I Don't Do Christmas Letters

I don't do the traditional family update Christmas letter.  I have nothing against receiving them, I just don't write them. I like hearing about what everyone else has been up to all year.  I especially enjoy them when they come with photos.   I have tried a few times to write one. I think I did send one out, back in the 90's.  It had a typo.  I was modified, and have never recovered.  Anyway, I just can't do it.  I get all hung up on format and content.  Just what do you say in that letter, and how do you say it?  Whatever I write comes out sounding contrived, and just dumb, even without any typos. 
 
First of all, what is the proper Christmas letter format?  Does the author of the letter identify them self as such, and write about all of their personal accomplishments, ailments, or musings on the year in first person, and all of the aforementioned details about the other family members in 3rd person?

"Merry Christmas one and all.  This is Wendy, I'm writing this letter to tell all of you what my family has been doing over the last 12 months.  I am going to brag about my kids, tell jokes about my husband, and then demurely decline to mention many details about myself out of feigned modestly."

 Or do you pretend you are not really the author and write the entire thing as news story, as if it were written by a reporter?  In that case, who signs the thing, or do you just include a by line??  You can really let go of the modesty and brag about yourself, since you didn't write it. 

 "So, 2012 was a good year for the Minks family.   Ryker and Taylor are awesome.  They have awesome jobs, and live an awesome life.  Quincie is amazing and stunningly beautiful.  She does amazing things and is very humble about them.  Several major awards were won by the family for various feats of amazing awesomeness.  Carl is great, he does great things, and is a great success.  We did great things all year, and had great fun.  Life is great!   Wendy is as wonderful as always.  She has wonderful adventures, wonderful success, and is wonderful.   It really has been an awesomely, amazing, wonderfully, great year for this awesome, amazing, wonderful, great family....." [boring .... and weird...]

  Do you write it as if "the family" wrote it as an entity?  Like the letter is from all of you, and you wrote it with all of your hands on they keyboard?

"Merry Christmas from the Minks family!  We had such a good year and are so happy to tell you about how good it was.  We had a family vacation, it was really fun.  Everyone had a great time!  We wish you could have been there!  A couple of us moved out of the house and left the nest a little empty, but then one of us came back again.  We took some trips, did some work, and did some fun things too."       [This is just too weird, writing as if the entity of  the family is writing this.  How do you say, Ryker did this... if Ryker is one of the authors?  It's just goofy ... ]

 As you can tell, I also have an issue with content.  I don't like to complain, or tell negative tales. I really don't like to tell of "struggles" in a letter that is supposed to be uplifting, and a means to wish loved ones a Merry Christmas.   But then, if it is all sunshine and roses, it sounds so fake, and like I am bragging.  My kids are great, I'm great, blah, blah, blah ...... who believes that???   Do you really want to hear the summarized, candy-coated version of our year?  How close are we if it takes a Christmas letter to find out what we have been up to for the last 12 months?  Are we not friends on Facebook and therefore, know all of each other's triumphs and woes on a daily basis?

I'm just not sure what to say, or how to say it, so I don't, and now you know why.  I still send an actual Christmas card, with a hand written letter to my Grandmother.  She is in her 80's and not on Facebook.  She deserves a hand written letter.  But as for the rest of you?  Well .... if you are reading this, then you know how my year went.  You have seen the pictures, and read the stuff I wrote about as it happened. 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Christmas Tradition

I was first introduced to the Christmas Stollen when I married into the Minks family in December 1988.  I had no idea what it was, except that it was yummy.  My mother-in-law made them every year for Christmas morning breakfast.  When we moved out of state, Carl asked me to recreate the tradition for our family.  There was no official recipe to follow, so I started experimenting.

My recipe evolved over the years, and standardized sometime in the last decade. The cream cheese filling recipe is of my own creation.  I just kept trying things until it was the right taste and texture.

It is possible to use pre-made frozen bread dough, but it doesn't taste quite the same.  This sweet dough is just right.  This recipe makes enough for 2 large pastries (the size of a cookie sheet).  You can also use this dough to make cinnamon rolls.

