Readers Offer Their Seasonal Joys
By Members Of The Olympian’S Reader Network:, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.
Dec. 23–Favorite Christmas traditions shared
Being born in Sweden, my family has maintained our distinct Scandinavian Christmas traditions. I look forward to engorging myself with my mom’s delicate pastries (such as saf fr on rolls filled with almond paste, cinnamon and cardamom, and Swedish gingersnaps) and the quintessential Smorgasbord with ham, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, cured salmon, homemade breads, sausages and meatballs.
My favorite tradition, though, is going to Christmas Eve church service, lighting candles and reading the Christmas gospel with family shortly before opening presents until the late midnight hours, while the Ray Conniff Singers carol to us on the stereo.
– Jeanette Parks, Olympia
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We make Lighthouse cookies in honor of our favorite symbol of God’s truth and light. The enduring nature of lighthouses as structures of permanence and peace amidst crashing waves and rising tides, guiding navigators to safe harbor, is a beautiful metaphor for our family.
We also love to get on our 60-foot cruiser, Bella Lighthouse, and go looking for whales. Two years ago, we found T41, a male Orca and his family just off of Steamboat Island. Spending time at sea with friends and family is the best cure for winter blahs!
– Cynthia Kettel, Olympia
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A few years ago, after I didn’t exactly score all home-runs in choosing books for my grandsons, I tried a new idea. I feel so blessed that they are all avid readers! I decided I want to support their reading for pleasure, get to know their changing tastes — and make sure they get exactly the books they want. I began taking them for an annual exclusive outing to a major book store. We have lunch, and I turn them loose in the store.
I’ll never forget how my heart melted the first year as 13-year-old Christopher came running up to me. “Grandma! Are you really going to take us to the bookstore and we can get whatever we want?!”"Yes!”
Our shopping adventure is often after Christmas, depending on our schedules, but they don’t seem to mind and we always have a delightful time.
– Lucy Jeanne, Rainier
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