Tag: Christmas 2016

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In Search of a Christmas Drink

A couple of years ago, I rediscovered the seasonal drink eggnog. My mom used to fix the non alcoholic version when I was a child. During my year of having daily new experiences, I sampled an eggnog with a splash of rum for the first time. Topped with a sprinkle each of cinnamon and nutmeg, these nightly cups of eggnog with just a hint of rum became a favorite holiday drink. 

This year, since I no longer consume dairy products or sugar, I knew eggnog was out. I accepted that I wouldn’t be drinking it, mentally shrugged, and moved on. Truthfully, I didn’t miss it…until I discovered that Silk makes an almond milk nog, dairy free, with minimal sugar. 

The search for Silk Almond Nog began. 

Alas, it was not to be. Searching every store in my city, I could only locate Silk Soy Nog. Soy is on my “no” list. I accepted once again that I would not be drinking eggnog…or even almond nog…this Christmas. 


This is where the story takes a beautiful turn…where the Divine intervened. Others may have a difficult time believing that God cares about what I have to drink. I believe! Experience teaches me every aspect of my life matters. 

The desire beneath my desire for eggnog was simple. What I really wanted was a soothing, warming drink on cold winter evenings, after a full day…a drink to sip and unwind with. Hot tea is my standard evening drink. However, this time of year, I longed for something more festive. 

“Here you go,” whispered the Divine. 

On Christmas Eve morning, I happened to see a post from Anthony William in my Facebook newsfeed. It was a recipe for Spiced Apple Cider. It caught my attention immediately. A hot drink…a hot healthy drink, offered by the man I credit for inspiring me to begin my healing journey. 


Tonight, a pot of spiced apple cider simmered on the stove while I cleaned the kitchen. The aroma was wonderful, drawing me frequently to the bubbling pot to inhale deeply. This. This is what I had been looking for, a savory warm drink to sip on. And the cider is full of health benefits as well. 

Anthony writes, “Apple cider is a great digestive aid and is very soothing to the digestive tract, sipped before or after a meal. It also helps to reduce stress damage and keep the body energized and active. Cloves and ginger are especially good for warding off respiratory ailments and any cold or flu symptoms. They also help relieve headaches, nausea, muscle spasms, tension, & nerve pain. Cinnamon is very good for reducing inflammation in the body, making it helpful for people with autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Cinnamon also has the amazing ability to stop yeast infections, candida, and menstrual cramps. Star anise is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism, back pain, shingles, herpes, halitosis, and sinus infections. It is also commonly used as a digestive aid and can help to relieve gas, constipation, cramping, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion.”

Now that is a good for me drink, with no dairy, sugar or alcohol! I used organic 100% apple juice, not from a concentrate. Instead of fresh ginger, I substituted 1/3 teaspoon of ground ginger. I’ll increase that amount in the next batch. I had the other spices on hand. Star anise can be purchased at health food stores. 

The spiced apple cider was wonderfully satisfying, fragrant and warming, the perfect drink to sip on during this holiday season…and beyond. I am so grateful that I went searching for a healthier nog. I was given something so much better, in every way. 

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Christmas 2016

What a beautiful day! This Christmas was different from last year, in that none of my grandchildren were present. All of the children spent the day with their other parents. Today, I missed the kids…and I had a joyful afternoon with my adult children, their spouses, Greg, my mom and my sister. 




My younger daughter Adriel and son-in-law Nate hosted the family in their beautiful home. We had a true smorgasbord for our shared meal, rather than a traditional Christmas dinner. Each of us brought a dish or two. There was taco soup, hash brown casserole, cheesy peas and other tasty offerings. I brought what has become regular fare for me, so my family could sample a variety of plant based sides. Included were seasoned potato wedges and brown rice pasta, served with marinara sauce, homemade hummus, lentil curry with brown rice, and roasted apples and pears, along with pomegranate bark. I loved the lentil curry that I made for the first time, using my slow cooker. 

My Christmas meal today…lentil curry with brown rice. 




After our meal we gathered in the living room, where the kids spent a couple of hours rummaging through boxes of their childhood artwork and flipping through old photo albums. Much laughter filled the room as drawings were revealed and the artist remembered the story behind the art. My children are all talented and creative artists, and my mother’s eyes could see that potential, even in their earliest works! 

My funny son-in-law, Josh. 

Our gracious hosts for the day. 

Six of the most beautiful souls that I have the pleasure of knowing. I am grateful to be their mom and mom-in-law!

