Have not forgotten it either!! LOL. Once in a while in your video's I hear the fiddle playing Leaning On the Everlasting Arms. It's so beautiful and I really love it. Hope you have a great weekend and God bless!

Yep, there were hard times and good times in our mountain home. I've always been aware that being born a Hillbilly was one of God's greatest blessings .He sure loved us to put us in the hills of East Tennessee- up high and close to haven. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Donnie, Blessings.

Thank you for such a beautiful story Mr Donnie! You got your storytelling talent from your daddy and MeMaw, that’s for certain. Listening to this tale, I realized how similar all our lives were growing up , no matter where we grew up. Like you said, some had more, some had less and we all tried to help the less fortunate and we kids looked at the Montgomery Ward and Sears wish books, cut our tree in the woods, eat good homemade food, visit and go to church etc. I wish you, your family and all the folks watching a very Blessed Christmas and safe, healthy, happy and Blessed New Year! 🙏🏻🫶🏼🎄🎅🏻🤶🏻⛄️

You know Donnie our parents did have a much harder time. My dad and mom had a passel of kids. He said when he was little they lived in a two story house with wooden shake shingles and, like your father, when it snowed he said you could brush the snow from the blankets when he'd wake up. Always cold until they'd get the wood fires going good. We have it so good today. I know theres still people who have it a little rougher than others, but times have gotten much better. Merry Christmas Donnie and family.

Loved this one Lonnie. These stories were like when my Poppa was growing up in the hills behind Ripley, W VA. Poppa learned a skill in the Navy that gave him a job on the railroad all his career. He provided us with a very nice childhood but he told us where he came from.

Merry Christmas to you and your family Donnie. Your stories and pictures remind me so much of my childhood Christmas. I was born in 1954 and my Dad worked in a Glass Factory in West Virginia. We didn't have much but were very thankful for what we did have. Such good memories! God Bless!

Donnie brings Memories back to the present from the Heart of the past.🥰

Thank you for sharing Donnie. I remember Grandpa cutting a cedar tree on the farm for a Christmas tree and we'd all get together at their house on the Sunday before Christmas for dinner. I remember them having a slop jar even after putting in a bath room. I've often thought that Christmas isn't like it used to be because we don't do the things we used to. It dawned on me that the reason we don't do the things we used to is because the people we did them with are no longer here. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

I miss my parents and my in-laws very much. But, this time of year can be tough for my husband and I. Appreciate and love your family while they’re still here. I loved this video. ❤️

Your stories bring back memories of my childhood. I grew up rough, but I'm thankful for how I was raised. Particularly in these modern times and I see how unappreciative people are of how easy they have it now.

Nice remembrance of days gone by. A real tribute to the people back then who, in spite of the hard times, never lost their their sense of family, caring for others who had even less than they did and never lost faith in their God. You got me real hungry talking about soup beans. I learned how to make those when visiting your neck of the woods many years ago. Blessings to all and Merry Christmas.

God bless you too Donnie! Back when we didn’t get much for Christmas we were so incredibly thankful for it! Merry Christmas Donnie, I pray for Gods blessings on you and your family.

I bet sitting around a campfire with you listening to you tell stories is an absolutely marvelous time.

Christmas of 1968, I was 11 years old and my sister was 5 years older than me, mom and dad told us that we weren't going to have Christmas that year we were to poor, well I went out into the woods and cut down a tree and put it in a 5 gallon bucket full of rocks to hold it up, I remember my mom and big sister and me having so much fun popping popcorn and stringing it together to put on the tree, all we got that year was some apples and oranges, but it was the best Christmas ever,, and I also miss being around the elders, grandma's cooking and all the stories we heard,, Loved your video Mr Donnie, hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and God bless you and your family !!!

Hey Donnie. What a heart warming story. Faith, family, and friends is what it's all about. We remember how blessed we are, and those that don't have much this time of year. Thank you friend and God bless you.

I remember boys going out and getting mistletoes. They would shoot them down out of the trees with their rifles. Those days are long gone, but memories still remain. Thank you for your stories.

Hello Donnie. I really enjoy all your videos. They bring back so many memories. I was born in the late 60s and often feel like I was born a generation too late. I love the simple ways of life. My 4 rear old grandson Maverick says "Let's see what Donnie Laws is doing." God bless you Donnie, Kevin.