If you look up Stollen on Wikipedia, it tells a totally different story.  Honestly, it sounds kinda disgusting - pretty much fruit cake covered in melted butter and rolled in sugar.  I'm not sure why this delicious pastry we make has the same name as the German fruit cake thing, but I sure know which version I would rather eat.

Stollen Recipe:

Delicious White Sweet Bread Dough

6-7 c. flour 1/2 c. sugar 2 tsp. salt 2 pkg. yeast 1 c. water 1 c. milk 1/2 c. butter 1 egg Heat milk and water and butter in a pan until very warm, approximately 120- 130 degrees. In a large bowl, add 2 cups flour and sugar, salt and yeast; blend very well. Add warm liquid and egg to the flour mixture and beat with a beater; slowly add rest of flour and knead in. Let rise about 1 hour in a warm place until dough is doubled in size. Punch down and let rise 1/2 hour. Shape dough according to your needs. Ex: bread, buns, Parkerhouse rolls, spinach pies, pizza, etc.

Filling:

2 packages of cream cheese

1-2 tsp. lemon extract

1/4/ cup of milk (maybe even less)

2 eggs

1 cup of powdered sugar

Melt the cream cheese with the lemon extract, milk, and eggs in a sauce pan on medium heat, mixing the entire time with an electric mixer.  When smooth add powdered sugar.  Mix and cook until mixture thickens. I use an electric mixer in the sauce pan on the stove.

Pie filling flavor of your choice - Cherry, Lemon, Blueberry, Apple, etc.

After rising, roll out 1/2 of dough into a rectangular shape, the thinner the better.  Spread the filling mixture down the center.  Add pie filling to top of filling.  Cut sides of dough into strips and braid across the top.   Sprinkle the top with nuts, brown sugar, or chocolate chips, etc.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. 

Sugar Cookies

When I eat these cookies it is like I am a child again, sitting in my Grandma's house waiting for Santa to arrive.  They are light and fluffy and in my opinion, don't need the icing to be good.  Heck, I don't even think they really need to be baked!

This recipe makes a TON of cookies!  Depending on the size of your cookie cutters, usually around 100.  Just enough to share with all your friends and neighbors (and make your back hurt from all the leaning over).  

I think they are the best.  Enjoy!

Sugar Cookies (Grandma Teusink's Recipe)

1 cup margarine or butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups of flour

cream butter and sugar together - add eggs one at a time and mix well - add sour cream and vanilla -

combine dry ingredients and blend them in

chill dough for 1 hour or overnight

roll dough 1/4 inch thick and cut out

bake at 350 for 8 minutes until underside is golden brown

Icing:
wilton cookie icing

1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs milk (start with a small amount and work up to the consistency you like for decorating.)
2 tsp light corn syrup

stir then add corn syrup

'Tis the Season

Late last night I was at the grocery store.  I like shopping late, it's easier to find a parking spot and the store is less crowded. It's so much easier for me to get in and get out.  So, anyway, as I'm walking through the store I notice they still have a big display of clearance Halloween candy and stuff.  They really over bought this year.  I guess Halloween on a Monday night just doesn't pull the trick or treaters like a weekend.  Why is that candy now undesirable?  It's still M&M's in there, only the packaging is dated. I would have bought more, but I think I've already done my part at more than 10 bags.  My freezer is stocked!

Right next to the Halloween junk pile, is one of many Christmas displays.  The store pretty much looks like Christmas threw up all over it.  There are displays of everything from Christmas soda to Christmas Kleenex.  (BTW - I strongly suspect those Kleenex are left overs from last year that they dusted off and drug out of the back.)  They even have a good 1/3 of the parking lot already blocked off and set up for the once live, now dead, Christmas trees that must be on the way.  It looks like their arrival is eminent.   I'm a big fan of Christmas, but really???

What happened to Thanksgiving?  It's next week, right?  Or did I miss it somehow? If I did, that would really stink, because Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.

I didn't see many Thanksgiving themed products.  I guess a holiday that is based on gratitude, doesn't inspire a lot of paraphernalia.  Halloween is all about candy, and getting as much of it as you can from someone else, even strangers.  It's fun, lighthearted looting.  Christmas has become a holiday about stuff.  The acquisition of stuff, the giving of stuff.  It's really all about the stuff.   But Thanksgiving stands in the middle, virtually stuff free. 

