Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas time! I love the way that our thoughts and actions turn to those around us. The way that we stop thinking of ourselves and perform those kind acts we neglect through out the year. I love that our hearts turn to the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I love that many of us connect with friends that we may not of seen that year. I love the music of Christmas! I love spending time with my immediate family and extended family.

We have some traditons at Christmas time like I suppose many of you do.  For years my mother and I took time to make the Norwegian sweets that were popular her home. Things like lafse, fattigman and flat bread. It was a great time working together to produce our family favorites. My mother passed away last year so this year my sisters and I got together and made several of the family favorites. It was nice but not quite the same. Mom and I had such a great time working together and I kind of missed doing it with her.

My Mom always wanted to overcook everything and it was a constant battle to get the treats out of the oven before they were crisp.( She liked them that way) One year I was tired of the fight and thought I would just make the items myself. My excuse was that my sister-in-law wanted to learn how to make them and since I had a very small kitchen there wasn't enough room for Mom too. I felt guilting doing this but I did it. (Nort one of my proudest moments) That year Cindy and I made the best lafse. I left mine on the table when I took Cindy home. I was so proud of our day's work. Well, my pay back for not inviting Mom was that by the time I got back home everything we had baked was eaten by my dog. I never ever left Mom out after that.

There is a tradition in my husband's family where we all gather on Christmas Eve. We visit and eat delicious food. My father-in-law plays the guitar and we sing Christmas Carols. Our group is getting pretty big now that there is grandchildren and great grandchildren. It will be a sad day when Grandpa passes away and we no longer have him directing our singing. I'm sure someone else will take over but it just won't be the same.

This year was strange. So many of the family were required to work on Christmas Day. Something I'd never heard of before. My daughter-in-law flew out mid afternoon to be a work at the Vet clinic she works at. My sister-in-law had to work at her job at the Hospital and my son Jeremy didn't have enough time off to come home. And there was a chance that my brother, a railroad worker was going to have to work. I've never heard of businesses not closing on Christmas. Yes, there are always those who needed to work. People like Doctors and nurses etc. But it wasn't the general rule. I think it sad that the world can't just stop for one day and celebrate Christmas. 

To all my friends and clients, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. And I wish you all the best in 2012!