Christmas baking and a Christmas message

Saturday morning I began my Christmas baking.  I set my alarm for 6:30, but thanks to Emery and a much needed diaper change, I was up at 6:00.  Luckily she went right back to sleep, but I didn't.  And so out to the living room I went to spend some much needed time with the Lord.  I read a little and spent time praying and talking with the Lord.  My heart is heavy for my family this time of year.  Not only is it the first Christmas that we've not only spent apart, but so permanently separated.  I am sad for me.  I am sad for them.  But more than that, my sister-in-law faces the thought that this may be her last Christmas with her dad.  And so my heart is heavy for her and the family.  But also for how that brings up feelings for my brother and nephews and niece as well.  I am also reminded of that last Christmas with my mom.  I remember all of us girls took the cutest picture with blingy santa hats on and crazy faces!  It was fun.  It is still one of my favorite pics with my mom.  And yet, that picture brings back so much sorrow and sadness.  It brings back grief and feelings of regret and guilt that are, and never have been, of the Lord.  But it still lingers.  For only 9 days later, my mom passed into the precious and tender arms of Jesus.  How sad it was for us, but how glorious and magnificent it was for her!  We all will say goodbye to loved ones, whether it is forever or only with the distant of a few states.  But we will meet again!  We are still together in spirit, in memory, and in love.  That is one thing that is very significant to me this year as I decorated and began baking and thinking of what new traditions we will begin.  I appreciate, more than ever, the memories and the traditions of our families.  They are precious memories.  Some I will carry with me into future years with my family of 3.
At Thanksgiving, one of my friends posted a story someone wrote about the food we make at Thanksgiving (in this case, for me, Christmas), and how it is really not about the food at all, but about the family, the people, and the memories cooking and baking brings with it.  I never thought my mom passed many recipes down to me.  But reading that it made me think of all she has passed on.  I continue to bake, yearly, the pumpkin bread she entered into the fair.  It is still a favorite among all my friends.  The sweet potatoes became a favorite of mine because of her.  And now they have morphed into sweet potato balls that Sean's mom passed to him.  These became a favorite among even my family.  I think of Nadine as I make Sean's favorite iced cookie, Fondants and then watch him ice them.  I think of Mary, my sister-in-law, as I bake her fabulous white chocolate raspberry cake for a Christmas party tonight.  I still think of my mom's eggnog and how she never bought it from the store.  Speaking of which, she would have never dreamed to buy store bought whipped cream, pie crust or pies either!  She made them all from scratch and with much love, I'm sure!  When I think of pumpkin pies, I think of my mom (although Sean wins out with Costco's pumpkin pie...lol).  She passed on so much to me!  And I am eternally grateful! If you would like to read the whole story my friend posted, please visit http://empoweredpantry.wordpress.com/

So back to my morning... hehe.  It was the smell of baking and the sounds of the best of elevator Christmas Music (A Windham Hill Christmas... so beautiful!) that filled the air.  Emery played while I baked.  A one point she wanted "Up!" and so I set her on the counter next to the bowl.  She watched as I mixed and poured and stirred.  All the while I narrated what I was doing.  I had my very own cooking show complete with a very attentive audience! She even helped me clean up!  She loves taking my wet napkin and finishing the job of wiping the counters (then the cupboard doors, then her recliner chair... lol... whatever was at her height!).  Later we walked to get the mail and played out on the grass and in the gazebo.  We came back home, ate lunch and then had reading time on mommy's lap.  She was more into the books I was reading than normal.  It was so fun for me!  She LOVES books, but doesn't usually SIT through the entire thing.  Then she was down for a nap and mama got some 'me' time watching Downton Abby.  It was the best day in a while!!!  Maybe it is because I started out with the Bible and prayer time with my Lord.  :)

Emery learning to bake!

Enjoying the fruits of mommy's baking!

She went off into her toy corner and settled down with a good book 

(just like mommy likes to do!)

Christmas service!!

Christmas party at the Carlson's

Emery LOVES Madeline and made a new friend as well!

Sunday morning was a very powerful Christmas message.  One of the best I've heard.  I wish I would have taken notes to post more details here.  But I encourage you to listen to the message if you have time at ... http://gatewaypeople.com/sermons.  It is well worth it!  One thing he talked about that has stuck with me is a fictional conversation between God and Jesus.  I say this so ya'all know that it is not in the bible and Pastor Robert was not practicing heresy.  lol  But it was just to get an idea of how this Christmas thing came about (with a little of the Easter message mixed in).  It went something like this.  God saw that Adam and Eve sinned.  He went to His Son, Jesus, and told him of what had happened.  He explained that although He created them for Jesus to love and bless and be loved and worshipped in return, that because they sinned and death had entered the picture, that they would have to die.  (think of the doctor coming out and telling you that your long awaited child will die from a senseless tragedy)  But Jesus quickly turned to His Father and said, "No they don't have to die.  I will die for them".  And so God sent Jesus into the world as a man through the virgin Mary (as to not taint Jesus with the sins of a human father).  He was fully God and fully man.

"And unto us a child is born.  Unto us a Son is given" Isaiah 7.

And so this Christmas season, we celebrate this man, who was God incarnate, born to us this day, to live and know life as we know it... to minister and heal, love and comfort, to redeem and restore through death on the cross... a human race doomed for death, but made alive in Christ!  Thank you Jesus!

Merry Christmas to all!  God Bless!!