Christmas Memories ~ Grandma Maxie ~

Hello sweet friends & Merry Christmas to you!
~~~***~~~
Who can estimate the power and influence
of the home recalled in memory?
The Spirit of God can
"stir up our minds by way of remembering."
They are precious nuggets to be stored away
and guarded within our hearts.
Oh the joys of taking a trip
down memory lane
and looking back over the years
into those childhood memories.
~~~***~~~
This is my grandmother Maxie.
She was my fathers mother.

Grandma went home to be with the Lord
just this fall at the young age of 97.
My Irish grandma was full of life, laughter and spirit!
She graced our lives and homes
 with a heritage of memories.
In memory I am a child all over again
with my grandmother Maxie and other loved ones.
The best way to describe my precious grandma...
She was young at heart ~ always.
She would unselfishly stop what she was doing
should I ask her to play dolls~
climb a mountain ~ play dress up ~ go swimming ~
ride her bike with me ~ do cart wheels ~
design & sew for me a pretty dress on her sewing machine ~
Lay on the grass and look for four leaf clovers,
(one of her favorite things to do by the way)
dance with me as grandpa played
polka music on his accordion ~
or just stop everything
and bake up some cookies together.
~~~***~~~
I was the first grand-daughter on both sides of the family
and was blessed to inherit
 grandma Maxie's name as my middle name.
God has graced me with many of her beautiful qualities
for which I am thankful for.
Along with inheriting her name,
I was given her hope chest
that was her grandmothers made of ceder wood.
With love and care grandma loaded my chest with
many of her used kitchen items.
These fiesta dishes that she had and used
in the beginning years of her marriage
were placed in that chest
and saved until I would marry.
My husband and I used those dishes
for years into our marriage,
and after nearly 36 years together
those dishes are now show-cased on our hutch
in loving memory of my dear grandma Maxie.
~~~***~~~
Grandma Maxie was a good cook
though she was not always in the kitchen
as I remember my Granny to be.
Grandma Maxie was a sincere lady
who set before us her values of working hard
along side of my grandfather
in his self owned business.
As grandpa aged with health problems,
grandma was a beautiful example
of showing love with a servants heart.
 ~~~***~~~
During the Christmas season
I find great joy in spending hours in my kitchen.
Oh... the smells and aromas,
the warmth of having the oven on,
the sounds of Christmas music playing in the background,
and the love that is poured into all that is baked,
then tied with a bow
in the form of a "goodie" package
and graciously given to loved ones whom
God has placed on my heart,
brings delight to my soul.

One of my favorite cookies 
that grandma made over the Christmas holidays
was her soft sugar cookies.
These sugar cookies are not like most
very sweet sugar cookies,
they are soft and cake like
with just a little crisp to them.
And just so you know,
one batch of these delicious tasting cookies
goes a long way, so spread the love with them!
~~~***~~~
Let us grace our homes with the delightful sounds
of Christmas music, and bake a batch of cookies.
Once baked ~ pour yourself a cup of coffee (grandma's favorite)
or a drink of your choice,
and enjoy relaxing beside the Christmas tree.

Soft Sugar Cookies
4 eggs & 1 egg yolk
4 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla
Cream these 4 ingredients together until light & creamy.
4 1/2 cups sifted flour (sift at least 3 times)
3/4 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon baking soda
2 Teaspoons baking powder
Cut 1 cup of shortening in the flour mixture.
I use my hand held pastry blender and mix
until I have pea size pieces of the shortening.
Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture slowly.
Grandma always said to HAND stir
the flour mixture into the creamed part as
whipping makes for a hard cookie.
This dough can be chilled if necessary.  
 

I use my pastry cloth to roll these delicate cookies on 
and gently roll with my rolling pin.
Before baking I like to sprinkle with sugar
or colored sprinkles,
 but you may also add your favorite icing on top after cooling.
Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes.
Makes 68 or more cookies.
Enjoy!
~~~***~~~
"For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
The Mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."

( Isaiah 9:6 )

  Look at the names that reveal the character of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!

~~~***~~~

Our Precious Heavenly Father.

We love You, because You first loved us.

We praise Your Name

for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ,

whom we can have everlasting,

eternal life through.

Amen

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

~ Debbie ~