Telling it like it is... I mean was

via Mary Englebreit   

Have you sent out your Christmas cards already? It takes me several shopping trips to find the perfect cards to send, then I do a Christmas Letter to include in the card. I know what you are thinking...."I HATE those!" But there are different kinds of Christmas letters.

There's the one that comes from your third cousin twice removed that tells everything that happened from New Year's Day 12:01 AM to December 31st the stroke of midnight! She documents hair appointments, when the dog ate the contents of the bathroom garbage (don't even ask) and tells about every illness they had the entire year.

Then there's the braggy one... they tell you where they went and it's always fabulous vacations to far away islands or magical destinations. Never to like Branson and you got to see the Andy Williams Show. All of their kids are overachievers and made the honor roll the whole year. They are all involved in awareness programs and give up meat during the whole month of November so that a turkey can be saved.

Lastly is my category. I write a feel good letter. No bad news allowed, almost fantasy except it really happened. I try to write down a childhood memory every year. The ones on my list know by now that I'm not going to tell them where we've been, or what we bought or how smart my GRANDsons are. Well....I may mention once or twice how good lookin' they are but no big bragging allowed. I don't talk about politics or the economy or anything that's depressing. If you know me then you already know what's been going on in my life so I don't re-hash that. I limit it to one page so it doesn't take longer than 3 minutes to read, 2 if you are fast reader! So here's this year's letter.

Thanksgiving 1950

Grandma Risley with her Grandchildren

Merry Christmas... I've been in the picture box again, this time a conversation with my cousin Patsy had me remembering what a great pie her Mom, my Aunt Zesta made. She was a master of pie making, each slice picture perfect. I don't think there was a pie college that all of my female relatives graduated from, but they all had degrees in crust making and filling finesse. Aunt Joy, Aunt Hope and of course my Mom and Grandmothers could turn out a holiday meal in two shakes of a Revere Wear pan- and they did it with everyone in the family underfoot in their little kitchens!

Our family compiled a cookbook years ago, it was the brainchild of my dear Aunt Joy who loved to cook for all of us. As I turned to "Desserts" to look for pie recipes, I couldn't help but notice just how fat that chapter was! There are 6 recipes for pie crust, each a little different from the others. Hmmm, I've had all of these through the years and they were all Blue Ribbon good, so what's the real secret? Maybe, it was the hands that made it and the love that was rolled inside.

It's fun to go back and look at these pictures, with each year they become more precious. Now it's my turn to make the memories, each holiday when we gather it's another chance to take pictures that will be in the hearts of my children. We've been blessed with another year of good health, someplace to call home and the love of family and friends. Wishing you and yours a  Merry Christmas and the best in the coming year!