You can say Thanksgiving is about the turkey and the football, and that might be true.  Even if that is so, you sit around a table with family and friends to eat that turkey.  You cheer on your favorite team with all your buddies.  There isn't a mad grab for sugary treats.  We have a civilized piece of pie, on a plate.  There isn't any pressure to buy all your family, friends, co-workers, clients, and acquaintances you might happen to bump into, a Thanksgiving present. 

There are Thanksgiving themed table decorations,  wreaths for the door to welcome guests, candles to make the house smell like you are baking, even if you bought your pies at Costco,, and that's about it in the "stuff" department.  The rest of the celebration is all about delicious food, and a group of loved ones to share it with,. 

While Thanksgiving may be under represented in the retail arena, I'm grateful that it has not lost it's heart and soul.  It doesn't matter what religion you practice, all can express gratitude together.  There is no controversy about a day of gratitude, and goodwill.  Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the great abundance that we enjoy, the love of our families and friends.  I for one, love Thanksgiving, and can't wait for next week.  My house will be full of happy people, my table full of God's bounty, and my heart full of gratitude for my wonderful life.

Additional Thoughts on Christmas

Last night's post might have come off a little harsh.  I am in actuality feeling rather in the Christmas spirit.  I've been listening to Christmas music, and singing along, in the car for a couple weeks.  The choir was awesome in church last week and I was glad that we got to sing along to a couple of my favorites.

Our Relief Society Christmas party is tonight and I'm really looking forward to it.  Quincie and I (Quincie's are prettier) made a TON of really awesome snowflakes for the table decorations.  I think they look amazing!

I am not grumpy about Christmas.  I just don't enjoy all the superficial hype.  The attitude of scarcity that starts on Black Friday is the opposite of the true spirit of Christmas.  The message of Christ is good news, it is love and hope for everyone, not just the first 5 in line.  His love extends to all and so in our celebration of his birth we should extend our love to all.  It's not about stuff - it's about love.

Thoughts on Christmas

I'm feeling a little disgusted with the general atmosphere out there in the world right now.  I just want to stay home, or go run away into the wilderness.  I just don't understand all the hype about "stuff".  I have been out of drinking water and milk for 3 days now.  I don't want to go to the store.  All the insanity about rushing to buy the latest, or hurry and buy this or that before they are sold out is making me crazy and wanting to be a hermit. I don't care if they are giving away the thing for FREE, there is no way you are getting me out of bed in the middle of the night to go stand in line to pick it up.  There is nothing I want that bad.

I finally broke down and went to the grocery store tonight.  I was half way into making dinner and realized I was out of tomato sauce.  Stuffed peppers NEED tomato sauce, so off I went.  While I was there I refilled my drinking water jug and bought some milk, and then I was out of there!  Thankfully the real Christmas trees just sold out.  That means that the parking lot can return to some sort of normal.  It's not like there are tons of parking spaces available on a normal day.  For  the last 2 weeks a fourth of the parking lot has been taken up by the massive tent selling trees.  Dead trees that smell wonderful, but are nonetheless dead. 

Anyway, I'm irritated.  Irritated that the stores are full of pushy, aggressive people competing with each other for parking spots, and then Christmas deals.  I'm irritated that the stores are pushing people to buy things they just don't need, and won't want in a month.  I'm irritated with the general selfishness and shallowness of the whole ball of wax.

I don't have any Christmas decorations up at home yet.  It's not that I'm anti Christmas, we are just undecided about real vs. fake and I'm not dragging out the boxes until we know what the heck we are doing with that stuff.  I don't want to be tripping over it for the next 3 weeks.  That will only get me more irritated.

All this might make me sound like a Hum Bug, a regular old Scrooge, but I'm not, promise.  I LOVE Christmas, but I DON'T love all this superficial crap.  I'm not big on decorations period - either for my house or for myself, and Christmas is the only holiday that gets any decorating around here..  My walls have a few things on them, but mostly they are pretty bare.  I like empty space.  I like simplicity.  I like things to look clean and uncluttered.  I don't wear a lot of jewelry or make up.  I'm just not into all the glitz.  I kind of think trees look really great in the forest, not necessarily in my living room.  And then there is the work factor to consider.

