Heart to Heart with Diane

Happy times together! Rebekah, Isaac and Grandaddy (Rick)

Christmas—family time—isn’t it wonderful?!

All my children and grandchildren are home for the holidays!  I think the thing I like the very most about Christmas is the happy easiness that comes as a result of just spending so much time together.  Work is set aside. The busy-ness that keeps us a bit stressed and efficient takes a vacation. Schedules disappear.  Pretenses slip away. And we can relax and talk and play games and “just chill”.  The result is a cozy and loving togetherness and intimacy that isn’t so easily available in our day-to-day regimen.  I am so, so thankful for these time-off periods that bond our family closer and happier, and make us more committed to each other.  We make happy memories that we smile about for years.

Right now my grown sons are all downstairs, laughing so hard together that it makes me chuckle just to hear them.  Camaraderie.  Enjoyment at being together.  Time to talk.  Time to tease and play and just bask in being with each other.  Stiffness softens. Everyone’s at ease. All the barriers fall. Familiarity sets in.  Irritations disappear. It is such a wonderful feeling of loving companionship.  We accept and appreciate each other even more.  Heaven must feel like this!

The boys make pancakes! My sons Mark, Nathan, Daniel and Daniel's son Isaac

The presents have all been opened—and partly forgotten.  The decorations, carols, traditions and feasting are in the past tense for Christmas 2010. But the glow of being together is still bright enough to warm my hands by. The love and easy companionship and enjoyment of each other that comes when there are long relaxed hours to spend together—I think that is what I like the very most about Christmas.

My granddaughter Rachel Lily jumps for the joy of Christmas!

Sunbathing in the great white!

We just had a BIG snow!  Which means it is high time for our annual crazy tradition!  I’m not quite sure how this even got started, but if it snows deep, Louisa and Daddy just have to don their swimming suits for a snow swim!  Wow, it’s frigid!  But lots of fun!

Hoping to make you smile!

Ammon decides to join the fun!

by J. Edgar Park

It was Christmas Eve, and as usual, George Mason was the last to leave the office. He walked over to a massive safe, spun the dials, and swung the heavy door open. Making sure the door would not close behind him, he stepped inside.

A square of white cardboard was taped just above the topmost row of strongboxes. On the card a few words were written. George Mason stared at those words, remembering…

Exactly one year ago he had entered this self-same vault. And then, behind his back, slowly, noiselessly, the ponderous door swung shut. He was trapped–entombed in the sudden and terrifying dark.

He hurled himself at the unyielding door, his hoarse cry sounding like an explosion. Through his mind flashed all the stories he had heard of men found suffocated in time vaults. No time clock controlled this mechanism; the safe would remain locked until it was opened from the outside. Tomorrow morning.

Then realization hit him. No one would come tomorrow–tomorrow was Christmas.

Once more he flung himself at the door, shouting wildly, until he sank on his knees exhausted. Silence came, high-pitched, singing silence that seemed deafening. More than thirty-six hours in a steel box three feet wide, eight feet long, and seven feet high. Would the oxygen last? Panting and breathing heavily, he felt his way around the floor. Then, in the far right-hand corner, just above the floor, he found a small, circular opening. Quickly he thrust his finger into it and felt a faint but unmistakable, cool current of air.

The tension release was so sudden that he burst into tears. But at last he sat up. Surely he would not have to stay trapped for the full thirty-six hours. Somebody would miss him. But who? He was unmarried and lived alone. The maid who cleaned his apartment was just a servant; he had always treated her as such. He had been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his brother’s family, but children got on his nerves and expected presents.

A friend had asked him to go to a home for elderly people on Christmas Day and play the piano–George Mason was a good musician. But he had made some excuse or other; he had intended to sit at home, listening to some new recordings he was giving himself.

George Mason dug his nails into the palms of his hands until the pain balanced the misery in his mind. Nobody would come and let him out, nobody, nobody, nobody…

Miserably the whole of Christmas Day went by, and the succeeding night.

