Christmas Eve In The Kitchen

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Coco

Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely Christmas Eve, although it got a bit dicey in the morning when I was in the kitchen with my daughter and we were both stressed about getting everything done in time. We worked through it and ended up having a nice time together. I think some Christmas angels must have intervened!

I woke up @ 5:30 (I had my alarm set for 6:00) and decided to get up and go out for my “Christmas Eve” run. I love my Christmas playlist (featuring an electic mix of Harry Connick, Jr., Elvis, and The Blind Boys of Alabama) and that helps get me out the door.  I was aiming for 6 miles, which means I had to take my hilly route.  I was really pumped up and happy and had a great run. There was one stretch when I was going up hill and into the wind so I felt like I was doing resistance training too! My ITB did feel tight, so when I got back I did lots of stretching – felt sooo goooood! Then it was time for a shower, coffee and the marathon of Christmas Eve in the kitchen.

My daughter made two batches of mini loaves of pumpkin bread to give away, a double batch of jam thumbprint cookies, and our apple pie.

At the same time, I was slicing brussel sprouts for a raw brussel sprout salad for our dinner, helping my daughter where she would let me, and getting the table set up (although my husband was a big help and ironed the tablecloth once I realized that the one I had gotten ready was too small!).

That came right after my freak-out moment. The mail had come and he said that there were a bunch of Christmas cards. My reply:

Maybe I can enjoy them tomorrow. I can’t do ONE MORE THING today.

Yeah, I was feeling stressed. But really, just one freak-out moment is a pretty good record for me getting ready for a big family dinner. And, I did get to enjoy the cards before going to bed last night.

I managed to get everything ready before my parents arrived, and was able to enjoy some cheese & crackers and veggies & dip while we opened presents with them before I had to do the rest of the dinner preparations. My kids were a big help too, although I have to wonder if they were joining me in the kitchen to get a break from the grandparents!

I had wanted to be eating @ 6:00 and we came pretty close by sitting down at 6:15.  I felt amazingly relaxed (much more so than at Thanksgiving for some reason) and really enjoyed our meal.  We had a Honeybaked ham and lots of side dishes.  I had mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, that brussel sprout salad and my mom’s whole cranberry sauce.  After a break it was time for dessert, and I did have a slice of both the apple pie and the pecan pie (my first and it turned out perfectly!) with a small scoop of ice cream.

Yes, I was stuffed, but ’tis the season!

I was worried about wrapping up dinner and being able to clean up the kitchen in time for our Christmas Eve candlelight service @ 10:00, but we were finished eating by around 8:00, so the bigger challenge was staying energized until our 9:30 departure time. I had told my son early in the evening that he was going to be our designated driver so my husband and I could both have a drink or two (we try not to drink AT ALL in front of the kids if we are going to drive). He knew it was a ploy to make sure he went to church, but he went along. We also got my parents to come, so it was a nice end to the evening. We got home @ 11:30 and I pretty much went straight to bed!

My daughter wants to do presents early today so she can go to her boyfriend’s family’s house @ 10.  So, I set my alarm for 6:00 to do final “Santa” stuff and I finally needed it to wake up! My husband and I got the stockings stuffed and now are sitting side-by-side on the sofa enjoying the glow of the Christmas tree with all the pretty presents before the Christmas chaos begins!

Yesterday I was cursing having our family dinner on Christmas Eve–I was so stressed in the morning and wished I had more time to get ready at a slower pace–but now that I don’t have any kitchen duties today I think it will be nice– it gives me an extra day to relax!

Merry Christmas!

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It’s A Wrap!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Coco

We are having our family dinner on Christmas Eve and I had to work through yesterday, so today was my day to make my list and check it twice.

  • I went to the grocery store–my husband came along and we ventured into Harris Teeter for the first time, so it was kind of fun. But, this was all they had in the way of brussel sprouts:

I guess they are super fresh!

