Christmas in the Dietrich home was and is still a time when family comes together, to cook or bake, put up Christmas decor and make memories.
Starting right after Thanksgiving, Christmas decor would always go up in our home. My mom, sister and I enjoyed and putting out all the the Christmas Nativities. At night we would turn on Rudolph and all 5 of us would put up the Christmas tree together. Everyone had their special ornaments that only they could put on the tree.
The advent book would be set out and ready for December 1st when we would start reading the Christmas story. The memory of reading the Christmas story throughout December is a tradition that I now do in our home. The memories spent reading about the birth of Christ are some I will never forget.
And then there was the baking. My grandmother would always bring Jello Christmas cookie dough(recipe below) to the house where she would let us cut them out with her metal cookie cutters and decorate them how we wanted. Martha Washington were/are our staple Christmas candy(recipe below.) Martha Washingtons are definitely a recipe that are fun to do with the family. Dipping tons of chocolate balls leads tons of laughter and messes, which lead to great memories. We would always make enough Martha Washington to share with our little grandpa, he was little in stature but big in heart.
One of the earliest traditions I remember as a child was the matching Christmas dresses. These weren’t just any Christmas dresses, mom handmade them. One year she even made one for herself. This tradition has continued though my daughters and nieces. Last year my mom worked so hard and made 4 matching Christmas dresses for our little girls. They were so excited to all be matching and were even calling each other sisters instead of cousins.
Christmas Eve was busy with preparations of getting ready for the Nativity at church. My favorite part of Christmas Eve at church was the candle lighting and singing of Silent Night. Today, Cole and I still find so much joy and peace at going to church on Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning started early at our home with the smell of sausage balls(recipe below) baking and hot coco in a Christmas mug. Our stockings would always be filled with nuts, candy and some odd piece of fruit. Family would come over for a delicious lunch followed by great fellowship.
I have so many great memories from Christmas growing up. I am now a mom of 4 precious kiddos and enjoy making our own family memories and traditions. Some are the same as when I was young and some are different but the focus is till the same. Christmas time is when we remember that our Father sent the savior down to earth as a baby who would live a perfect life and then sacrifice it for all of us. A sacrifice made so humbly so we could all live eternally with our Father.
Jello Cut out cookies
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 crisco
1 cup of sugar
1 3oz. pkg of jello any flavor
3 eggs
3 cups of flour
1 tsp. of baking powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
Cream shortening and margarine with sugar and jello until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time and beat throughly. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix well. Chill for several hours. Roll about 1/3 of the dough at a time on flour surface about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake on un-greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Martha Washingtons
2 lbs of powered sugar
1 can of eagle brand
1 stick of margarine
1 cup of coconut(Optional)
Mix together and add 2 cups of pecans
Make into balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes. While they are refrigerating heat up candy chocolates. Dip the balls and put back into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Store in air tight container.
Sausage Balls
1lb of breakfast sausage
1lb of cheese
2 cups of bisquick
Mix well together. Roll into small balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
We want to thank JoBeth Dietrich and Bethany Williams for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 