Thank you, Mr Laws, for your time, research, effort, and memories. My people on both sides came up from the mountains to these hills and hollers of southern Indiana many years ago, but we've hung on to the old ways. until this generation anyway. At least my grandchildren are growing up knowing aunts,uncles, and grandparents, playing together. But they don't know what it's like, walking through the woods with Daddy or Papaw carrying the ax, looking for that one tree that will do. Thank God they aren't so poor they have to wonder if Santa will make it there. We still make the treat bags and boxes at church. I want them to have the same kind of good memories of family, faith, and love that my brothers and I have. Merry Christmas, Sir, to you and yours this blessed season.

Thank you my friend. Here in Upstate SC at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains this reminds me of my childhood. Our Church would give out fruit baskets at Christmas. Most of my family has past but I still have those Christmas memories. Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to everybody. 🎄

Man!! Donnie, brings back so many memories!, did.you ever imagine in your wildest dreams that we would see the things we are seeing today?? I so much I miss the times of closeness that family and friends had back in them days, thankyou so much for sharing and talkin about the good Ol days!!...may GOD richly bless you and your family this Christmas ..

Thank you so much for sharing. I get gooseskin hearing you talk... it's everything my dad ever described to me about home. My family is from Harlan, Benham, and Lynch.. thank you for sharing. You keep their memories alive in my heart.

I do wonder how long those sacks of fruit and nuts and things has been a tradition out there, because my grandmothers family followed the trail of tears out of there, and she was dead-set on always giving us sacks just like you described. An apple, and orange, peanuts for us kids (because we could crack them ourselves) and mixed nuts for the adults. Everybody got one. There was also always some ribbon candy and the candies with the little pictures in them. That's one of my most fond memories of my grandparents, grandma would hand me the sack, and I'd race off to grandpa and set the sack on the floor, open it up, fish out the orange, and hand it to grandpa to peel. He was a master Whittler, so he'd peel my orange, pop out his whittle knife and whittle every bit of the white off the orange without busting it anywhere, and I'd watch the whole time. Best oranges on the planet. Beautiful Story Donnie, and a very Merry Christmas to you!

I like you miss my family elders as well. My dad and brother all my grandparents, aunts and uncles, brother,and my little baby .There's not a day goes by that I don't think of them and miss them. Merry Christmas to all!! I'm so thankful for the birth of our lord Jesus!!

This is what Christmas is all about! So many of your memories could be mine too. We were poor but I didn’t know it cause Dad and Mom and grandparents made sure we had food and stuff. Like you said always beans and cornbread and sometimes pork from the hog daddy killed usually from the year before. As a kid when the decorations went up in our sleepy little town is when we knew it was close Christmas! Kids today will never know that thrill. Yes times were harder back then but they were happier too. Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 ❤

I SURE DO THANK YOU MR.LAWS FOR THESE GREAT MEMORIES! I GREW UP THE SAME WAY IT SOUNDS! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS SIR! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm reminded of my magical Christmases growing up in the 1960s. Until my dad got a job at the post office, I, my two sisters and three brothers got one present apiece, but each present was made with love. The lights, the scent and beauty of the decked-out Christmas tree, the special Christmas day dinner, carols at church and having my grandparents and other relatives over made for a festive and cozy time. Being that I'm widowed with no children and living alone, I sure miss those times! I still put up a Christmas tree and decorate to bring cheer to my home. Hope you and your folks have a wonderful Christmas!

I grew up in the North Georgia mountains . We always had a cedar tree much like the one in the photo . I remember the church Christmas program and getting treat bags after . I also got the fruit in my stocking which was just a sock. Santa came , too. I had it much easier than you describe . Loved going to my grandparents Christmas day . Both my parents came from large families . I had about 25 cousins all together. I grew up from 1952 ----1969 and got married early .. Miss those sweet days .

What wonderful memories you and I share. It’s amazing how you tell a story and I feel like we lived the same lifetime. God bless you Mr Donnie. I miss those mountains so much. I think our dads and mamaws were all kindered spirits ❤ mine are in heaven now a long time. I will never forget and can’t wait to see them again one day. 🙏

Personally, I believe the cedar trees smelled so much better than a pine tree. Enjoy your stories Donnie, MERRY CHRISTMAS, I will ALWAYS say MERRY CHRISTMAS, NEVER Happy Holidays. If that offends someone.. keep stepping while you’re still able. This old veteran learned over 50 years ago, don’t turn your back on a fight, no matter the odds against you. Now that I’m 70, I always carry my equalizer, cause I took my last butt kickin years ago. Never again. You can walk away or get rolled away, the choice is yours. Sorry to spoil your story with such a serious subject, but I don’t like seeing the elderly, or women get abused, or bullied. If it’s my calling, l will protect them to the best of my ability. MERRY CHRISTMAS Donnie.

