one by one
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is crepes on Christmas eve. We have done this since our first child was born, so this will make the twentieth year. Geez, where has all the time gone?Besides the fact that they are scrumptious, there is another, even more important, reason that I love crepes. They have to be made one by one. You don't make them like pancakes, with little piles of batter on one big griddle. I pour a quarter cup of the batter into my crepe pan and then I stand there and watch until the edges start to look done. Then I carefully flip it over for a few seconds before sliding it onto the big serving dish.
Making them one by one means that it takes about an hour to make 50 crepes. And I can't leave the stove for one minute. They are delicate and need my attention, and they need it one crepe at a time. Standing for all of that time gives me a good excuse to think about my family for whom I am cooking.
I think about my husband who loves me to the end of the numbers and back. I think about how lucky I am to have a man that I love and respect love me back. He listens to me. He looks at me when I am talking to him and blushes.
I think about my sons, each one unique and crucial to my happiness. My older two boys are old enough now to have earned real grown-up respect from me. They are great men. Men. Not little boys anymore. That is hard to say.
My little boys who call me as I am leaving work to tell me they need me to come home right away because it was a hard day. Or that they need a hug. Young enough to still admit that they need help.
We stuff our crepes with fuit and cream and powdered sugar. But I stuff mine with love.
12 comments
I think that's such a cool tradition. It amazes me how some of the simplest of things make the most cherished memories, especially when they are accented with the smell of warm cooking.
oh goodness, you brought tears to my eyes this morning. What a lovely tradition. You've given me the urge to hug my babies this morning. :)
What a great tradition. Kudos to you for taking the time to reflect a little during such a busy day. I always get too overwhelmed to cook on Christmas. When I do make crepes, I have 3 frying pans going, I just don't have the patience to do them one-by-one. You are so great at using the written word to express deeper meaning to everyday life. You inspire me.
Sounds like a delicious and wonderful tradition. Mmmm crepes. :)
So darn stinkin' sweet! I could never stand at the stove for a solid hour--I don't think I could do it for a solid five minutes. I love how you said that about your husband loving you all the numbers or back--ah, heck, you said it much better!
Oh I love this. What a beautiful tradition (and post). You're such a great mom (and wife) :)
All things tastes so much better when you mix in patience and love. Great tradition. I love cooking for the family and watching them enjoy it.
That is so Vo! Was is Jen that said that or was it I love you to the end of the numbers. I can't remember. She told me a million times! lol AND I could hear your voice say "I stuff mine with love". I know it was sweet, but knowing you as I do, I giggled!
Oh yeah, I liked the symbolism too! :)
What a beautiful and touching post about all your boys and the love and affection you have for them. It gives me this cloak of warm feeling. Maybe because I can feel the warmth and love in your home simply by reading this.
I love crepes, too. Very much. I stuff mine with cream or cottage cheese and strawberry. But I buy mine because I'm not very good at making them :-(
I also came over to let you know I will be on blog-cation and will not be able to visit and comment for awhile. I will miss your posts but I will be back. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!
Marsha or Kazzie, you want to cook for mine too? They'd love you with all those numbers and stuff.
Sorry, I shouldn't make light. I am looking for one of those traditions as we speak. We seem to be too flighty for anything to stick. I love that it has been 20 years. How wonderful!
Reading this makes me think of my dear friend, Molly, who lost her son last month (the youngest of three). He would have "left the nest" this coming June. Poor Molly is really suffering; he was her last son at home and the center of her world. Please say a prayer for her tonight when you hug your boy(s). (And sorry if this was a downer comment.)
I love your blog, it makes me want to be just as good a mom and wife as you are!!!!
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