Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas Friends!

This has been such a wonderful Christmas season! It has flown by in a whirl of peaceful moments and joy. We made sure to spend time with friends who were special to us, and as Mother I took care to create wonderful memories for my little one to remember. We enjoyed making several Christmas presents.

The wonder of A's eyes as we lit the Christmas tree for the first time. The smile on his face as he decorated Christmas cookies and ate them. Above all I reflect that Jesus is the reason for this whole season and take time to reflect on the joyous occasion of His birth. Two days away now.

I am looking forward to spending time with Family, and Friends, and looking forward to my family spending peaceful moments at home this year.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

What I learned from my Mother

I watched my mother over the years do the best she could with what she had. There were years of feast and years of famine for our family. The interesting thing is as children we never felt it at Christmas time!

One year I remember a stroller given to my sister with three wheels. We were told this toy came from Rudolph's land of lost toys and needed someone to love it. I think we played with that stroller more than anything else that year.

This year I realize some of what she and my father must have gone through. I realized this last year when my son turned 1 and it was thus his first Christmas to buy presents for, and begin creating traditions with. Christmas was always a super special time of year growing up and I want to see that for my children too!

The single most important thing I watched my mother do was plan ahead. She has nine children and so the family grew every other year. She started thinking about what she would be doing for the family early in the year.

So this year I followed her example without even realizing it until I have come upon the month of December. I am prepared to give my little boy the best Christmas ever and I have done it with the same sense of love and anticipation that my mother does every year. I love her very much for instilling a love of Christmas in my heart. It is after all Jesus' birth God's ultimate gift to us.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Four Generations of a Winter Tradition




This weekend was the first snow of the season and time to pull out one of my most favorite family traditions! Once a year we make Sugar Puffs! I don't know where the recipe came from but I know that my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and mother have made them every year. Now I get to carry on the tradition! The kitchen was warm, and the savory smells of yeast baking in oven. The sweetness of butter and sugar on my fingertips. These don't stay around long in this house.