Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas! It's 4:00 am here in California and I'm awake, probably a habit from many years of beating my kids to their stockings on Christmas morning so there would be a few trinkets inside when they peeked. Now they are grown, though still slumbering in their childhood rooms, visiting me for the holiday.

In the last week I've heard a couple of people mention a lack of usual Christmas spirit this year. Perhaps it is partly due to the times we live in. So much horrible news, harshness and selfishness in this world, a decline of kindness and even every day courtesy and respect. It's enough to make one feel helpless, overwhelmed, and broken-hearted for mankind.

"And in despair I bowed my head:

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

However, I have a friend who told me that she and her husband made a pact that whenever they heard of someone experiencing pain or of some calamity on the news, they would counteract it by doing a random act of kindness -- big or small. What a wonderful way to live. I may add that to my list of  new year's resolutions! We may not be able to change the world, but we can soften it for those within our reach.

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

~ from I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Yesterday I had the house to myself for a couple of hours. The rain was softly falling against the window panes, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of baking apple cake, and I was putting the last few bows on presents, when I recognized a sense of peace. The world may feel like it's spinning out of control, but God has blessed me with health and loving daughters, a home to care for, a decent job. And in that moment I knew that was what the Christmas spirit was all about -- a simple sense of peace, pushing the pause button on life and enjoying in slow motion the moments we have today.

May you feel a sense of peace for all your blessings this Christmas!

Apple Cake and Cocoa Kinda Morning!

There is something special about the afterglow that comes the day after Christmas.  Contentment from full tummies and happy memories. Relishing the moments when you made others happy with gifts. Smiles over silly jokes made while playing games (we indulged in Monopoly, Uno and Clue this year).  Time to actually re-read the cards and letters that arrived and absorb the latest news from friends and family.  Inhaling the aroma of new fragrances.  I'm still in my new nightie that I received from my sister Linda for Christmas, enjoying a piece of apple cake (heated up in the microwave) and a cup of cocoa (made with milk, not water).

It is scrumptuous -- one of my mom's recipes -- Ash was in a baking mood so whipped it up yesterday.  Here it is, for the curious -- it makes a great little coffee cake in the morning:

Old Fashioned Apple Cake

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Grease 9X13X2 inch pan.

Batter:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 can apple pie filling (cut up in small chunks)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
3 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 t. vanilla

Combine batter ingredients by hand until well blended.  Spread batter in prepared pan.  Mix topping ingredients with fork until crumbly.  Sprinkle topping evenly over batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back.

There is something about baking things that your mother made that helps you remember the woman ~ her life, her hands, her smiles and words.  This morning I'm missing my mom.

Last night I sat down with the 2014 Susan Branch calendar my daughter Ash gifted me and wrote in all the birthdays and special events I want to remember.  I love fresh starts.

Now I better get ready!  Ash and I are going over to the bookstore and out to lunch. Then I'm off to pamper myself with a pedicure!  Tonight's dinner will be left overs from yesterday -- yum!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!