  • I took my son shopping for a gift for my husband and daughter. Of course we had to stop for Starbucks. And, I got some yummy beer at Unwined:

 

  • I did my last cookie baking:

  • I made my first pecan pie:

My sister-in-law usually makes pecan pie, but she isn’t coming over until Sunday, and my son really wants a pecan pie, so I bit the bullet and bought the jar of corn syrup! I did increase the amount of pecans to my liking but there is nothing healthy about that pie! I also tried out the new pie crust cutters I got at William-Sonoma–aren’t they cute?  I can’t wait to use them on the apple pie tomorrow.

  • I wrapped all of my presents:

I have a short list of errands for the morning, then that ubiquitous last-minute cleaning, then I will start cooking! My dad is coming over @ 3:30 to do presents, and my mom is coming @ 4:00 to help me pull dinner together. I hope to be sitting down to dinner at 6:00 so we can make it to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10:00.

Merry Christmas!

 

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The Grinch Who Gave Me Back Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Coco

‘Twas three nights before Christmas Eve, when all through the house, we were making our lists and checking them twice.

My son, 16 years old, with his first “serious” girl friend (i.e., they’ve gone on an actual *date* to see Harry Potter):

Mom, I need to get a present for A—–.

Do you know what you want to get her?

Yes, will you help me buy something on-line?

What is it?

A necklace.

Uh-oh. My son has good taste. My mom has him hooked on clothes from Joseph A. Banks. My husband encouraged a purchase at Brooks Brothers because “a good shirt can last for years.” He doesn’t have a lot of clothes, but what he has is nice.

A necklace? It depends on if it fits in my budget.

What’s your budget?

Um, I don’t know. How much is the necklace?

It’s from Tiffany.

I pick myself up off the floor and try to stop laughing. 

Tiffany?

I turn to my husband: 

I don’t think you’ve ever bought me anything from Tiffany!

  Back to my son:

 How much?

$115

I turn to my husband: 

Have you ever spent $115 on jewelry for me?

Not on a single item!

(Probably true, not counting my engagement ring and wedding band).

We find out that my son’s (female) friend suggested the necklace. (He denied that she works for Tiffany!) We confirm that A—– won’t be freaked out by such a nice gift. We log onto Tiffany.com.

Yes, my son is spoiled. But considering that he didn’t even make a “list” for himself, we don’t mind doing this for him, because giving this to her is what will make him happy on Christmas.

I’ve gone through the same thing with my daughter. She puts a lot of time and effort into choosing just the right gifts for her close friends, grandparents, and other relatives, and is more generous than I would be with some of her selections. But, I know that gift-buying can be fraught with stress and it is very important to her that she find something that the person will really like. It’s easy for me to know that for my parents it really is the thought that counts, but they also appreciate all the thoughtful, “perfect” gifts that she finds.

So, as I pull out my wallet, I try to bite my tongue and give thanks that I have raised such generous children.

Some day I will share with them my Christmas meltdown, when I was distraught that the gifts I could afford to give my husband did not begin to express how much I loved him. I was really feeling inadequate when I was rescued by The Grinch Who Stole Christmas:

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”

I’m not saying that I don’t still stress over finding presents that everyone will enjoy, but I no longer worry about them matching up to the love, friendship and appreciation that I have for the recipient. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older (or realize that my children are getting older), or maybe it’s because I have everything I need (and more), but I really am more excited about seeing family and friends than I am about finding out what is wrapped in pretty paper under our tree.

“Christmas Day is in our grasp
so long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be
Just as long as we have we.
Welcome, Christmas, while we stand
Heart to heart … and hand in hand.”

(Thank you, Dr. Seuss!)

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Being Immanuel

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Coco

Today’s Gospel reading brought us this familiar passage from Matthew 1:18-25, on which many a Christmas pageant has been based:

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

 

But our sermon did not go down that road. I think our priest is leaving that for the children at our Christmas pageant this week. Instead, we took a closer look at the cited passage from Isaiah 7: 10-17, which was our Old Testament reading:

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The young woman will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,  for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

Our priest put this passage in historical perspective, and explained that King Ahaz was struggling with how to protect Jerusalem and Judah from impending attack by two neighboring kings who were seeking to form a coalition against an invasion from Assyria. At the time, this prophecy could have been a promise that the two kings that King Ahaz was worrying about would not succeed in their schemes, because God would protect Judah.

