Sunday at church, our Pastor told us to turn to page 88 in our hymnals. We were in the back row close to the door, where I could watch it snow. It was absolutely beautiful looking out into the country field with huge flakes falling slowly to the ground. Tyler was sitting to the right of me as he normally does. He loves sitting by his momma on Sunday mornings. I love when he lays his head on my shoulder. Chris was on the left of me, and Kenzy was in front of us, sitting with my bestie Amanda English and her parents Clyde and Patty English, who I call “Momma P. and Poppa C.” Momma P. always has coloring books and stickers for Kenzy during church and she loves sitting with them. She loves going to their house and spending time with them. They have always been so sweet and close with our kids.
As we all stood to sing “Joy to World” on page 88, Kenzy stood between Amanda and Momma P., ready to sing. As the piano started to play, Kenzy realized she knew the song. She started singing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her king!” Everyone around her could hear her singing. Chris and I looked at each other and smiled. It was the sweetest thing ever. The way she poured her little heart out singing this Christmas carol. She’s like her momma; we know many Christmas songs by heart.
As I watched our little girl singing in front of us, it was pure joy watching the Christmas spirit pouring out of her. I remember what it was like at Christmas time at eight years old. It was such a magical time. The excitement of Santa coming was the best feeling in the whole wide world.
My parents always made Christmas such a wonderful time for my brother Luke and me. Our house was always decorated outside. Dad always did such a beautiful job with that. Mom made sure the house inside was always decorated so Christmassy and cozy. I always had my favorite little decorations; Mom would get out each year. Luke and I even had our own Christmas tree in our rooms and a collection of ornaments since we were born. Kenzy now has my tree in her room. This little tree is thirty-seven years old! It has seen so many Christmases. That little tree is something I’ll never part with, and I love that it has gone through both of my kids. Ty graduated to a bigger tree (a 4 ft. one) that he wanted when his sister was born. This year he had his tree out the week before Halloween. Kenzy was upset she had to wait because her tree was tucked in with my twenty boxes of Christmas decorations, and I had no clue where it was until I started pulling things out. But her big brother helped string lights all over her room until we could get her tree.
As a little girl getting my tree out was the first sign that Santa was soon on his way. Throughout December, we would visit Candy Cane Lane, go to Christmas parties, Mom would make Christmas cookies, and Dad made sure we watched all the holiday Christmas specials on TV. He would even record them on tape for us, so we had them to rewatch if we wanted to. How did we ever survive as kids not having a pause button for the tv if we had to go eat dinner or use the bathroom? Or just hit the record button and have it saved right to your TV? I’m just glad I had a dad who taped them for us. I still have them! The best part is seeing all those old 80’s and 90’s Christmas commercials. I remember the Cool Whip commercial where they sang, “What makes everything so whip smackin’, whip smackin’ so good. Cool Whip’s the one with that whip creamy taste, Cool Whips the one, Cool Whips the one!” At the end, Santa dunks his candy cane into the cool whip and licks it off. Then, there was the 7UP commercial with the red dot 7UP guys. They had their chainsaws and ice chipper chipping away at a block of ice that turned into a cold glass of 7UP. Santa’s hand comes into the picture and picks up the glass of 7UP with a candy cane. (I especially loved these ones because my dad worked for Pepsi at the time.)
In 1992, Coca-Cola had a commercial where the dad was working on his car in the snow at a gas station, and Santa pulled up next to him. The little boy was trying to get his dad’s attention, but his dad said, “Just a second Tiger.” Santa walks over to the Coca-Cola machine and grabs himself a Coke, and heads off with his reindeer. The little boy with a Coke in his hand points to the sky and says, “Dad look! It’s Santa Claus!” The dad only sees Santa on the Coke can and says, “So it is!”
And last but not least is the Mcdonald’s commercial with a little girl named Lindsay. It was and still is one of my favorites. Just YouTube “McDonald’s Christmas commercials,” and it’s called “Runaway.” I could go on and on with these memorable classics like the Fruity Pebbles one, the famous Hershey kisses, Nestle’s, Folgers, and the Hallmark commercials. Just watching them takes me back to being a little girl at Christmas again.
I think at Christmas time, we all turn into kids this time of year. It’s an exciting time full of love and surprises. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year as we celebrate Jesus’s birth. He gave us the most beautiful gift of all that doesn’t come in a commercial, a cookie or a Christmas tree. He gave us his life so we could live our lives knowing we have a MERRY & BRIGHT future with a home for eternity in heaven with him. This is the best Christmas gift ever given! He gives us the gift of peace, joy, hope, and never-ending love that continues all year long. He wants to be a part of your lives and in your hearts, if you just let him.
This Christmas, let’s not only remember the precious memories we hold close to our hearts and the new memories we are making but remember that sweet little baby in the manger who gave his life years later to give us all the gift of eternal life.
Happy Birthday sweet baby Jesus!
I wish you all a wonderful holiday with friends and family. Enjoy every moment, and don’t forget, you are never too old to watch the sky on Christmas Eve. Santa will soon be on his way! Merry Christmas, everyone!
CARAMEL APPLE PRETZEL SALAD
Sugared Pretzels:
• 1 cup pretzels roughly chopped (measure after chopping)
• 1/2 cup pecans chopped (measure after chopping)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter melted
CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE:
• 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
• 3 cups diced apples about 3 large apples (I used Granny Smith for the green, and Honey Crisp for the red)
• 1/2 cup caramel sauce (I used Marzetti Old Fashioned Caramel Dip)
• 3 cups Cool Whip
SUGARED PRETZELS:
Mix together crushed pretzels, chopped pecans, brown sugar and melted butter.
Spread in a large baking sheet with sides and bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.
Allow the mixture to cool and then break it into small pieces.
CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE:
Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
Beat in the caramel sauce until smooth.
Fold in whipped topping.
Stir in the diced apples and sugared pretzels.
(Save some sugared pretzels for garnish)
Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours and garnish with pretzel topping, a few apple slices, and I drizzled some caramel sauce too. I mean, why not?
