A belated Merry Christmas to you!

I can't believe it's Monday already; time to start a brand new week and prepare for New Years! Don't the holidays just seem to sneak up on you? Then before you know it, they've  come and gone, quick as a groundhog's shadow...
While it's still fresh in my mind, though, here's a pic of my daughter, Ava, and I on Christmas morning.

 (Please ignore the bed head, blurry eyes, and jammies, if you can. :) )


It was so much fun sharing our first Christmas together and, for me, experiencing things once again through the wonder of a child's perspective.

Becoming a mom this past January, has also awakened a new appreciation for what Mary must have felt carrying and giving birth to Jesus. All the uncertainty, fear, excitement, and hope you pour into your little one. The dreams you instantly start building toward their future...

Then knowing your child will grow up to be scorned, reviled, betrayed, and ultimately sacrificed for the transgressions of others; a heart breaking thought for any mother. Especially when that little boy is perfect, sinless, and completely undeserving of his pre-determined fate.

Our natural instinct is to shield and protect our offspring, but Mary had to endure these injustices for her son's sake and, as he matured, watch him suffer torment after torment.

What grace and courage God the father must have bestowed upon this woman, when choosing her above all others, to be the earthly mother for his precious son. Obviously she wasn't a saint, but a normal person, yet she retains an almost mystical figure status; somehow too lofty for us mere mortals to relate with.

However, if I think of her as a mother who loved her child, who just happened to be the Lord of the universe,  it doesn't seem like such a stretch picturing myself in her shoes.

Even if I'll never understand all she went through during those harrowing times, I can connect with her on a basic emotional level the shared experience of motherhood brings.

She was a human, like me, who God chose for the greatest task imaginable. He used one of us to give birth to the very child that would one day redeem us. He could have sent Jesus, fully formed, ready to be sacrificed, but instead allowed him the experience of life here so his son could know us, his creation.

Because He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to work through us to accomplish His will. He believes in us, despite our imperfections.

That gives me hope.

And that hope is the gift Christmas represents to each of us.

What will you be eating Christmas morning?

Do you have a favorite breakfast staple or food tradition  your family has passed down over the years?

Growing up, my mom always made a braided Christmas bread, filled with nuts and raisins,  plus an egg glaze on top. I recall how much fun it was splitting the dough into various sections, before twisting them together into an intricate design of our choosing. Sometimes, we even got our own little loaf to eat ahead of time, while the big one was baking in the oven...

With our bread, we'd have a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice-then the pestering to open gifts began.  We might have had other things to eat also, but that bread is the only thing which firmly stands out in my mind. Although it's been years since I tasted it, but my nose can almost pick up the scent if I concentrate hard enough. I'd dearly love to put together another loaf and share it with my family so I can continue the tradition. Hopefully, next Christmas. :)

If you'd like to create a braided bread of your own, here's a recipe I found that looks very similar to the one my mom made. Unfortunately, we lost her original recipe, but this seems like a good enough substitute. If you make it, let me know how it turns out! :)

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/braided-christmas-bread-679134/

But until then, I plan on trying these cheese danish tomorrow morning. They look easy and fun, plus crescents and cheese are always a delicious combo. Yum!

http://kitchengirljo.blogspot.com/2009/07/easy-cheese-danish.html

No matter what ends up on your table, here's hoping you and your family enjoy some amazing food with a side of Christmas cheer!

Christmas: The happiest time of the year?

While most people associate Christmas with happiness, joy, and excitement, there are others who dread the clockwork-like certainty of its coming every year. If given a choice, they would gladly skip ahead to sunnier months, leaving behind those cold winter days and snow covered driveways.

Perhaps remembering what has occurred during the past 360 days leaves little room for celebrating the remaining 5.

Or it might even stem farther back than that. Sadness doesn't really need a date to etch itself inside us; once there, it reminds us of its presence  with no thought of seasons passing.

It may be a little easier to block out the dull ache with the endless distractions summer brings, but ice and wind bring those shallowly buried feelings surfacing once more.

Sixteen years ago, today, I lost my mom to cancer. It seems like forever ago; back when I was just a gangly, barely-teen, in my awkward glory, who knew so little of life. Or anything remotely resembling fashion sense. I do mean re-motely.