Our priest pointed out that Isaiah’s quote refers to a “young woman,” and so did not necessarily predict the miraculous virgin birth of the Gospel. For an alternative interpretation, our priest asked us to imagine the prophet speaking to a crowd, looking for a way to impress on his audience the timeframe of his prophecy. He might have spotted a young woman and pointed her out to make the point that before this woman could bear a child and have him grow up, God’s promise would be fulfilled.

That image got me thinking about the concept of each one of us being “Immanuel.” Not that I think we all are God, but I do believe that we all can do God’s work in this world. And, it seems, at least to some extent and at least for now, God is relying on us to do just that. We are the ones who must “[h]eal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, [and] drive out demons”–or at least do what we can to help others.

 

About 18 months ago, the concept of Christians being “the body of Christ” crystallized for me when I couldn’t be with someone I wanted to encourage, and I had to rely on another friend to pass on my support. When I was texting, “Give her a hug for me!” it struck me how I was counting on our mutual friend to really be there for me. And then it hit me. That’s what it means to be the body of Christ.

God counts on us to do His work in the world, to be the hands that help, the ears that listen, the shoulders that share burdens. When we act as the body of Christ–loving our neighbor, helping those who can’t help themselves–we can make God real for others, just like my friend could make my support real when I couldn’t be there.

Going from this understanding of “the body of Christ” to a similar take on “Immanuel” may not seem like a very big step, but to me, “Immanuel” carries bigger promises of salvation and peace on earth. Salvation certainly is God’s exclusive domain, and I really don’t see any chance for world peace without divine intervention. But maybe that’s the message of hope that I needed to hear today.

I’ve already admitted that I am not a strong believer in “the second coming.” So, where does that leave the world if I don’t believe that people will set it straight and I have a hard time believing that Jesus will “come back” to save us? Maybe Immanuel is the answer.

I do believe that God can and does work through people. I have been blessed with too many “angels” in my life to think otherwise, and have heard too many true stories of miraculous encounters with just the right person who said just the right thing or knew just what to do. So, maybe God can work bigger miracles–even world peace–through us if we accept our mission of being Immanuel.

 

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Catching the Christmas Spirit

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Coco

This week at work was a bear, but I am doing my best to get in the Christmas spirit. We had our office party on Wednesday, and I wore my “new” Christmas sweater that I got at a vintage store in Boulder when we visited our daughter at college.

I also gave my assistants their presents: Godiva chocolates and Starbucks cards.

I like to give gifts that I would like to get, and you can’t go wrong with chocolate and Starbucks!

After my Christmas cookie bake-a-thon, I took a tin of cookies to our 87-year old neighbor. I thought I could just drop off the cookies with a quick “Happy Holidays!” but she started talking and kept going.

I learned that she has lived in her house for over 30 years (we just moved here last summer, so I don’t know her that well yet), and that she was shaken when her long-time “back fence” neighbors moved out to go to a retirement community. She loves her house and wants to be carried out by the undertakers.

I learned that she loves her dog and loves to play fetch in her back yard. I learned that her daughter is a cat person, not a dog person, so if something happens to her, her son will take care of her dog. Her son likes her dog and understands that he likes play.

I learned that she hurt her foot, but doesn’t want to go to the doctor because she doesn’t want to be told that she can’t or shouldn’t do things. At 87 years old, she does most of her own yard work (including mowing the grass) and had just spent the day raking her leaves to the curb for our neighborhood “rake out.” (My husband did the part of her yard that’s next to ours, but she still did many hours of yard work.)

When she finally had told me all that was on her mind, I ran back to my house–we had been standing on her front porch and it had gotten cold quickly. I had a passing thought that next time I will be sure to leave cookies on her doorstep when she is out, but I quickly replaced that with an understanding that this is what the Christmas season is all about.

Sure, it’s nice to give and receive gifts, but what really makes the season special is the time we spend with each other. Whether its family, friends, colleagues, or crazy neighbors, taking a few minutes to find out how someone is doing, to show your concern and let them know you care, will help you catch–and spread–the Christmas spirit.

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