On the morning after Christmas the head clerk came into the office at the usual time, opened the safe, then went on into his private office.

No one saw George Mason stagger out into the corridor, run to the water cooler, and drink great gulps of water. No one paid any attention to him as he left and took a taxi home.

Then he shaved, changed his wrinkled clothes, ate breakfast, and returned to his office where his employees greeted him casually.

That day he met several acquaintances and talked to his own brother. Grimly, the truth closed in on George Mason. He had vanished from human society during the great festival of brotherhood and no one had missed him at all.

Reluctantly, George Mason began to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Was it possible that he had been blind all these years with selfishness, indifference, and pride? Was not giving, after all, the essence of Christmas because it marked the time God gave His Son to the world?

All through the year that followed, with little hesitant deeds of kindness, with small, unnoticed acts of unselfishness, George Mason tried to prepare himself..

Now, once more, it was Christmas Eve.

Slowly he backed out of the safe and closed it. He touched its grim, steel face lightly, almost affectionately, and left the office.

There he goes now in his black overcoat and hat, the same George Mason as a year ago. Or is it? He walks a few blocks, and then flags a taxi, anxious not to be late. His nephews are expecting him to help them trim the tree. Afterwards, he is taking his brother and his sister-in-law to a Christmas play. Why is he so happy? Why does this jostling against others, laden as he is with bundles, exhilarate and delight him?

Perhaps the card has something to do with it, the card he taped inside his office safe last New Year’s Day. On the card is written, in George Mason’s own hand:

“To love people, to be indispensable somewhere, that is the purpose of life. That is the secret of happiness.”

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma.  I was just a kid.  I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her.  On the way, my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. “Even dummies know that!”

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been.  I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me.  I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns.  I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so.  It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm.  Between bites, I told her everything.  She was ready for me.

“No Santa Claus?” she snorted…  “Ridiculous!  Don’t believe it!  That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!  Now, put on your coat, and let’s go.”

“Go?  Go where, Grandma?”  I asked.  I hadn’t even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.

“Where” turned out to be Kirby’s General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.  As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.  That was a bundle in those days.

“Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it.  I’ll wait for you in the car.”  Then she turned and walked out of Kirby’s.

I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.  I thought of everybody I knew:  my family, my friends, my neighbours, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.  He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s grade-two class.  Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat.  I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter.  His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough; he didn’t have a good coat.

I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.  I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!  I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.  It looked real warm, and he would like that.

“Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly.  “It’s for Bobby.”

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat.  I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it.  Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.  Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa’s helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge.  “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.  Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker’s bushes.  That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous.  Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

—Anonymous

Bethlehem Supper
A Christmas Eve Tradition

Enjoy a taste of the real night before the Savior was born with this Bethlehem Supper. It is quick and easy to prepare, a boon for mom when things can otherwise be quite hectic. The simple foods are a refreshing taste change from the rich holiday foods. Eating what Joseph and Mary may have eaten transports us to a different time and experience, and keeps us more mindful of our Savior’s birth. It also makes a meaningful prelude to reading the chapter in Luke or re-enacting the nativity.

You can create a very simple supper or a more elaborate experience. Here’s some things we have done:

*Play instrumental folk music from Israel in the background.

*Dress up in robes and sandals, pretending you are travelers at an inn in Bethlehem.

*Set the scene with palm fronds, oil lamps, simple pottery or wooden dishes, small earthtone candles (no electric lights).

*Have guests wash their hands in a large bowl with a pitcher of water before eating.

*Sit on the floor on blankets or pillows and use a low table for the food. If you are very courageous or don’t have little ones, you can spread the tablecloth right on the floor.

At the time Jesus was born, the large meal of the day may have included wheat bread, cheese, vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils and eggs. Fish or chicken was the most common meat. Beef and lamb were served only on special occasions (the fatted calf at the return of the prodigal son). Pork and seafoods such as crab, lobster or shrimp were forbidden. Food was boiled in a big pot seasoned with onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, mint, dill or mustard, and salt. Sweets included wild honey, dates and grapes. Food was eaten by dipping fingers into a common bowl.

