A new appreciation...

I have a new appreciation for what my  Yia yia (grandma) and mom would go through in preparation for the holidays and the meals included in those holidays.  While I helped, I never was in charge. Meals at my Yia yia's involved enough food to feed most of the southern suburbs of Chicago.  It didn't matter how many people were invited, you just had lots of choices.  It was an impressive spread to say the least.  My mom would, from time to time host these holidays as a break to my Yia yia.  She too, paid no attention to the attendance, but rather the options and making sure that NO ONE would go home hungry.  After my Yia yia passed away, mom took over the responsibilities and like many families as the kids grow up the extended families start to make their own traditions and so on.  So even though our holidays were typically mom, dad, Steve, myself and Ryan, you would swear about 50 more people were going to show and rudely declined at the last minute.  We would laugh and tell mom that she works too hard, that she doesn't need to do so much or make so much.  She wouldn't hear of it.  You can always eat leftovers.

So today I have a new appreciation, since Mom lived with us last year during the holidays she was a big help in the preparations and cooking. It was something she could still do.  This year I am flying solo.  I am still making a "nice" ham.  I have a few different appetizers, a few different sides, bread, pie, cake (thanks to dad), cookies. I decided though to prepare all of my food today and then bake it tomorrow.   My plan is that I can spend tomorrow enjoying my family and not be confined to the kitchen.  As I am preparing and using every knife, cutting board, bowl and corning ware container in my kitchen I realized all the hard work that was put into the holiday meals of my youth. The part that I took for granted is now mine to have and as I look at my overstuffed fridge I realize I have WAY more food than my dad, steve, anna and my family can consume.  I couldn't help it you see, you can always eat left overs and I want to make sure everyone has something they enjoy. ;o)

The other side of this is that I realize how blessed I am to have the ability to feed my family so abundantly.  The fact that I won't need to worry about my family being hungry and knowing that we will all be warm and safe and together is a Christmas gift all unto itself.

So while this Christmas is a bittersweet one for with mom's absence, I am so very happy and blessed with what I DO have.  I pray that all of you have a very Merry Christmas and embrace all your blessings tomorrow, as I will.

  

Christmas 2007

Thanks!