Beautiful Donnie. For my grandparents, here in Louisiana, an orange was what they got for Christmas. I can recall family friends bringing us boxes of food around Christmas time, when work was slack for my dad. I had forgotten that.

My Nanny had a finger masher in the form of a 1970s Impala. Thank you for this video. I miss my grandparents. Christmas always makes me think of them and how wonderful they made it for all of us no matter how little they had.

Omg Donnie, you brought back similar memories. I was born in 51. Remember the big xmas parade, the tinsil on the tree, the grandmas and pas that are long gone. We were fortunate in that my dad worked in a steel mill his whole life and had a steady income. Have a very Merry Christmas...

Thank you, Donnie, as always there are more similarities than differences with my western Nebraska experiences growing up.

This is when trees were cedar trees. I loved the smell. The big old screw in lights. Glass ornaments that broke easily. Love this Donnie. Thank you

Thank you Mr. Donnie for this video..I became emotional over this almost from the second you started talking..I miss my grandparents, parents, sister, all who have gone before me and what i'd give to have them back for just one day. To me this video was about love...the love we had and those times gone by. Merry Christmas Mr. Donnie and all the people here and most of all Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Jesus.

We lived so far away, but have so many similarities. I grew up near the Cumberland Gap in PA. Our Christmas trees looked much the same. I called my grandma Mammy and Mam, too. And she made the best fried potatoes, also.💖 She told the best stories of her past. Miss her dearly. I also miss the old Woolworth's, and the Wards and Sears wish books! My mom worked at Wards in the shoe dept for years. I enjoyed your story and pictures. God bless and have a wonderful Christmas season!😊🎄

This video brought back so many wonderful memories and some sad ones. I loved listening to all the good times you had growing up. Grandmas stories were always wonderful. I didn’t grow up in the mountains but my granny did. She taught us a lot about life and I think the greatest lesson was to be HUMBLE and Thankful. God always provided for us I grew up in a home with 11 brother and sisters. Hand me downs and redos were a way of life. Christmas we all got a new coat and new shoes I was the happiest girl in town. Mama and grandma crocheted is all hats scarves gloves. And the Goodfellow org would bring boxes of food and toys. And to this very year 60 years later. I think those were my best Christmas memories. Anyway. Thankyou for memory lane it was a nice walk. ❤❤❤

This brings back memories for me. I would go with my dad around Christmastime and we'd go cut a cedar out of the woods. This was in the 80s when you could get away with it. Now our 2 Christmas tree spots have become a housing development and the other is a field that's been mowed down and had a road cut through it. I'm old enough to remember Woolworth's. Thankfully, my parents are both still alive and still married. That doesn't happen much anymore. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in September of last year. Happy Holidays, Donnie

We called our grandma, mamaw as well . Until now I've never heard of anyone else who has. Thank you handsome for sharing. Love ❤ wins ❤ always ❤ 💙 ♥ 💖 💕 💓

Thank you very much for that story that was beautiful my favorite times too was with my grandparents there were a lot of fun Merry Christmas and have a blessed Friday 🎅🤶❤️❤️

Donnie, thank you sir, for sharing these precious memories!! It doesn't matter if Country or Urban, north or south. Those of us who were blessed to have good homes and families share many of the same events and traditions. Even the hometown street decorations were similar! On Thanksgiving evening after the kitchen was cleaned up or we got home from whatever family member hosted "the feast", we would set up The Nativity on the mantle or on the TV. Early December, we would go out to Grandpa's woods, trudging through knee-deep snow, pick out a balsam tree or a pine and Dad would cut it down with a bow saw. We'd drag it back to the car, lay it in the trunk as best could and tie down the lid so the hinges wouldn't get sprung and take it home. It usually was trimmed that same night. Us kids had the job of keeping the stand filled with water so the tree wouldn't dry out. That was one of those metal stands that was red with green "legs". Another favorite memory would be coming home from school being over whelmed with the tantalizing aromas of Mom's baking the Christmastime-only goodies. That evening after supper we would gather around the table and decorate/frost the cut-out sugar cookies and the gingerbread men too. It took a couple hours usually. One year, she made double batches of both...I thought we never would get through! The next morning, the frosting would be "dry" so we would store them in Tupperware containers on shelves in the closed-in back porch where they would freeze. They got delivered when we went "visiting" the next two Sundays. We had the goodie bags at church too. Many were given out at the fire hall by Santa himself!! So many more wonderful memories, but, I'll quit right here. Again thanks!! These are my kind of postings, Donnie. They're tops!. You obviously had some exceptional parents...it shows! God bless

I think you must have got the love of storytelling from your grandmother. Thank you, Donnie. God 🙏 🙏 🙏 bless.

