Merry Christmas!

 

May God richly bless you this Holiday season.  Here is our growing family's quick pose.  Yeah right, it was like pulling teeth to get a smile out of everyone at the same time. 

Our Tree

Peace...a word found on thousands of holiday cards this season, yet so far out of reach for many. As I look at our tree this year I reflect on the past year and thank Jesus that He redeems our lost and weary hearts as we yield ALL to him.

A year ago I lived in a house twice as big on two and a half acres with a couple hundred trees and two creeks, my dream home. Our nine foot tree sat prominently in front of the fireplace. Problem was it wasn't a dream and there was no peace.

So this past year has been a year of change. We have sold, given away, and thrown away many of our things; we sold the "dream" house; we gave up titles and busyness at church; we gave up some friends and what's left…simplicity. Sometimes I think we get caught up in the things and stuff of life, and then we miss it.

A couple of years ago I sat with a friend in a Panera Bread Co having breakfast. Our table sat between two groups of women. On our right were some grandma types who were sharing pictures of their kids and grandkids, telling stories of days gone by. On our left were some soccer mom types with their PDAs syncing their schedules and trying to get through their week. It was surreal watching these contrasting life stages side by side. I'll bet you if the grandma types could tell the soccer mom types just one thing it would be to slow down and hold your family close before they slip away to old memory filled photos.

One of the best memories of my youth was fishing with my Dad. We would fish nearly every week through the summer and after we loaded up to go home we would stand and make cold cut sandwiches on the hood of his truck, watching the brilliant red and orange glow of the sunset as it disappeared below the horizon. I'm sure there were a thousand things he could have been doing other than fishing, but I'm glad he didn't. I will never forget those summer nights.

So back to peace, we found it. It was lost, but we found it. This year our tree is smaller, so is our house, yard and just about everything else, but we are happy and I wouldn't trade trees for anything.

Edward

Cookies, Cookies, and more Cookies

Holiday baking is something I love and look forward to every Christmas. This year, since I had help from my two chefs in training, it only took me nine hours to make seven double batches of cookies and candy. You know how that works, "Can we help Mom?"........ the time it takes to do something all of the sudden doubles. This year the baking was about the experience not the productiveness.

We have such wonderful neighbors who have all been so good to us. It was a delight taking our home baked goodies to every one of their doors. We delivered plates to ten houses.

Candy Cane Thumbprints


Pecan Shortbread Logs


Pumpkin Pie Drops


Chocolate Surprise Bites


Candy Cane Bark


Chocolate & Peanut butter Fudge

How Lovely are Thy Branches...

As much as I love the idea of heading out to the Christmas tree farm to pick out that perfect tree and watch as my husband and son cut it down themselves, Home Depot is closer, easier, and more convenient.

Jacob picked the tree this year and did a great job. Just look how straight the trunk is and how uniform the branches are. I delegate Jake to pick out our tree every year.

Believe it or not, this is our 15th year to string popcorn for our tree.

Our first Christmas together, back in 1994, Ed and I sat on our living room floor stringing popcorn together. It has become a favorite holiday tradition for our family.

You've gotta love those old Hallmark ornaments you received as a gift for your first Christmas. This one was from my Grandma Battin.

An ornament from my childhood.

The homemade ones are the best. Sophie made this dolly ornament out of bread dough, painted it and sprinkled with glitter.

Just look at that reindeer. It hung on our tree when Jacob was 5 and will hang on our tree when he is 55.

It can't get sweeter than this.

Another "First Christmas" ornament, from Grandma Hoefer.

In memory of our trip to Disney World, this was Sophie's 2004 ornament.