That girl feels so far removed from the person I am now; and yet I know she's still in there each time I make a questionable style choice. :)

People have asked, do I wish I could change what happened all those years ago, if given a chance? And I can't really answer them. To say no, would mean choosing not to share a life with my mom, which I would never willingly  do. Saying yes, would mean choosing another version of who I've become, another existence, rather like a parallel universe.

The whole of ME, my core being, has been shaped, for good or bad, by events that were out of my control. Cancer doesn't need permission to take away a loved one, and God, much as we might wish, doesn't either.

In our eyes, a loss can mean the end of dreams or, perhaps, unvoiced, but carefully constructed, future plans. The death of a long held hope can be so completely shattering in its finality, and sadly, we're left to pick up the pieces of something that used to be intact.

In fact, we're mourning the loss of that intangible something, now gone, almost as much as that specific someone.

I don't recall exact images of my mom with sharp clarity. It's more an overall impression of her I remember. She dances around behind my eyelids during that magical time between waking and dreaming; more hazy hologram than reality. She's there when I'm leaning over the stove, spoon in hand, wondering just how much seasoning a pot of lentil soup needs. She guides my fingers as they slide along the piano keys, evoking the contentment of a little girl, tucked in bed, being lulled to sleep by slow, rhythmic, musical chords. Most importantly, she's present every time I do the right thing, because she taught me to always stand up for what I believe in, no matter the consequence. This is what sticks to me most; the core essence of...her.

My mom will always be part of me, though it's still not the same as receiving a warm hug, words of encouragement, or sharing a face to face conversation.  I miss those things countless moments a day, and always will...

However, I don't want to lose what's right in front of me by spending too much time chasing events gone by. Because, while I can't change or control the past, I CAN control how I let it guide my future. 

Time doesn't heal all wounds but it definitely does lessen the impact. If you, or someone you know, is struggling to cope, please allow yourself to feel sad, or mad, or down. God gave us this gauntlet of emotions for a reason and we should be able to express them, to vent when we need to.

It's all right if we don't see the big picture just yet because, while we might only see a tiny village on a map, our Heavenly Father sees a globe of opportunities.

Yes, He might take away certain things we hold dear, but He always gives back...abundantly and without reserve.  If we search for the light of His goodness, we will find evidence of it all around us. The key is looking.

December is such a busy month that stepping back from it all can be quite challenging yet, truly freeing.  Do you need to clear your mind or push the internal reset button? What may be holding you back from experiencing complete joy this Christmas?

As we prepare for new beginnings, now might be the perfect opportunity for your own re-birth as we celebrate His.

May God bless you richly and abundantly!



*Edit, For anyone who received multiple copies of this in their inbox, I apologize. My background was acting up, and I had to re-post several times to fix it! :( 

Chex Overload!

As a snack food devotee with a serious addiction to the crunch factor,  I pretty much think chex cereal is the bomb. I mean the stuff tastes good with milk,  tabasco, chocolate, pretzels, nuts, bagel bites, and (sigh) worcestershire sauce, like no other. Talk about versatility!

I have so many fond memories that involve  the dumping  of corn chex into pans of buttery, spicy, garlicky, goodness then smothering those suckers with a few extra shakes of worcestershire on top. A few times I forgot the "stir every 15 minutes" bit, yet that slightly burned stuff ended up being my favorite part. 

And now, I'm about to continue the tradition with another batch-or two if I'm feeling ambitious. 

Want to make some of your own? It's the original chex party mix right here:

http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709

Reindeer Feed

Haven't made this one yet but I've done similar versions that were super delic. Only three ingredients, so I'm already hooked and ready to try.

Bring out the chex and let's begin!

http://www.utahdealdiva.com/2010/12/yummy-treat-reindeer-feed.html

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Since it IS the week of Christmas, why not share some of the festive goodies we get to indulge in this time of year? 

I found these on Pinterest ( a nifty little site that has become my new obsession) and made them today. Boy, are they yummy! I've bought these type of fancy nuts before at fairs and various shops, but they're even better home made. And so so simple to whip together. All you need is two gallon size bags, pecan halves, egg whites, vanilla, water, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Easy, right? 

For the complete directions, click here:

http://www.bakedperfection.com/2010/12/cinnamon-sugar-pecans.html

Tomorrow, I'll share  another delectable recipe with y'all. ( Ok, I'm not southern but y'all sounds so friendly, doesn't it?) 

If you'd like to swap one of your Christmas favorites with me, I'd be tickled pink! :)