We canceled Christmas this year. No big family get-together with stacks of presents under Mom’s tree. No Christmas feast with family favorites. No family gathered round for the reading of the Christmas story, no blizzard of torn wrapping paper covering the living room floor after opening presents. . .

This wasn’t our choice. Right smack dab in the middle of holiday preparations, Mom and I got sick with covid. At that point the to-do list pretty much went out the window. No energy, no desire. No taste or smell.

I didn’t take it very well. Disappointed, and, if I’m being honest, a little mad at God. . .

Mad at God? Whose birthday is this, anyway?

Ouch.

Not one of my better moments. But getting sick rerouted me, and I didn’t want to be rerouted. I was happy doing my usual thing. Ready for my yearly download of seasonal joy. This year, besides being sick, I’ve been sad, distracted, and with a general feeling of malaise. I found myself saying to Mike, “All I want for Christmas is my sense of taste and smell back, and a hug.” He happened to not get sick, and we had to keep him healthy to work. December is the busiest month if you work at a church. So separation in the same house. Not easy.

Not much about this year feels joyous. Yet Mom and I decided that she and I would meet at her house. I read the Christmas story, and we took communion together before exchanging gifts. No, it wasn’t the same without the rest of the family. I unwrapped my gifts at the table, and she did as well. Then it was time to go. But before I left, I called her into the living room and tossed my spent wrapping paper on the floor.

“Look at all the wrapping paper all over the floor!” I said, joking. She laughed as we thought back to all of the Christmases with Christmas paper covering the floor. Trash bags full of the stuff.

We lingered a moment at the door, and she gave me a hug.

“Next year is going to be an amazing Christmas!” I said. And she agreed.

Different reasons, different seasons, yet a quiet, understated, yet no less persistent joy emerges.

God with us.

Indeed, He never left.

Post Script: We ended up having a nice Christmas gathering on the following Sunday! And this time around, I could taste and smell, for which I am very thankful!

The 12 Post of Christmas, 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 1: All. The. Things.

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 2: Our Hillbilly Christmas Wreath 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 3: My Favorite Spiced Nuts

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: Of Kings and Road Trips

The 12 Post of Christmas, Day 5: Simple Stick Ornaments

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 6: A Classic O’Henry Christmas Tale

The 12 Days of Christmas, Day 7: Christmas Towns Revisited

The 12 Days of Christmas, Day 8: My Mismatched Ornament Collection

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 9: A Welcome Home Casserole

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Christmas From the Booth

31 Dec 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Christmas From the Booth

by amy@amyharkemoore.com | posted in: The 12 Posts of Christmas | 0

Inside: So we started this little business this year. . . Here’s our Christmas from the booth.

Dish towels, JOY candleholder, Santa, red flowers in white vase — Some of my favorite Christmas things from our booth.

Christmas From the Booth

It’s been a great year learning the ropes of this new business. While sales have been up and down, Christmas has proven to be a great time to sell crafts and other items. It’s also been fun decorating the booth. Displayed here is our JOY candleholders and our distressed North Pole wooden tote, as well as a “Joy to the World” sign in the background. I’ve also returned to working with paper twist, a favorite medium from my early crafting years in the late eighties. Notice Santa peeking out from the North Pole tote. . . .

I’ve already got lots ideas for next year. I can’t wait!

Christmas items for sale at a craft booth. — Christmas items for sale at our booth.

The 12 Post of Christmas, 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 1: All. The. Things.

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 2: Our Hillbilly Christmas Wreath 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 3: My Favorite Spiced Nuts

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: Of Kings and Road Trips

The 12 Post of Christmas, Day 5: Simple Stick Ornaments

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 6: A Classic O’Henry Christmas Tale

The 12 Days of Christmas, Day 7: Christmas Towns Revisited

The 12 Days of Christmas, Day 8: My Mismatched Ornament Collection

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 9: A Welcome Home Casserole

25 Dec 2024

The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 9: A Welcome Home Casserole

by amy@amyharkemoore.com | posted in: The 12 Posts of Christmas | 0

Inside: Mom has long known the value of clipping recipes from magazines and actually making them! I’ve dubbed this “a welcome home casserole” because of the history of this hearty dish and my youngest brother and his family’s annual trek home.

Background

Before I even get started, let me say this is not my recipe. It is one of those glorious recipes that grace the pages of women’s magazines and newspapers. For those of us of a certain age, we know the value of such recipes. These food companies have teams of cooks and creators and home economists who know how to take their company’s products and make amazing recipes. And because they want to actually sell their products, they give you their very best recipes. Case in point, this wonderful dish called “Velveeta Nacho Bake” from the folks at Kraft.

A Welcome Home Casserole

So it’s not a complicated story, but Mom spotted this recipe in Women’s Day magazine fourteen years ago. (December 5, 2005, to be exact!) She decided to try it out on my brother Jeremy, his wife Ricci, and their kids Olivia and Silas. The Velveeta Nacho Bake was a hit with them, so much so that when they rolled into town, they made the request that Mom make this easy and tasty recipe for them. Since that debut of the Velveeta Nacho Bake, Jeremy and Ricci have had a few more debuts of their own–namely Cora, Victoria, and Asa! And this wonderful recipe has been a part of their Missouri visit every time they come to town.

I have had my own tradition. I often find myself “dropping by” to see them when they first arrive, and, inevitably, my sister-in-law Ricci will smile and say, “Have you eaten?” That’s how I discovered for myself this amazing dish! And though I have followed a low carb diet in the past, I have gone ahead and given myself permission of have “maybe just a little bit.”

All I can say is “YUM!” Try this dish yourself.

Link to Velveeta Nacho Bake.