one christmas tradition that has always stuck with me was our cookie bake. our family would get together with another family and bake cookies, usually sugar cookies. it was fun because the kids would help and ice them too, which always looked crazy. then, each family would always have tons to take home. i remember that we would share them with others as well.
unfortunately, since my parent's move to chicago, we havent been able to cookie bake. i have always wanted to, but no one would help. so, now that im married, i wanted to bring the tradition back. i asked my aunt for her famous sugar cookie recipe (which is my great grandma minnie's) and tried it out. the first batch pretty much failed. the dough was gooey and i had to form it into balls instead of using the shapes to cut it. they tasted good, but not ideal. then, i learned a trick. you have to cut the fat in 1/2 here when baking. so, i tried again...and complete success!! they even tasted the same. i learned where to get food coloring, and i was set. well, the first bake, i did on my own. it was kind of lonely, but...oh well. i shared the cookies for our christmas eve party, and everyone loved them. there is nothing like them here, so they are a real treat.
our friend's kids were in awe that they were eating cookies from "the states." they were asking how to make them, etc. so, i had them over to make some themselves. they loved it and thought it was so much fun. they did a great job and hopefully we can continue the tradition next year with more people.
even baby tiffani was able to enjoy their hard work.
david didnt really understand what all the fuss was about, he just wanted to go swimming in his new gear.
it has been a joy to share our house with friends and family. sometimes we wonder how we ever came upon this place. the rent is a little high, but we have enjoyed sharing the blessing. the kids love the pool, and the parents just like getting away from quepos for a minute. its a nice break for everyone.
so, overall, this christmas was great. i was a little anxious at first because we didnt have anything planned. nothing. we decided the day before that we would go to a christmas eve party, and the rest we just figured out as we went along. jared is good for me in that way, he teaches me to relax and reassures me that it will all work out. me, as a clayton by blood, i am a planner...and many other claytons can relate to that as well. so, marriage is teaching me some things.
my parents are coming on jan 22 with my 2 grandmas, which should be a good time. im looking forward to that.
thank you for your prayers and support. we greatly appreciate it.
2 comments:
This is precious. Eileen you are a true servant!
From Paul (Dad): Your story reminds me that Kim and I have had fun in recent years keeping the Murphy tradition of baking fruit cakes (the real kind) alive. Every year before Christmas, Kim and her dad, John, would get together for a day and bake lots of fruit cakes to be eaten and shared. It was a big production and they planned for weeks. Now that her dad has passed away, I have stepped in and been given the secret family recipe. It is great to recall old times as we work, especially the funny things John would say and do -- and then we get to eat them. We now look forward to it every year. Paul
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