Christmas Changes...

Our Budapest tree :)

On these days leading up to Christmas I've had this feeling that I should be doing more. By now, in the past, the tree is up and decorated. Maybe a few wrapped gifts under the tree. Stockings with gold-glittered names would be hung down the stair rail. If I was hanging stockings this year we would add another stocking to the thirteen that already represent our growing family. We are excited to welcome our 5th grandchild into the world in April thanks to Josh and Kari!

I probably would have already made soup - vegetable beef, chicken corn chowder - to put in the freezer until Christmas eve day. It was always our tradition to have warm bread and soup waiting after the Christmas eve services.

Fudge Sundae Dessert was a holiday tradition, another thing I could prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. I actually miss our Montgomery Ward chest freezer that my parents gave us as a wedding gift where we stored the beef they supplied us for the first 10 years of our marriage. What a practical gift that was! And, that freezer - passed on to some friends in MI when we made the move to Budapest - continues to keep going after 32 years!

I definitely would be making Christmas cookies this week. I had narrowed it down to two recipes. One simply called, Christmas Cookies, a sandwich cookie with the yummiest icing that melts in your mouth. And, Spritz cookies, Dennis' favorite (Josh, too).

Just when I was thinking about all this, I received several emails this week that warmed my heart.

Joni wrote, "I was thinking that we could make some soup here for Christmas as well as some cookies.  I could pre make a couple pans of egg casserole and the chicken corn chowder ahead of time as well.  Whatever sounds good.  I was planning on making both of those things anyway... we can do them together... "

We'll be heading back to the states combining a conference, a college campus visit, and meetings, with visits to family over the holiday. I had forgot about the egg casserole that Joni mentioned. It has been a Christmas morning tradition that I could make ahead of time and pop in the freezer, too.

Then, this from Kari: "I've been thinking through food for Christmas, and I thought I'd email and get your thoughts!  On the 26th, I'm planning on making chicken corn chowder and vege beef soup for everyone, since you all will be traveling up here during the day.  I'll also make an egg casserole for the morning of the 27th."

And last night we skyped with Jamie and Evee and we talked about making Christmas cookies. For sure the Spritz. This week, in fact!

I've got to smile. Christmas changes, but really, not so much. We're so thankful that we get to see our family - all our kids, grand-kids and parents, too -  and some of the traditions will keep on going, no matter how much life changes or where in the world we are.