I love Donnie Laws' narrations. I feel like that when I listen to Donnie that I'm sitting in the same house with him, in the family/living room in front of the crackling fireplace at 9 p.m., hanging out with him and family, having an eggnog or a beer. God bless Donnie Laws, his loved ones, and everyone else this Christmas/holiday season.

Wow that was a good one!! I grew up on a Christmas tree farm my mother always made Christmas very special I miss her dearly thank you Donnie this one really got to me!

Thank you so much for this Mr. Donnie. Brought tears to my eyes. I miss those old Christmases with your family gathered round. All of my elders are gone Aunts, uncles,grandparents,parents, even my older siblings. My only child got mad at me about 15 years ago and hasn’t spoken to me since except at funerals now she doesn’t even come to the funerals. Thank God for friends. God bless you Mr. Donnie and your family. God bless everyone that is on this channel. Hope y’all have a beautiful Christmas.

Those who have passed on still live in the stories you tell - they may not be with us physically, but they are there and come to life when their stories are told. As you bring the past forward to the present, they will always exist and be a part of life. Please keep the stories coming, and keep their memories alive - without them, we would not be here and there are many lessons in life that they have passed on down through the generations and we need to keep that legacy going as a tribute to them all. Thank you so very much for sharing them with us. God Bless you and your family, and may you have a wonderful Christmas and an even better New Year! 🎄🎉💖💖💖

Well Donnie, I guess you got your story telling skills honestly, from your father. You tell wonderful stories 👏. 😊

staying in touch with your videos of yesteryear is one of the best ways to stay connected to our roots and maintain the proper perspective to our lives today. It's a way to continue to be thankful to our creator for all of the blessings that HE bestows upon us daily. . thanks gain for keeping our past alive, your friend, Louise

I love the story and the old photos , and the 1961 Finger mashin Ford Galaxie. As we think back and rememeber the Holidays of days gone by , and all of our loved ones , they are such beautiful and prescious memories . Thank you for the video Brother, and Merry Christmas and Lords Blessings to you and yours.

I great reminder of what the season is really about, the Love of our fellow mankind by the Grace of the Lord. Thank you very much remind me of stories my grandma use to tell me.

Donnie I just love basically "sitting at your feet" hearing these wonderful memories and stories you give. God bless you in every way.

Thank you Donnie for the memories, soup beans and corn bread God Bless

Mr Donnie, I love this video so much,I want to see it over and over again ,l May never get to meet you until I get to heaven, but you are wonderful ❤️ and I love you and pray for you every day.your videos are a true blessing.thank you from my heart ❤️..

Lord l miss them old days with the folks back then. Thanks Donny God Bless.

I know your videos take a lot of work, but I want to tell you that I really appreciate looking at all the pictures and listening to your stories. People need to know how we lived in Appalachia. Growing up here in Bell County is a blessing even though in the 60s it was rough.

I remember growing up in the north ga foothills. My granny and paw paw always had a old stove burning coal. It always had that sweet smell of coal burning. That smell always stays with me. They mostly lived in one room of the house in the winter. They called it the fire room. It had old lights hanging from the ceiling with a light bulb on it. You pulled a cord to turn it off and on. Your stories brings back memories. Thank you

Sir, your the elder now. God bless you for keeping the stories alive.

Donnie this just brought smiles in my heart. Woolworth was the best store in the world and that JCPenney on the end of the Woolworth video I remember the magazines that came in the mail and you just sit and circle all them toys knowing probably not but the dreams keep you alive. Keep your work coming you are the best story teller period. GOD bless you and your family and all family on this channel

Very touching friend. As Linus would say in the cartoon, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." Your videos are always so uplifting.

I love your stories and look forward to your next video.