Here are some menu ideas to choose from:

Flatbread
Hummus (recipe below)
Fish sticks
Goat cheese (called “feta”)
Olives
Raw veggie tray with dip
Cheese and cracker platter
Pomegranates
Braided Jewish bread
Grape juice or grapes
Tomato and cucumber salad
Soup
Dates and figs (can twist a few in gold tissue paper and put by each place setting as a treat)
Orange slices

Enjoy!

Make your own, try these easy recipes:

Hummus—Middle Eastern Sandwich Spread

To make a Middle Eastern sandwich, open a half pita and spread hummus inside. Then add chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions if you like, and drizzle with yogurt and cumin. Very delicious, healthy and authentic.

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans, or 1 can (15 oz.) drained (reserve liquid)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1/2 small clove of garlic
Dash of freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, adding a bit of cooking liquid (or liquid from canned beans) if needed to make a thick dip. Spread on pita bread, crackers, or use as a dip for vegetables. Serves 8.

Pita Bread

Easy to make, magical to watch puff up in the oven, and delicious to serve with hummus, above.

1 teaspoon yeast
1/2 cups warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cup white wheat flour or whole wheat)

Sesame seeds

(recipes from Hopkins’ Healthy Home Cooking)

This star ornament is made with white pearly glitter

Glue ‘n Glitter Easy Ornament

Even a little one can make this super easy, sparkly ornament! All you need is glue, glitter and waxed paper. No perfection needed.

1. Squeeze out the outline of a Christmas shape with glue onto the wax paper. You can make a snowman, angel, bell, star, heart, or even the letters spelling JOY, Jesus, or anything you want. All the lines must connect to each other, though. Go over it again with glue so it is a nice thick line.

2. Sprinkle glitter onto the wet glue liberally. Variation: sprinkle cinnamon on the shape to make a fragrant ornament. Experiment by sticking beads in the glue, using sugar sprinkles, paper dots from a paper punch, or anything else you can think of!

3. Let it dry overnight. Peel off the waxed paper. Tie a ribbon through the shape and hang it on the Christmas tree or tie to a package.

“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh,
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily sat for a moment and read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream;
“Ready for Christmas! What do you mean?
When just two days ago last week
You wouldn’t acknowledge your friend in the street.”

“Ready for Christmas, while holding a grudge!
Perhaps you had better let God be the judge.
Why, how can the Christ child come and abide
In a heart that is selfish and filled with pride?”

“Ready for Christmas! You’ve worked, it is true.
But just doing the things that you wanted to do.
Ready for Christmas! Your circle’s too small.
Why, you are not ready for Christmas at all.”

She awoke with a start, and a cry of despair,
“There’s so little time, and I’ve still to prepare!
“Oh, Father, forgive me, I see what you mean;
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.”

Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree,
It’s the heart swept clean that He wants to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness, sin,
Ready for Christmas means ready for Him!”

Christmas is such a happy time!  Tonight Emily had her “Aunt Emily” party with her little nieces and nephew.  They played games, made gingerbread men, did a craft and had such a good time! I admire her for being such a fun and caring aunt.

Aunt Emily makes gingerbread men with Rebekah, Isaac & Abigail

Some traditions just have to happen every single Christmas, and paper snowflakes are one of them.  Even if it doesn’t snow, you can enjoy the beauty and magic of snowflakes falling on your windows!  When my kids were young, every Christmas included a family night where we folded and cut paper snowflakes.  Even little ones can make something pretty.  It is very magical to open up your folded paper and see your “cuts” transformed into something beautiful!

Making paper snowflakes is an old-fashioned craft that reminds me of our ancestors, who managed to decorate their homes for Christmas without expense.  It’s a happy thought.

Wanna make a snowflake?