Grains of Sand

Google Images Memories. Some of our seniors shared memories of Christmases past at a recent event. Memories can be sweet. They can also be sorrowful. As Saturday, December 21st morphed into Sunday, December 22, I remembered those same dates and days 22 years ago when my mother passed into glory. But I also remember much more pleasant things about Christmas past. For those whose recent memories fade with time, it is often those things from the more distant past that remain in the mind and heart. For Mary, the mother of Jesus, remembering the events surrounding the birth of her Son would leave an indelible mark on her. After the long trip from Nazareth, the birth in a stable, the visit of the shepherds, the Scriptures record: “ ...Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart ” (Luke 2:19). The shepherds went out to tell the world what they had seen, but Mary, the mother, kept silent. Most mothers are never reluctant to sing the praises of their children so it see...

Christmas Memories 2 I'm baking for Christmas. Though the recipes don't turn out the same (chalk it up to substitutions I have to make living here in Venezuela) Farmer's Cookies and Stained Glass Window Cookies always remind me of Christmases past. These two cookies were standard Christmas fare at our house. Storage was no problem for mom. We had an enclosed, unheated, porch. When the cookies were cooled and packed in their respective cookie cans, mom took them out to the porch. It was as cold as a freezer out there! Of course, being in the porch, within easy access of all of us, made temptation a huge issue—I love both those cookies! During my growing up years, eating cookies was not a problem. Unhappily times have changed. As a kid none of those cookies ever went to waste and I never put on an ounce. As an adult, they all go to waist (you know what I mean!) and we aren't talking ounces anymore. Oh well … Christmas comes but once a year and if I can hold out, most of t...