I remember one particular Christmas when at the tender age of 12, my aging grandmother presented me a gift. I quickly tore open the pretty paper and tossed the curled ribbon only to discover that she gave me an egg-shaped package of queen-sized control top pantyhose. My family giggled and I felt embarrassed as I … Read more
Hey, how’s Christmas going? Is yesterday a blur? Have you had your fill of nog yet? Wrapping paper still everywhere? Did anyone ruin Christmas? My family has a running joke that someone always ruins Christmas. It’s almost a badge of honor. Almost. Except when it’s really ruined—like you clog the toilet and it backs up … Read more
How many of us thought it the best thing ever when Fisher-Price made a nativity scene for our precious little ones? I know I did for two reasons: 1) teaching about the Birth of Christ was friendlier, tangible and 2) family heirlooms had a better chance of staying in one piece. Ever wonder why certain … Read more
Say Kucias (coochas) five times fast! You will giggle. It is the funny name of a beautiful Lithuanian tradition. Beautiful because it is rich in symbolism. It is rich in meaning and history too. It is not rich in meat or heat, however, because it is a traditional Christmas Eve feast that consists of 12 cold … Read more
Celebrations in our household are always food-driven. We are relatively flexible about the side dishes that appear at Thanksgiving, but my grandmother’s French bread dressing with sage and sausage is sacrosanct. We could happily skip the turkey as long as the dressing made it to the table. My husband’s Irish/Italian family has always had lasagna … Read more
As the Christmas season approaches, I always pause to think about the traditions my family has established and consider if there are any new ones I want to establish. There is just something about this season, and while I’m not a melancholic (in fact, it is the least prevalent temperament of the 4 for me) … Read more
As Advent dawns, I can feel my stress level rising. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and to forget the reason for the season. I allow myself to be overwhelmed, hurried, and anxious. So, my goal this year is to take time, breathe, and enjoy the little things. I hope to find … Read more
With the holidays in full gear, my college children will be coming home for Christmas break. In just few days, I’ll have half a dozen children under my roof again! Praise God! I’ll also have mounds and mounds of never ending laundry! Praise God! I know this reaction is quite different from what is expected. . .but … Read more
A year ago, I traveled to Ireland with my traveling buddies for a little over a week.
It is perennial advice that if you want to have a good talk with someone you should invite that person on a drive—or a walk.