I sat back today, watching the adult kids in my family, listening to their easy banter and peals of laughter as they pulled drawings or photos from the boxes. I love hearing my children and grandchildren laugh. I love seeing them interact with each other. It was an incredible time of celebrating together. 

I received special, and unexpected, gifts today, that include coloring books, gift cards, cookbooks and a pressure cooker that I am eager to try out. Greg surprised me with an art print that speaks deeply to my heart and ignites my creativity. Painted by a local artist, who is also a friend of mine, the piece is called “Incandescence” and contains my symbol for 2017 and an old fashioned typewriter, which represents my writing. I am thrilled to own this limited edition print. Hanging in my studio, it will be a daily reminder of the path I am on, and of the invitation I have been given for next year. 

Gratitude fills my heart tonight and overflows. I have so much to be thankful for…health, happiness, wonderful family and friends, and another magical Christmas captured in photos and memory. 

Merry Christmas…and truly, God bless us, everyone. 

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Anticipating Christmas

I love waking up on Christmas Eve day, and experiencing the thrill of anticipation. As a child I looked forward to opening gifts and playing with new toys. Now, I lie in bed and savor the delicious anticipation of opening a new day and letting it unfold as it will. And play, of the creative sort, is still an important and meaningful part of my day.  

It has been a full day…full of activities, full of fun, full of preparation, full of joy. Because I still have cooking to do, and it is 10:43 pm, I am sharing the unfolding of my day via photos. 

Beginning the day with fresh celery juice, followed by a breakfast smoothie. It has been vital, during this busy season, to continue to take exceptional care of myself. I am excited to be finishing the year strong, healthy and fit. 

Banana, peach, pineapple, blueberry smoothie. 

After completing grocery and gift shopping today, I worked upstairs gathering up photo albums and boxes of artwork created by my children when they were young. Tomorrow we will enjoy looking through these moments from the past. Above is one of my favorite old family photos, Greg’s great-great grandfather Tuck, in the civil war uniform, and Tuck’s sons Quincy and Roy. 

I finished wrapping the last of the gifts. 

And after delivering gifts to my younger daughter Adriel and son-in-law Nate, the three of us watched A Christmas Carol. This is a yearly Christmas Eve tradition for Adriel and me. The George C Scott version released in 1984, the year Adriel was born, and we’ve watched it together every year since, with the exception of last year, due to Adriel working Christmas Eve at the hospital. We love this classic story! 

Back home, candles were lit to welcome Christmas and send out Light into the mild night. 

I am creating in the kitchen, while Christmas songs play on my phone. I succesfully made pomegranate bark tonight. I have several more plant based dishes to prepare for tomorrow’s family gathering and smorgasbord at Adriel and Nate’s house. 

Interspersed throughout the day, Christmas messages and texts have flowed in, literally from around the world, warming my heart and amplifying my joy. That tingle of anticipation I awoke with has been the constant undercurrent during my day, as I look forward to spending time with my family tomorrow and sending Christmas greetings to friends and more family. 

There is a musical meaning for the word anticipation, that I love. It is the introduction in a composition of part of a chord that is about to follow in full. What a perfect definition for today…Christmas Eve…as I am experiencing in part what I will fully enjoy tomorrow. 

Happy Christmas Eve…and happy anticipation. 

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Christmas Gift Making with Dayan

I finished up the Yaya and grandchild Christmas tradition today with my oldest grandson, Dayan. However, we broke the new tradition of sharing a meal and shopping for family, reverting back to a tradition that Dayan and I practiced for years when he was younger…making Christmas gifts. 


I love that my 17 year old grandson, a senior in high school, asked if instead of shopping we could be creative. Of course, I said yes! Dayan was my only grandchild for years. When he was four, he made the connection between other people having birthdays and celebrating holidays, and giving them gifts. He embraced this idea with the whole of his big little heart, discovering it was as fun to give as to receive, and I began taking him shopping to buy gifts for his family. As our family grew, it became more economical to make gifts together, rather than purchase them. 

Dayan and I have been very creative over the years, and the time spent together making gifts was precious to me. Returning to this practice, after shopping for gifts last year, felt nostalgic and right and brought joy to my heart. 


Today we took a simple idea and duplicated it to create cookie wreaths for his family members. The results were wonderful, and we were quite pleased. We played Christmas songs by Pentatonix as we worked, as we both love this a cappella group. And we had fun as we made batches of cookies, laughing and chatting. 