Donnie, thank you for another great story. It makes me think of my family in Pikeville Kentucky back in the day, have a lot of great memories

My husband and I are at that point too. All our elders have gone away. Miss them dearly. Merry Christmas Donnie, dear friend. And a happy and healthy New Year. Thank you!!

Now you're the storyteller. God bless you. Merry Christmas and peace to you and your family. I love all your videos you really are very gifted and blessed at telling your story.

I am deeply touched by your wonderful Christmas stories. They are so personal they make me want cry a little - so beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Thanks for your channel and its content and Thanks for being you. May you, your family and friends have a great Christmas. Enjoy the season. Blessings.

Thank you so much for this wonderful story!! It's so important to pass down those stories, generation, after generation. Merry Christmas!! 💖

Thanks Donnie for sharing your Christmas memories. It does remind me of my own childhood at Christmas. Oh I didn’t live in the mountains, but in the Triad region of North Carolina. Still my memories are just as vivid as if it were yesterday. Mostly with my dad’s side of the family. Back when my granny was still living, we would have two reunions a year, with one being Christmas day. The last one we would have like that would be 1976. All my Aunts and Uncles were still living. I didn’t realize it then, but those were some very precious times. Merry Christmas

Whew, Mr Donnie you definitely brought back some very precious memories of my childhood, going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the holidays...when you a little thing, you think your Grandparents are gonna be around forever!! Grandpa liked his peppermint candy, after I done growed up and moved away, I'd get him one of those 1 pound peppermint sticks and he'd have candy for 3 or 4 months !! Oh Mr. Donnie what I wouldn't give to be able to sit next to the fireplace with'em and just listen to them talk way up in the night ! I've tears rollin down both cheeks but, it's ok cause they happy tears !! I thank the good Lord above often for my Appalachian heritage !!! Merry Christmas, Mr Donnie !!!

Thanks Donnie for sharing another great story about Appalachia Christmas.

That was very heart warming Donnie thanks again for all of the time spent on your videos take care and have a blessed day

I am from central Kentucky, and I think of my family that have went home, I miss them so much it hurts

Cumberland Gap is beautiful. We went to the place where you walk on trails and found this bluff we walked out on. The view was breathtaking! All the people we met in Middlesboro were so nice. I love pinto beans and fried taters and onions. I remember bloody bones! My older brother used to tell me that story. He also told me there was a vampire under my bed and Lord have mercy I was always scared to death to go to the bathroom at night.! We would get treat bags at church around Christmas. There was an apple and an orange and 2 candy bars different kinds of nuts and 2 packs of gum. We looked forward to that all year. I swear it seems like you're telling my life story sometimes. I remember going to church on New Years Eve and they prayed in the new year too. Daddy and Momma would take us for a ride to see all the Christmas lights. I miss those times so much. I always think about everyone who's gone on to be with the Lord a lot around Christmas. I guess everybody does that too. I loved listening to you tell about the things you remember about Christmas when you were little. They're precious memories. God bless you Mr. Donnie. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 🌲🌨️🍗🦃🥧🎁🎄❄️☃️⛄✝️✝️✝️

Thinking of those that's gone before....... I get teary-eyed. Would love to see them again and tell them how much l ❤ them.

We used to have parades in my hometown. I remember running out to grab up candy, we would always share w little sister that couldn't run out as fast. I haven't thought of that in 50yrs. Thank you for that sir.

I know its not Christmas but this reminded me so much of when I was a kid growing up. Cutting a tree out in the woods and looking at the wish books and going to town and looking at all the toys through the store windows. Miss all the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season, it was a different time and place back then unlike today. Thanks for another great video.

We share so many similar Christmas memories even if we grew up 1000s of miles apart!!! Merry Christmas to you and everyone here from Woodstock New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦 😀 ❤

I love 💕 to watch Donnie’s videos because they take me back to wen I was growing up.

❤I loved this❤️ yesss!!! Christmas should be about family & baby Jesus being born 💕I’m sorry your eiders have passed Donnie 🙏🏻 but I’m glad you have so many beautiful memories of them❤️💕 Merry Christmas ❤️ sending good vibes & love from the garden state 🌲🎄🌲 New Jersey ❤

Wonderful video and so meaningful. I feel your pain of missing the elders of the family. Lost my dad August of this year. Christmas was his favorite time of the year. The tears came rolling down listening to your story. Thanks for the story Donnie. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year

God bless you and your family Donnie. I wish there was a lot more like you in this world. Have a lovey Christmas 🎄 and a happy new year 🎉.