Are Christmas goodies starting to appear at your house yet? I’ve scaled back on what I make now that I’m supposed to be watching my sugar intake. Since fudge is a particular weakness of mine, I’m skipping it altogether and have just asked Kristin to bring some of hers when they come for Christmas. If I had it here all month, I would be sneaking bites of it constantly :)
I did, however, make some peanut clusters the other day in an effort to try to spread out some of the baking and goodie-making that I need to accomplish over the next couple of weeks. You know what peanut clusters remind me of? My Grandpa Barnes. I can’t think of peanut clusters without thinking of him — and Grandma, too, for that matter.
When my sisters and I were growing up, Grandpa was famous for buying peanut clusters at the Woolworth’s candy counter every time they came to town. He always shared them with us and even let us order pop at the soda fountain there. (For some reason, Mom always ordered a limeade, but I, of course, wanted pop.)
Both Grandpa and Grandma liked their sweets (maybe that’s where I got my sweet tooth!). When we visited them on their farm, we’d make sure to check out their candy drawer in the kitchen. That’s right, they had a candy drawer. They probably had other things in there, too, but all I cared about was the candy. Now that I think of it, I have a candy stash at my house as well. (Figure I might as well tell you about it before one of the girls pipes up with that bit of news as a comment!) Anyway, peanut clusters and orange slices (the candy not the fruit!) along with other old-fashioned candy treats could be found on a regular basis in Grandpa and Grandma’s candy drawer. That’s just one of the great memories I have of them.
Don’t you just love giving in to nostalgia? Christmas, with all its heartwarming memories, is the perfect time to do it, too. So go ahead — indulge in some nostalgia. If not now, be sure to take time for it later. Let your mind wander back and remember the people and places of your past. Relive those scenes, those aromas, those feelings you have tucked away in your heart. Savor your memories. And this year as you make new memories, capture moments that you can look back on in the years to come.
I’m reminded of someone who did just that over 2,000 years ago. After the baby Jesus was born and the shepherds had come to see Him, scripture says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV) I wonder how many times after that she indulged in nostalgia and recalled every moment of that amazing night? Let’s take time to remember that night of all nights as well. “O come, let us adore Him!”
**Don’t forget to sign up for the December giveaway! The deadline is this Friday. Check the Dec. 2nd post for details.
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