Our conversations today were quite different from those we had when Dayan was a little boy. This intelligent young man discussed world events with knowledge and competence, sharing with me about recent occurrences around the globe. I appreciated that I could ask him about the refugee crises in Syria and get an in depth answer that helped me to better understand what’s happening in another country. Dayan’s compassion for others and his desire to make a difference in the world were very evident as he spoke. 


I am well aware that Dayan will be headed to college next fall. Knowing he will be venturing out and embarking on his own journey soon creates deep love and pride for my grandson, and a sense that such times together, making things, is coming to an end. 

Or are they?

As if reading my mind, Dayan said he would come home from the university next Christmas, and we would make gifts together to give to family. Yes, I agreed…yes we will. My heart sang! 

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Christmas Shopping with Jonathan

This afternoon I picked up grandson Jonathan for his shopping time with Yaya. We had barely gotten underway, when this sweet boy let me know he wasn’t feeling well. He didn’t want to cancel or postpone our time together. And although he didn’t feel like eating dinner, he was eager to shop for gifts for his family. We continued on to the first shopping stop. 


We had a twenty minute drive to our destination. We chatted about school and his friends. And then this high-tech young man delighted me by telling me about an app he recently downloaded, called Wattpad. This app is a place to read and share stories, for free. Wattpad’s mission is to connect a global community through the power of story. I was intrigued!

Then Jonathan wowed me. He’s already written three chapters of his own story on the app. Called Clash, Jonathan’s story is a fan fiction tale, based on the video game, Clash of Clans. As I drove, Jonathan read the three chapters to me. As a writer, I was extremely impressed with his writing style, his choice of words, and his technique. As a Yaya, I was flooded with pride and love and appreciation for Jonathan. What a goal for a young man, to write and share his story. 

Jonathan told me his class was rewarded, for an accomplishment, with an hour of free time. The children who owned cell phones were even allowed to play on those, if they wanted to. Jonathan chose to write, and edit, and move his story along. That’s a huge choice for such a techy boy, who loves his online games. 

We arrived at our first stop, and Jonathan came up with such great ideas for his family members while we were there, that this store became our only stop. In a short time, we were headed to my house so he could wrap his gift selections. 


Even though he didn’t feel like eating dinner, a cold Icee from Casey’s did sound good to him. And surprisingly, so did a bag of Cheetos. I sincerely hoped Jonathan kept those down, or he would likely never eat another Cheeto again! 


It didn’t take Jonathan long to wrap his purchases. We postponed another project, until he is feeling better. And I will take him out to dinner next week, after Christmas, to make up for no dinner tonight. I appreciate that he listened to his body, and skipped a meal when eating didn’t feel right. He followed his heart though, and completed his shopping, so excited about what he bought for his family that he’s hoping to open presents early! 

I enjoyed our time together, brief as it was, and listening as Jonathan read his creation to me. He’s planning on ten chapters. I downloaded the Wattpad app tonight and followed Jonathan. I’m a big fan of his already. 

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Christmas Shopping with Aubrey

Today it was Aubrey’s turn for shopping with Yaya. My only granddaughter had been patiently waiting all week for her opportunity to share a meal together and shop for her family. Keeping an eye on developing winter weather, I picked Aubrey up a bit earlier than planned and off we went. 


For our lunch, Aubrey selected one of her favorite restaurants, Golden Corral. This little old soul loves a good buffet! All her favorites were offered this afternoon…ham, fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, and grapes. I was able to enjoy a plate of fresh raw veggies followed by a plain baked potato and steamed Brussels sprouts and carrots. No trip through the buffet is complete, for Aubrey, without visiting the chocolate fountain. She finished her meal with several marshmallows dipped in the smooth liquid chocolate. 

I love Aubrey’s heart for others. She likes to leave a personal note to our waitress, along with a generous tip 

As we left the restaurant, tiny snowflakes were falling, mixed with rain that was bordering on freezing. I don’t like to rush my grandchildren during these special outings. However, as the weather deteriorated, I knew we were going to have to shop quickly. I did not want to risk being in a car accident with Aubrey on board. We asked for Divine protection as we carefully drove to Toys R Us. 


Aubrey understood the situation, and she was up to the challenge. She did a remarkable job of selecting great gifts at two different stores, in record time. Like Oliver and Joey, she was thoughtful as she hunted for the perfect gifts, and enjoyed imagining the reactions of the recipients of her presents. As she does when she is choosing items for herself, Aubrey employs a technique we call, “does this ring my bell”, when she buys for others. She holds the object. And then passes on it or keeps it. Although she may not understand why she does this simple test, she is checking, energetically, to see if the item brings her joy, or when shopping for others, will they experience joy. I love how aware she is. 


