As a little girl my family always made a big deal about Christmas. I believe my mom grew up with many of the same traditions. My family has always had an open door policy, must have enough food to feed an army, a few variations of Christmas trees - both real and fake - with hundreds of ornaments, and lots of treats and laughter.
Well, this year is a little different as we work in a church and live a little too far to travel to be with family. So while we have a busy weekend of celebrating through worship leading, we also have celebrations of our own and with friends.
After a weekend of being together with the whole Nelson family for Grandpa Nelson's funeral, we came home to the flu bug. It took a few days of laying low to recover and then we jumped into the menu planning for the holiday weekends. We've made whiskey balls, eggnog cookies, and beer cheese soup. It's amazing how good things taste, that remind you of home, when you're not able to be with family/home like usual. We've enjoyed treats of homemade lefse and chex mix too!
There's only one tree this year in our small Northwoods apartment. Yet the celebrations will take place with friends from church so I'm sure there'll be enough food for an army and much laughter. Still on the menu for the coming days is cinnamon swirl bread (in the bread maker as I type), Swedish meatballs, and maybe a few more kinds of holiday treats.
Wherever you find yourself this Christmas season may you be content and celebrate the birth of our savior with the love in your heart and others!
discernment on potentially pursuing chaplaincy
