The holidays are upon us, and that means bring on the Memory Makers–those moments that create a meaningful and memorable holiday experience.
A few years ago I started a Holiday Journal–don’t hurl yet, I’m not incredibly dutiful but have loved the entries that have made it. As I flipped through it the other day, I chuckled at the holiday menus I’d stapled in, with kids’ names next to certain entrees they were supposed to help make (we will assume that is what happened…). I relived Thanksgiving funnies like when my hubby and sons determined to make, and delayed, the holiday pies, which were put in 1 p.m. ON T-day, which meant the turkey went in after, which meant we didn’t eat until 7 O’CLOCK THAT NIGHT. Or, the Thanksgiving where my young daughter asked, “Are the mashed potatoes hot enough?” as she stuck her finger little Jack Horner style right into the bowl of potatoes and got a major burn.
Yep, they were hot enough.
Now it’s our holiday joke to say, “Hey Chelsea, can you check the potatoes?” But my favorite entry was the following for Easter 2006, which I had to put in its entirety as it had me rolling…
“What a hilarious day. Prepped the night before Easter beautifully–all groceries in, Sunday clothes laid out, Easter treats already bought and ready for assembling, the house clean.
Then Sunday dawned. I felt terrible–exhausted, headache, thyroid stuff. Then, forgot to the ham in the oven–it sat on the counter, prepped, for 3 hours, while the oven sat on, for 3 hours. This didn’t register until the closing prayer at church. Then in Relief Society [women’s church meeting], I was holding Sophie but her foot caught as I went past the lesson table and down went the beautiful flowers. On and on it went…
At home, I put on my pjs and told Dave, I’m going to bed. Then I heard [our son] come in the front door yelling, Hey, why did you forget me at church??? Yes, we had forgotten him COMPLETELY, and didn’t even know it until he came home, which was a good 20 minutes later. The lady that brought him home called from the bishopric’s office so now everyone knew we were loser parents…
The whole day went like that, just totally off. BUT the rollls were a hit and we talked of the Savior and the meaning of Easter, and the children enjoyed the baskets. But honestly, I couldn’t wait until the children went down, they were like popcorn, crying, whining, fighting. I thought, Heaven help me. THAT was our Easter…”
So I hope this holiday you won’t try for a magazine cover experience, but rather, enjoy making memories that you’ll talk about–and laugh about–for many holidays to come.
To keep enjoying the holidays, enjoy this FREE Podcast, “Simplify and Savor the Season” Podcast Tip #3.
If you missed Tip #1 & #2; Listen to your FREE Podcast “Simplify and Savor the Season” Tip #1, click here, to listen. Tip #2, by clicking here.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Connie
P.S.: ENJOY standing in Black Friday lines while readingCaribbean Crossroads or listening to Joy in Womanhood CoachCast–BOTH will both be for a FABULOUS deal…Stay tuned!!
