Who Ate the Cookies?

December 18, 2017

Anne M. McGlone, Director of Marketing

Oh my!  It’s that time of year again when the grandchildren gather at my house for homemade cookies, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles and butter cookies.  As my small kitchen turns into a disaster zone of flour all over the floor, parcels of chocolate chips being crunched under their little feet and the hustle and bustle of Christmas music trying to make its way through an Eagles game on TV, this is my feeble attempt to create Christmas memories.

Baking isn’t my forte during the holidays; loving my grandsons visiting is my greatest love.  “Mom-mom, can we make the gingerbread house yet,” shared little CJ.  “Not yet honey.  We have to wait until the cookies are finished,” I laughed.  Last year we found CJ sneaking into the kitchen to quietly eat all of the gum drops off the top of the gingerbread house; he was diligent at carefully eating the icing too.  We lost our memorable gingerbread house in the fray; visions of gum drops and sugar candies reminded me this year to keep an eye on CJ.  He is now appropriately named the gingerbread house bandit of our family.

When I think about this little tradition with my grandsons, I am reminded of my own mother making Irish scones, nut breads and special dishes during the holidays.  We didn’t have the money to exchange gifts and Santa only brought one present for each of us.  Mom’s traditions imprinted my heart with a fondness of taking time to create traditions for our families.  It’s never too late to create a tradition for your family, neighbor or even a stranger.

Consider giving a gift certificate to a Malvern Retreat House retreat in 2018; a special gift with immeasurable graces.  Maybe you could give a gift certificate to the one person in your family who may have never set foot on the grounds.  Better yet, how about a stranger?

Giving a gift certificate for a retreat keeps your kitchen clean and fills one’s senses with gratitude.  If you are feeling down and out this Christmas, pray about gifting someone with this precious gift.  It’s your gratitude rising about the busyness to bring Christ into the hearts of those who surround you.  You may not be able to bake the cookies this year but, remember to keep the Malvern Retreat House traditions aflame.

Merry Christmas dear friends.