One place you will find me during the Holidays is in the kitchen.  I love to bake all kinds of American Christmas cookies for our family.  Since we can't find these special treats in the grocery store, we have to make them from scratch.  Compared to when we are in the US and feel overloaded with sweets and candy, here in Japan we treasure every bite that feels like we are "home" for Christmas.  I get started at least a month ahead putting our big freezer to use.  HERE is one of my favorite recipes, for a not-too-sweet short bread style cookie. HERE is another crunchy, chocolate favorite that is quick and easy!!

I am the first to admit that I have a tendency to go overboard and try to do too much.  Even though it's good to want to make my home "homey" I have to remind myself that Christmas isn't about homemade cookies or trying to create a certain atmosphere in our home, it's about Jesus!!

I love to bake all kinds of treats to give to people.  Besides making cookies for church outreaches and parties, I've had fun this year making some edible care packages for missionary and Japanese friends.  It was a bit crazy getting several of our favorite recipes baked, packaged and it the mail in a timely manner, but fun too.  I love to give homemade, relatively free gifts to bless others.  Packaging them up extra pretty is part of the fun and it makes something simple and ordinary look special.

We also give lots of homemade treats to neighbors and friends with a tracts sharing the good news of Jesus.  This year I've had the taxi drivers that park at our train just a few minutes walk from our house  station on my heart.  So, I am off to make a quadruple batch of chocolate chips cookies to pass out to these guys (and girls).  Hopefully they will be happy to read about the greatest Christmas present ever as they nibble on some homemade treats while sitting in their taxis waiting for costumers on Christmas Eve.

Who are you giving the good news of Jesus to this Christmas?