Chet Rodgers passed away after a head injury playing flag football in Provo, Utah.





December 25, 1998

Chet Celebrates Christmas

The Rodgers' family loves their Christmas traditions.On Christmas eve, the family gathers for a traditional dinner. Bells are placed above each person's plate setting. And all at once, the family "rings in Christmas." Then, each person opens an ornament before the meal.All the children sleep in the same room together on Christmas Eve. Then, come Christmas morning, the kids gather outside mom and dad's bedroom to sing Christmas carols to wake them up.The kids can not see the tree right away on Christmas morning because there is a sheet placed in front of the hall way door. To add to the suspense, the children are lined up youngest to oldest and close their eyes as they are led to the tree. Eyes still closed, the kids are handed their stockings and led back to mom and dad's bedroom to open stockings on the "big bed."After all the stockings are opened, the kids are led again to the tree with their eyes closed. When everyone is lined up, the children could then open their eyes to see if Santa and Christmas had come! After the kids open their eyes in front of the tree they can look at all the gifts, but no one can actually touch the presents. Oh the suspense!!! Opening presents comes after breakfast: cheese grits, cheese eggs, cinnamon rolls, and orange juice.