At my house, Aubrey wrapped gifts. We had to postpone wrapping a gift for her cousin/best friend, London. And wait on doing another project. I’ll make up for the shortened time, and allow this sweet girl to finish up, one afternoon next week when the weather is better. After hamming it up for a photo, we loaded gifts into the car and set out again into the freezing rain and cold wind. 


I am grateful to Greg for driving us to Carthage. The sidewalks, parking lots and roads were becoming slick as the drizzle froze into thin sheets of ice. The windshield wanted to ice up too. We safely delivered Aubrey and made a slow and careful return trip to Joplin. I am grateful, always, for Divine protection. 

I managed to get one selfie of Aubrey and me, in the car. She snapped the pic for me. I really appreciated her good attitude this afternoon and her ability to shift and go with the flow. She didn’t complain once about having to rush our time together. Rather, she graciously adapted. And made the most of the time we did have. 

I am so blessed with the grandchildren I have. Rain or shine, good or bad weather, expected or unexpected circumstances…it is so amazing to journey with them. 

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Christmas Shopping with Joey

Today it was grandson Joey’s turn to have a meal with me and go shopping for Christmas gifts for his family. When I talked to Joey earlier in the week, after Oliver and I returned from his excursion, he hoped we could spend a long time together. He didn’t want to have to rush his decision making process, and he sweetly said he wanted the one on one time with me to last all day. 


Joey’s wishes for more time together came true! His school ended up having an early out today. I was able to pick him up and start our Yaya and Grandchild time two hours earlier than we had planned. These are important lessons to experience, that what we sincerely desire with a whole heart can create shifts that birth our hopes into reality. 


Joey was hungry when I picked him up from school, so our first stop was at Chili’s Restaurant in Joplin. While we waited for our lunches to arrive, we played Monopoly on the table top device. Joey loves this board game, and it was fun to try out an electronic version, which moved at a much faster pace than the standard version. 

I did so well rolling the virtual dice, and rolling in pretend money, that Joey and I joked about making our next stop the casino! Truthfully, gambling isn’t something I desire to teach my grandson about. But we laughed over my accumulating stash of electronic funds and discussed what we would do if we had that kind of cash. Joey, who is so compassionate, said he would buy everyone bigger presents for Christmas!



Joey knew exactly what he wanted to purchase for his family, and where he wanted to shop. After a leisurely lunch, we planned our route and began shopping, making stops for the desired purchases and making sure we included a pit stop for a cold drink. 

I enjoy following the kids around as they shop. Each child puts a great deal of thought into the gift selection process. Contary to when I take them out for their birthday dinners and shopping trips, this time of year, it is all about thinking of others and what they like. Not one child asks to buy anything for themselves. The focus is on what would light up a parent or sibling’s face and bring them joy. I am grateful that I can be part of allowing the kids to do something special for their families. 

Shopping completed, Joey made quick work of wrapping the gifts. I was delighted, watching as he wrote on the gift tags. He didn’t just write the typical To: and From:. He added words of love, underlining them for emphasis. 

The boy does have a sense of humor too. While helping me pick out extra gift bags at a store, he found the perfect one for his brother’s present. I suddenly noticed that the bag was flawed…the word JOY was upside down. When I pointed out the mistake and reached for another bag, Joey claimed the misprinted one instead. “It’s perfect for my brother,” he laughed. He defended the bag to the clerk who rang us out, and wanted to replace it. And grinned as he slipped Oliver’s gift inside and made sure the name tag hung in such a way to call attention to the upside down JOY. 

His joy, upside down or right side up, was obvious…and contagious. I’m still smiling about it, and my day of shopping with Joey. 

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Greetings from the Past

I had a few free minutes early this evening, which was just enough time to be creative and craft simple Christmas décor. Sorting through boxes of old photos, correspondence and notes recently, Greg came across a handful of tiny Christmas cards. Inspired by the framing of Ray’s snowman, I was excited to see what I could make with these vintage greetings from the past. 



I have never seen Christmas cards like these before. The smallest one, about two inches square, is made from standard card paper. But the other three cards, which are slightly larger, have teeny cards attached to squares of transparent or opaque parchment paper. Researching them,  I found the cards referred to as gilded parchment. 


