It's a Christmas Miracle

Well, over five months have past since my last entry and I'm sure I'm now only writing for readers who accidentally type in the wrong web address and end up on my site. I could update you on my life, I could tell you what I've been doing for the past five months that has kept me from posting on this site for all to see, but I'm not going to do so. Okay, maybe a brief update. I've traveled some...the highlights are Georgia, NYC, Cincinnasty (spelled correctly), Kentucky (Yeah for Corn Festival!), Tennessee, and Hawaii. I've rented a lot of movies, drunk a lot of Diet Coke, worked a lot of hours, turned 24 (yeah, yeah, I know I'm old), and still found the time to lose my cell phone. In the words of my roommate, I left my heart in San Francisco but my cell phone in Hawaii...she laughs a lot when she says it. We've had a number of visitors, some have stayed at the apartment so much we've started referring to the couch as DC's couch...okay, maybe not that much.

According to the song, "Christmas comes this time each year..." which is helpful, that way we all know when to celebrate. I couldn't be more excited it's Christmas. I've seen families shop together, eat together, and fight while shopping and eating together...it's been extremely enjoyable. I love the music, but could live without "Little Drummer Boy" and "I Wonder why I Wander"...what does that song mean anyway? I love the magic that happens at Christmas. This magic has noting to do with reindeer, holly, and certainly not eggnog or fruit cake. It's the magic that happens when people decide to give. Somehow, in our busy schedules and disorderly check books we find the time and the money to give to other people. I love to hear the stories of people giving to others. There's something about Christmas that brings out a spirit of giving unlike any other time.

I also love getting together with family. Christmas at my parent's house has become so much more fun with little kids to share it with. My niece and nephew have really made the holidays exceptionally special. Each family seems to have their own traditions (some even have a tradition to not have tradition) and ways of celebrating the holidays. My family goes to my parent's house Christmas morning and opens presents. As we've gotten older the time we start the opening of gifts has become increasingly later in the morning. While opening gifts Mom brings around breakfast casserole for everyone to enjoy. Later in the day after all the gifts are unwrapped (although there is typically a moment when Mom looks at all of us and says something like, "Oh, I forgot to wrap something. Give me a bag, I'll be right back.") we then begin to eat lunch. We typically make an assortment of finger foods. These selections are prepared by the people who know how to make them between the time we finish unwrapping gifts and the time we start eating lunch. Well, at least that's how it has worked in years past. This year we decided to try something a little different. My Mom and older sister, Jenny, decided we would make a list of all the items we would have on Christmas, put each item on a slip of paper, and each pull the items out of a hat that they were going to prepare. Yes, we are all thinking the same thing...this is going to be a disaster.

Well, after the picking was complete we each had four items to make (that's right a total of 16 items to prepare). Mom, Jenny, and I started working on our little bits of joy for Christmas. My younger sister, Julie, did not (we will get to that part of the story later). The first issue came when I started making pinwheels and left out one of the ingredients. Subsequently, green peppers were added to the vegetable tray. Then, Jenny started making some sort of dessert involving a pretzel topped with a Rolo and a pecan. I know what you're thinking...that sounds simple, how could you mess that up? She found a way. Jenny left the pretzels topped with the Rolos in the oven a bit too long causing the caramel to go all over the baking sheet making it extremely difficult to get the pecans to stay a top the Rolos.

Then, during the 20 most crucial minutes of this preparation escapade Mom leaves. Yes, she leaves the inmates in charge of the asylum. Mom was cooking sausage on the stove, I was making fudge, and Jenny was attempting to redeem herself with another batch of pretzel creations. I'm busy stirring when it comes time to put the chocolate in the fudge. Because God did not gift me with four hands I must get Jenny to help. She starts pouring the chocolate into the pan and it's sticking to the side of the plastic bag. This would be due to the fact it was left a bit too close to the burner. The fudge solidifies and I fear a disaster will occur if we do not start pouring it into a pan. I tell Jenny she has to find a pan fast or it's going to burn. She is feverously searching for one in the cabinets and finds two small square metal pans. She sets them on the stove. I pick up the pan I'm using and start to pour. Jenny reaches to grab the baking pan we're pouring the fudge in only to find it is hot. This is due to the fact she has left the pan on the original burner used to cook the fudge. We finally start pouring and I realize after pouring in the first batch I'm supposed to put pecans in the second. So, because time is running out, I simply grab two handfuls of pecans (unchopped) and throw them in the pan, stirring them around. Jenny is laughing and telling me I should've cut them. I respond by telling her there's no time and remind her of her pretzel creations.

Just when we think the disaster is over we look at the sausage and it is about to burn. I turn it down quickly, grab a plate and some paper towels and start putting the sausage on the plate only to realize that due to it being a styrofoam plate it is melting. Jenny starts laughing again and I tell her "This is crazy, where's Mom, we have no business being left in charge...the inmates have taken over the asylum."

Now to Julie, if you remember she was nowhere around while the rest of us were cooking. Julie was upstairs asleep. One member of the group downstairs kept sending Tatiana (the 4 year old) upstairs in an effort to wake her aunt up by telling her she was ruining Christmas. These attempts failed, but were enjoyable for all but Julie. Julie starts working on her little Christmas creations at about midnight on Christmas morning. She gets a call from a couple of friends asking if she wants to hang out. She tells them, she can hang out with them only if they come over and help her make the things she's supposed to for Christmas. These two boys show up and are given the option of working on a vegetable tray or making cinnamon pecans. The three finally finished their preparations at 5:00 am. One poor boy had to take a one hour nap before going home. It was truly a Christmas to remember. The frightening thing is everyone wants to do it again next year.

I hope each of you enjoy a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!