What comes up, must come down.  If I'm not excited about the task of putting it up, can you imagine how I will feel about taking it down?  With my current attitude what decorations do go up could be there till Easter.  When I think of the cost of buying, and shipping presents, a real tree, the stand, and all the ju ju that goes with it, the cards, stamps, blah, blah, blah, I get a little grumpy.  I'd rather take that cash and do something meaningful with it, or at least really fun - like a party!  or a trip! or at the very least some really yummy food.  The time savings, well, I can think of a MILLION other things I'd rather do than shop and decorate!  Taking a nap is at the top of my list of better things to do.

I love parties, and I like presents.  I will go to all the parties I am invited too and open any presents that come my way with a big smile on my face.  I will sing, and I will dance (if I get the chance).  But, I won't  go fight the crowds and waste my time and money on useless endeavors that just become next month's trash..

It's Limbo Week Again

Limbo Week

After delivering presents to children around the globe, Santa takes a much deserved break. He parks the magic sleigh in the garage, kisses Mrs. Claus good night, and takes a nap for the next week. It is the only 7 days of the year that he is not watching, and making those naughty and nice lists. This phenomena was first brought to my attention by my then five year old niece. On Christmas evening, after all the presents were opened, and the food devoured, she was up to
some minor childhood antics. One of the adults scolded her, and reminded her to, "watch out", she wouldn't want to be on the naughty list. Her reply was, "Why? Santa has already come." She was absolutely right. Santa had already brought her so many presents, she had clearly made it on the nice list for the year that was about to end. Santa's lists are for each calendar year. Santa's record keeping takes a break for that week between Christmas and New Years while he catches up on his rest, and starts fresh on January 1st. What do you do with your Limbo Week, the one and only 7-day free pass for the year?

Most of us follow Santa's lead and do as little as possible. We sleep in, watch TV, put away the Christmas decorations, or at least think about it. Some of us go on vacation, maybe skiing, or somewhere tropical. Why don't we all make the most of our limited time and have a whole week of Carnival-like sin and excitement?? Why not just try some new things, before we have to give them a name, like "New Year's resolution"? Take a test drive before we make any sort of official
commitment to feel guilty about when we break?



Here are a few ideas:

Give up a bad habit. Just try for the week. Don't tell anyone. Most of us are off work or school, so it is a good time to be cranky. They kids will be so in to their new toys they might not even notice. Try to give up caffeine or sugar or something. In virtual seclusion you can be as mean and as surly as you want and it won't effect your job or your grades. Your family might wonder what is going on and banish you to the attic, which is the perfect place to try out yoga with no one watching.

Try a new hobby, like yoga. No one will notice if you stink at it if it is over by January 1. If you discover you have some hidden talent for oil painting, or ballet, you can start the new year with a week already under your belt.

Color your hair. I don't mean something subtle to hide the gray (yes, you have gray hairs). I am talking radical. Go bleach blond, or flaming red. I actually did this once on New Year's Eve. It was
over so fast there isn't even a photo to record that I once had strawberry blond hair. It was chocolate brown again by January 1st. If the new do suits you, you can start of the new year looking great!

Enjoy some guilty pleasures. Go ahead, indulge - eat that chocolate cake. It won't last another week, and by Jan 2nd you will be on to your new diet. Plus the next time someone bakes you a cake that good will be your birthday, months away. Finish the carton of egg nog. The store won't even sell it for another 11 months.

Go to the movies during the day. No one is really working this week anyway. Those of you at your desk are just surfing the net spending your holiday gift cards, or looking at youtube for something to entertain you.Take a long lunch, at the theater. Nothing beats movie popcorn for lunch.

Take a nap. When is the last time you took a nap? Kindergarten? Nothing feels quite as indulgent as a mid-day nap. Go ahead, grab your favorite blankie and snooze while the sun shines.

Read a book. If you can't take a real vacation, take a mental one. Pick up one of the new best sellers,an old favorite, or even a trashy magazine. It doesn't really matter what you select, as long as it takes you away. Warning, reading may leading to napping, so be prepared.

