Happy Holidays To All
Make Memories this Holiday because those are gifts that last a lifetime...
Seems like just yesterday when we moved into our new home in New Hampshire...we didn't have much that first year but we had a new home. My mom and dad, Johannes and Elfriede Mahler, packed us up..wasn't really all that much to pack. They took us on a voyage that would bring us many miles across the sea... away from the only home they ever knew.
I can't imagine what that must have felt like. Taking your very young family, leaving your own family..mother, father, siblings and everything you knew and loved behind.
Leaving your comfort zone all in the hopes and dreams of a better life for your own children. Imagine arriving in the United States of America...not knowing the language and only knowing one person! Imagine how lonely and scary that must have been..to only know...one person!
My parents struggled and my dad worked two jobs..they scrimped and saved and eventually bought some land in southern NH. We all worked to clear that land...build a house and finally we were able to leave behind that small apartment and move into our new home...and what a home it was.
I'll never forget that first Christmas..it was so magical..so special!!
This is really for my mom and dad...they are my hero's...I don't think I can ever really tell them how much their sacrifice means to me and how much I love them. For anyone reading this.... Make Memories this year and have a Wonderful Extra Special Holiday! 
Johannes,Monika and Elfriede 2006
Johannes and Elfriede 1959
Johannes and Elfriede Mahler 1990
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What a beautiful touch, Moni. And the photographs. Sacrifice was such a big part of people's lives back then. Happy Holidays to your Parents, Moni!
Thank you Carole..I can't wait to show them this post!!!
Thanks
Moni
We just made one with the family to send out to friends,family and clients for the new year :)
Happy Holidays!
Scott
Thank you Scott and Happy Holidays to you as well.
Jay and I do a holiday newsletter full of photos and events...we send out via snail mail and post it online as well.
This blog... I will eventually print out for them to see ...they do not have a computer...can you believe it??
Monika- These are great pictures! .. .and a wonderful story and message. :o)
Thanks Mariana.
Special memories just stay with you a life time.
Have a great Holiday.
Thanks Christoper and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!!!
Heidi...Wow...I was so surprised to see your comment. Mom and Dad will get a kick out of this when I show it to them....Thanks so much for adding your comments!!! They are remarkable people aren't they?
Our parents gave up so much for a dream of a better life!
Thanks Heidi see you on Christmas day!
Monika - what a wonderful tribute to your parents, and you really should show this to them!
How nice that your sister found this and read it!
I wish you all a very happy Christmas together!
Hugs,
Ann (& Bear)
Monika - Congratulations for having such incredible parents and for recognizing it as well. My parents also left their country and came here with nothing and I am so very greatful to them as well. Have a Merry Christmas and may you always keep those memories alive!
Ann and Bear...Thank you so much for visiting!!! I was very surprised to see my sisters comments. My parents really will be touched when they see this and all these comments. Happy Holidays!!!
Ines...Thanks so much...my parents are`incredible and this makes me realize just how bad I am in expressing my feelings to them. Can you imagine picking up like our folks did with nothing but dreams?? I can't...I wonder if I could ever do it? Thanks Ines for reading and commenting! Merry Christmas!
Moni
Geez, I got chills reading your post and tears in my eyes when your sisters showed up. I'm outta here. May you and Jay (and all your family) enjoy the Holidays. What a wonderful way to express your feelings. I would try it, my I'm still explaining what a computer is to my parents:)
Thanks Karen...Have a Happy Holiday!!!
Monika, I can still remember coming to the US and arriving at Logan Airport. Much of what you described could have been said of my parents, and I can remember that first Christmas. There was very little under the tree, but we did not know that it wasn't much because my parents made it seem like a lot. They gave up a great life where we were in order to give me, and my brothers and sisters a future. That is something that I will never be able to pay back, but more importantly they never asked to be paid back. Knowing that we have better lives today was payment enough for them.
Thank you for this post and the memories it brought back, sorry it took me so long to get here.
George...Thanks for coming by and reading. I remember that Christmas so well...we didn't have much under the tree but it sure looked magical. My new house had hardwood floors...all new and shiny and I remember sneaking a peak...I opened my bedroom door in the middle of the night, careful not to wake my sleeping sister and sat down on the floor and slid ..my PJ bottoms just slid nicely on that shiny floor...no one heard a step as I just slid down the hall into the living room...and I could not believe my eyes!!! I snooped around under the tree and saw my gifts...wanted to open them up right then and there!
My mom and Dad worked hard for that Christmas.. a new house in a new country and a tree full of gifts underneath. But mostly I remember how special it all was. Nice memories to have..thanks for reading and transporting me back there again.
Monika, those are memories that we can hold onto for a life time. They are priceless.