The cards are uniquely beautiful, with green, white and red etchings on the parchment, which feels like stiff plastic. Greg’s grandparents were the recipients of these cards. My best estimate is that the cards date from 1910 to the late 1920s. I found very similar greeting cards online from 1910. That means these greetings from the past are around 100 years old. 


I sorted through a stack of old frames, selecting a simple wooden one for the tiny paper poinsettia card. For the three parchment cards, I used, at last, three white vintage looking  frames that I purchased years ago. The cards fit perfectly within the openings, leading me to believe that I have been saving the frames for just this purpose. I used scrapbooking Christmas paper behind each card. 


I am quite pleased with how these simple framed pieces of art turned out! The paper card rests on a festive table near a poinsettia dish that Greg’s mother, Leta, made in 1961. 

And the three parchment cards hang together in their white frames, near my silver metal Christmas tree. It brings me great joy to repurpose these old greetings from the past, creating something fresh, artsy and decorative. 

I love the way inspiration is tapping me on the shoulder and whispering creatively into my ear. I desire to keep accepting these invitations to play and create as I flow into the next year, ensuring that many more such invites will arrive. The new year is so full of promise. 


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Christmas Shopping with Oliver

As Christmas approaches, it is time for a tradition that I initiated last December…taking each of my five grandchildren out for dinner and shopping. These outings allow me to have one-on-one time with the kids and the children have an opportunity to buy gifts for their family members. 



I picked up Oliver after school and off we went. The kids make the decisions about where to shop, what to buy, and where to eat for dinner. Oliver is the middle child in his family. He is used to his older brother or younger sister calling the shots. He politely asked me questions about what I thought we should do. However, when I returned the decision making back to him, he grinned and quickly picked out two stores to shop in. 


Oliver selected great gifts for his family, in a minimal amount of time. On the way to Freddy’s, his choice for dinner, we played a game of “What’s your favorite…”. We both like the color blue. My favorite movie is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. His current favorite is the recent Middle School comedy. I like to vacation in Scotland. He enjoys Florida and Branson. 


We discussed school and Christmas and football over dinner. I was thrilled to discover that Freddy’s has a veggie burger on their menu. I tossed the bun. Oliver was brave and tried a bite of my unconventional burger. He not only picked up our meals when our number was called, he also cleared our table after we ate. 



Our fun evening concluded at my house, where Oliver wrapped his purchases. He likes all the plants that I have in my house. “You live in a greenhouse, Yaya!”. He’s right! 

I treasure these times with the grandchildren. Each child gets my full attention. I get to engage in lively conversations and hear that child’s unique thoughts about life and the world. Oliver bemoaned the fact that he still has seven years before he can drive. I am quite content for him to be a child for a while longer. I know how quickly the years will pass. All too soon he will be waving that driver’s license and heading off on new adventures. Even then, though, we will have dinner together and go Christmas shopping, Oliver and Yaya. He’s already offered to drive. 

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Snowman Village

I’m sharing a quick, mostly pictorial blog post tonight, after an evening at the movie theater with several family members. I want time to process the movie so I will share about it tomorrow. 

I’ll end my day with a few photos of Christmas arriving at my house. 


I focused most of my efforts on the dining room today. Those snowmen who appeared so lost and disorganized yesterday gathered together beautifully this afternoon on my small dining table. 

Ray’s paper snowman, that I framed recently, found a home within the vintage wooden sieve. It was a happy mistake, however, I love now that I plopped the cookie jar snowman’s head on crookedly. He seems to be peering at this newcomer who resembles him, with a shy smile on his frosty face. 

The black candle holder with the hurricane glass was a old treasure I dug out of a deep cupboard in the Arkansas house when we closed it up. It fits perfectly in this vignette. 



These metal and wire cloches have been fun to create with. They sheltered mini pumpkins during fall, and now cover tiny trees tucked into Christmas cups atop matching plates. 


A rustic mix in front of the dining room windows. The crate of wooden acorns and word “journee” are reminders of last year’s journey, which flowed into this year’s adventures. 


The last project I worked on before the movie break, was carefully setting up this vintage nativity. Greg’s mother painted this set 62 years ago. As we were packing up his parents’ house, we found the crèche that goes with the ceramic figures. This is my first time to use it and I was happy that I was able to make all the pieces fit in my somewhat small space. 

Greg found a picture just today, of the nativity arranged on his mother’s piano. I think she is pleased that her beautiful art is on display in my home. What an amazing legacy. 


Tomorrow night, thoughts about the movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Tonight, I’m enjoying the snowmen in their village and the nativity and Christmas spreading joyfully throughout my home.