Play, after all, this is the wisdom of a 5 year old and play is what they do best. The kids are home from school and there are all those new toys to checkout. Make the most of that white Christmas - build a snowman and make snow angels. Go to the beach and make a sand castle.

Go ahead - live a little - its Limbo Week.

NOTE: I wrote this a couple of years ago. I thought I would post it again. Maybe if you tried yoga last year, you are up for a new hair color this year :-). My own Limbo Week experiment was giving up caffeine. I did that in December 2007. I haven't had any since! Happy New Year!

Gifts

A few posts ago I wrote about accepting presents from an enemy, and how that is not really such a good idea. Those presents are offered with BIG strings attached. They are not gifts, as they are not freely given. They are a trade. When we accept them we trade our future and even our freedom for immediate gratification of our desires.

A true gift is given without strings, without requirements, asking nothing in return. You don't have to do anything to qualify for a gift. Gifts are given and they are received. They can be rejected, returned or even re-gifted.

A mother's love is one of the first and most precious gifts we receive in this life. From even before the moment of birth our mother's love us. They love us completely when we are unable to give anything in return. We benefit greatly from this love throughout our life, but in the beginning, it is essential for our survival. Because of her love we have our very existence. It is many sleepless nights and years of selfless giving before a child is able to begin returning that love. As we grow, that love provides us with so many other necessary things in life, and even as an adult, a mother's love can make all the difference. A mother's love is truly a gift.

The ability to learn is a glorious gift. From the moment of birth our minds begin to learn. This process of exploring and learning need never stop. Our minds are capable of expanding and changing on a continual basis. A formal education may come at some expense, but learning is free. The world around us offers continual lessons, if we take the time to notice.

The gifts of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are magnificent and together they fill our lives with rich experiences. Most people born on this earth have had the use of their 5 senses. Each morning when I walk I start out in the dark. The air is a little cool with the faintest hint of the sea mist in the breeze. The feel of it on my skin is invigorating. Watching as the night sky of moon and stars gives way to the sunrise never fails to impress me. The ocean sounds alive and the sight of it's vastness is humbling. Comfort to the soul arrives in the sweet scent of the plumeria trees.

Just remembering the taste of home made Christmas divinity candy transforms me into my 10 year old self and transports me to my Grandmother's kitchen. It has been decades since I have had that candy in my mouth, but my mind can recall it to perfection. Taste is a powerful gift. Imagine the joy that would be lost if our food had no flavor. Where would be the celebration in a Thanksgiving feast, or the excitement of a birthday cake without the gift of taste?

Our memories are a wonderful gift. All of the joys in life can be experienced over and over again in our memory. The lessons learned need not be forgotten. We can replay the voice of a loved one who is gone, or the giggle of a baby who is all grown up. Loved ones can live on in our memories, long after they are gone. Treasured memories make the past ever present and those joys continually experienced.

All of these gifts come from God, our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Life is wonderful and rich because of these, and many other gifts from Him. The greatest gift is that of His Son. The world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ for a reason. Many people in the world today may not have a deep understanding of why Christmas is so important, yet they do celebrate. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. The ancient people understood the significance of His arrival and the traditions of celebrating this magnificent event have endured to this day. We give gifts because He gave us the greatest gift - Eternal Life.

The gift of Eternal Life is freely give to all. We will receive this gift even if we are unaware of it in this life. No qualification is necessary, it is a true Gift. Life is a gift and the lessons and experiences we have here prepare us to live eternally. We do not end, we are eternal. Our minds, our hearts, our bodies and our relationships are eternal. Because of the sacrifice of our Savior, we are able to experience this life complete with all the mistakes required for true learning, yet return and live with Him.

Good Stocking Stuffer Ideas

I know Thanksgiving isn't here yet, but it never hurts to get a head start. Avon has some good ideas for stocking stuffers and other Christmas items.
My Mom always filled our stockings with plenty of fun, but useful items. With Christmas packaging, and fun holiday scents many of the Avon items are a natural fit. Check out the bubble bath, Pj's, lip balm, etc.