Category Archives: Making Memories

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Farewell to a Faithful Friend

Jodie Howell Tate, a beautiful golden retriever, joined our family on July 6, 2006, when she was 4 years old. Her first family could not take her with them when they moved, so they graciously gave her to us. We were blessed to adopt her.

Our 6 cats hissed and hid at first (visualize tails fluffed like bottle brushes) but settled down pretty quickly, and they all got along well after a few days. Jodie mostly ignored them until they got into cat fights, and then she became Cat Cop and broke things up. Dixie adored Jodie and often talked to her, showed off by rolling back and forth, and begged her to play; eventually Jodie would just walk away. Tolerating cats (even sharing the sofa with them) was one thing, but playing with them was beneath her canine dignity.

Jodie Bullseye Bilbo

Our family pet mythology identified Jodie as the founder of Snoutbook, an online network for pets. She was also known as the Puppy Sailor—which derived from her nickname Snouta, which rhymes with the Latin “nauta,” meaning sailor. (We’re a weird family that loves wordplay.) She was a passionate fan of bread; no bagel was safe with her around. She was terrified of thunderstorms but fierce about UPS trucks. She had an infallible radar for knowing exactly where to lie in the house to block the maximum amount of foot traffic at any time. In her final year, she lost much of her hearing and had trouble getting onto and off the sofa . . . but she could still run like a rocket in the back yard.

Jodie in the snow

Jodie was a wonderful friend to my 4 sons and was a great companion to me when they were away from home. She lived 13 good years before her death on May 15, 2015. We will miss her greatly.

Jodie Christmas 2013

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Making Christmas Memories without Sacrificing Your Sanity!

Do you ever feel pressured to create a Pinterest-perfect Christmas? Trying to live up to impossible standards, others’ expectations, or even your own unrealistic standards for yourself can drain all the joy from the holidays.

As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned to let go of burdensome expectations and focus instead on creating meaningful traditions that my family can enjoy year after year . . . without losing my sanity!

In episode 10 of my Flourish At Home Radio show, I share some of my own favorite Christmas traditions: keeping Christ in Christmas, decorating the tree and the house, collecting special ornaments, giving gifts, sending Christmas cards, and enjoying delicious food. I also share my family’s favorite Christmas books, movies, and music, as well as funny stories, like the time our tree fell and why we outsource our turkey to Texaco. Finally, I offer encouragement to those who are alone at Christmas, as well as ways others can help bless them.

Christmas Memories 2

Here are the books, movies, and music I mention in the podcast, as well as my two favorite holiday recipes. (Note: Most of these are affiliate links. If you purchase through my link, I make a small commission—which I will almost certainly spend on more books! ☺)

BOOKS

The Handel’s Messiah Family Advent Reader

 Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide

Good News of Great Joy by John Piper (free e-book)

An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco

The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Shephard

 The 12 Days of Christmas Cats by Don Daily

The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman, adapted by Janet Schulman

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

 The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

’Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Moore, illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith

MOVIES

It’s a Wonderful Life

A Christmas Carol (with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge)

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Polar Express

The Nutcracker

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Frosty the Snowman

MUSIC

One Wintry Night  by Jerry Read Smith and Lisa Maria Smith

The First Christmas Morning by Dan Fogelberg

A Christmas Album by James Taylor

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi

Handel’s Messiah

RECIPES

I am not a noted cook (Yeah, I fried the oven’s motherboard along with the turkey), and I outsource most of our Christmas dinner. However, these are two recipes I actually make myself . . . and my family loves them. Both of them are from my mom, Rosemary Alinder.

Bean and Corn Casserole

For the Casserole:

1 can French-cut green beans (drained)

1 can Green Giant Niblets corn (drained)

1 can cream of celery soup

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 medium onion, chopped

For the Topping:

1 roll Ritz crackers, crushed

1 stick butter, melted

Directions:

Mix casserole ingredients together. Bake 30-45 minutes at 350 until casserole has heated all the way through and is bubbling. After baking, sprinkle crushed crackers over the top and pour the melted butter over the crackers. Cook for about 10 more minutes, until topping is browned. Devour.

This doubles well. If you have more than 2 people at the meal, there’s no point in not doubling it! I usually triple the beans and corn, double the other casserole ingredients and crackers, but still use only 1 stick of butter.

If we had to give up all but one item in our Christmas and Thanksgiving menu, this would be the unanimous keeper—even over turkey and dressing.

Frozen Strawberry Salad

1 can strawberry pie filling

1 large can crushed pineapple and juice (20 oz.)

1 cup chopped pecans

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

12 oz. Cool Whip

Mix in order listed in long covered cake pan. Freeze overnight covered.

OR Mix in large bowl and pour into muffin tins with paper liners. Cover loosely with foil and freeze overnight. Transfer frozen “muffins” into freezer bags. Great for ready-made individual servings!

This is called a salad, but it’s really more of a dessert.

Mom used to take this to friends who were sick or were recovering from surgery. It’s a delicious treat!

It’s Your Turn!

I want to hear from YOU! What are some of your family’s favorite Christmas traditions?