Christmas Kitchen and Family Room

*Welcome to part two of my Christmas home tour! Part one can be seen here.*

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“Mom, will I inherit this wooden spoon when you die?”

My daughter and I were in the kitchen baking Christmas goodies last weekend and when it was time to stir the ingredients, she immediately reached for our favorite wooden spoon.

Anyone overhearing us would, most likely, have been startled by this question. Why would a 14 year old ask her mom if she can have an old spoon as part of her inheritance?

But, other than the fact that she was already planning ahead for my demise, I just chuckled because I knew exactly why she would ask that question.

We’ve had that wooden spoon for well over fifteen years. It’s seen a lot of batter and dough!

A few years ago, Lauren and I were in the kitchen baking together (obviously this is something we do regularly) when she grabbed the spoon and said, “Mom, I don’t know what it is about this one but it’s my favorite to use for stirring the ingredients. It’s just the perfect shape and size and it seems kind of old fashioned.”

I had never actually put it into words before but I too had always felt that way about that wooden spoon. I told her it reminded me of something that would have been used in the “Little House on the Prairie” series and she completely agreed.

From the time that she first stood on a stool, barely able to see over the countertop, to help me bake banana bread until now when I take the ‘sous baker’ position while she confidently takes the lead, that wooden spoon has been an integral part of so many of our favorite memories in the kitchen together.

And the fact that she would want me to pass it along to her ‘someday’ reminded me of just how significant those moments have really been.

What is it about those simple things that end up being among our most cherished memories?

I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that, while the big moments always stand out, it’s the little, everyday things which actually make up the bulk of our lives. And something as simple as a wooden spoon can trigger the feelings associated with those times in our lives that seem so simple and yet are so very significant in making us who we are. The smell of Ponds cold cream will always trigger memories of my mom’s face leaning towards mine as she hugged me goodnight at bedtime and the comfort I felt in that moment.

Now that my children are teenagers, it’s interesting to hear them share memories of their younger years. It’s rarely the big vacation we took or the most expensive gift under the Christmas tree that stand out to them.

Instead, it’s the moments that, at the time, seemed to pass by in a flash of insignificance but were actually making an imprint on their hearts and minds.

So, in these last few days before Christmas, may I encourage you to remember that some of the sweetest memories you will make this season will be in the little, everyday moments.

And that means you can lower your expectations, remove things from your to-do list and release the pressure you may feel to try to make Christmas one non-stop, magical experience.

Because even a simple wooden spoon may be all you need to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Merry Christmas to you dear friends! May you hearts be filled with the wonder of His love!

 

P.S. Many of you requested the playlists that I mentioned in part one of my Christmas home tour and I am so happy to provide you with the links! I use Amazon music so you may or may not be able to access them depending on your favored app but hopefully you’ll at least be able to see the songs listed. If not, I’m working on getting them on Spotify as well!

Classic Christmas Favorites

Instrumental Christmas Favorites