Merry Christmas!
As I'm writing on Christmas Day, I reflect on many of my Christmas memories and holiday traditions past...
For me these include baking all the cookies, truffles, and corn flake wreaths with my mom, aunts, cousins, and grandma on a special girls cookie day. Mountains of cookies were baked on cookie day and later taken home for the families to devour.
My mom and I also savored all the holiday decorating (my Dad and little Brother not so much): setting up the tree, placing the festive décor on shelves and tables, arranging the Christmas village, and even wrapping our bedroom doors in festive paper and giant bows to look like presents. We are both big fans of holiday cocoas and coffees too- so extra trips to Caribou Coffee (just Mom and me) were always extra special.
As a family we did a ton of sledding, ice skating, and skiing in the Minnesota winters, often with my Dad's extended family. You could annually find us on the road to Wisconsin for a family ski trip and staying overnight in what we kids thought were fancy hotels (haha- hello Ramada Inn)!
Christmas Eve we often spent at my Grandparent's home. Grandpa would decorate the outside of the house to the nines with all sorts of lights and displays. Inside you would find appetizers galore and frosty mint grasshopper shakes (with grasshopper "legs") enjoyed by all. When the night grew late my Grandma would always be sure that every family went home arms filled with Queen Anne's brand chocolate covered cherries and lifesavers hard candy books.
As children on Christmas Day, my brother and I would wake far too early to see what Santa brought us. The rule was often no opening gifts until breakfast, so you could imagine how quickly breakfast was scarfed down. Our home didn't have the greatest working fireplace, so the Christmas Yule log was always cracking on the TV as we opened gifts.
As I am grown now, and have children of my own now, my husband and I have started some of our own traditions. Like driving around town curating our very own city tour of Christmas lights, all while wearing our PJs and enjoying snacks. We bake only the cookies and treats we love- like giant frosted sugar cookies (several without sprinkles) and Oreo truffles. We also honor our late daughter, Olly Belle, each Christmas Day by asking Santa to fill her stocking with things for the family, lighting a special candle all day, and also by eating her favorite meal for Christmas dinner: tacos and cornbread.
All of these recipes, traditions, and what seems like silly holiday antics are actually quite important. One day these will be passed down. The traditions we remember and carry out today will be the ones our children and future grandchildren remember at Christmas.
Someday, our children will become adults and maybe even parents themselves. They will look at their own reflection in the mirror during Christmas time, and at times they will hope to see you.
It'll be you that they remember at Christmas time. It'll be you who they hope to emulate, that they could create the same Christmas magic that they once experienced as a child. They will want to recreate that one funny Christmas photo you took, or bake that favorite holiday dish or dessert, or let their kids partake in the same shenanigans and activities they once enjoyed as a child. Fridges, doors, and Christmas trees will be adorn with their own children's homemade ornaments and crafts you too once proudly put on display. The anticipation, sights, smells, and tastes of the season will capture them in the same ways they captivated you as a child.
So remember the importance of all these silly traditions, allow yourself the time and effort that goes into planning, and count all the chaos and happy accidents as pure joy- for they are truly magic and will be passed down for generations to come!
"May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you"
- The Blessing, by Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship, and Kari Jobe