The Most Wonderful Time

Christmas is a mixed bag for those who are missing loved ones but still making new memories. It is the time for family traditions to be upheld and favorite songs to be sung. If "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reigndeer" is on the list, we might be related. It has been my pain and pleasure to make some of the family traditional recipes that we always enjoyed when I was growing up. My mother's cream cheese log with gold raisins, craisins, green onions, almods, and duck sauce will always make me high on the holidays. Memories of church functions and tables of Swiss Colony cheeses with my mom's Cranberry Cinnamon Punch recipe came to mind, and my oldest got the honors of brewing it this year. In lieu of the traditional ham (ironic in my opinion) or turkey, my husband made his famous chili. I dragged myself around the kitchen making a carrot cake that looked like my 6 year old decorated it, but I was happy to make the family favorite. In fact, when given the choice between carrot cake and my mom's blueberry ice box dessert, my husband led the chorus of "Carrot cake, of course!". Thank you, Amazon, for providing 3 years worth of "stocking filler" overkill. Oops! I did it again.

What was the best part of the holidays, though? I have spent many posts hitting home the importance of letting go of the past. Yet, the best part of this Christmas truly has been being able to remember the happy parts of childhood and trying to help ease the pain in loved one's hearts. There is nothing richer to give than the constand love and gratitude that comes out at Christmas, be it an appreciation for the ULTIMATE GIFT of a savior or the ultimate gift on earth of my family and my soulmate. Keep them close. Love is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.