Welcome to Day 10 of my 10th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
If you’re just joining us be sure to start on Day One HERE.
GRAND PRIZE!!!
One of you WHO COMMENTS ON ALL TWELVE POSTS AND ALSO SHARES ABOUT THE SERIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA will win a grand prize from me, pictured here.
REMEMBER…in order to win the grand prize, you must leave a comment on all 12 posts. You can start with Day One HERE.
OK, let’s get started with our tenth day’s guest, September McCarthy!
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Traditions
My oldest daughter sent me a text a few weeks ago that warmed my heart and stirred my memories. She asked if she could come back home and re-live a Christmas memory that my builder husband and I began way back when our older children were so very little.
When a baker marries a builder, the delectable hand-crafted fun that we stir and craft from our Christmas weekends, are gifts we love delivering to our friends and families every year.
The builder creates a work area with tools and fresh-scented wood and helps the kids work diligently on hand-made Christmas ornaments, with a templates and tools and a station for the finishing touches. And while the builders of choice work with their hands and their gifts, the little ones are set up at the counters with mama and make dozens of Christmas goodies to be delivered as well.
When it is time to deliver our handmade gifts, we always let the kids go to the door and make their deliveries. They work through excitement and nervousness to share the real joy of our Christmas season with ours. They shine the gift of giving and most importantly listening. The biggest blessing of crafting and baking and delivering gifts has been the opening of our hearts to receiving the words of others that share their stories with us when we give. My children have learned to listen to loss and needs and to see where they have made a difference in the life of someone that may have overlooked before.
We allow the kids to pray and choose who they want to give their gifts to. We drive through neighborhoods, towns and streets that may be unfamiliar and when they give their gifts they share the Good News that Jesus has Come.
The greatest gift in giving has been in the waiting to see how God will use us. While we create and bake and whittle away, we talk and consider just exactly who will receive our gifts and how God can use our smallest offerings.
Some of our favorite recipes have come from our traditions and some of our most favorite memories have come from the giving. The best gift we can give to our children at any time of the year is the gift of giving with a sincere heart of sacrifice and love, always pointing the greatest gift on earth – Jesus.
I share our heart for serving and loving others, with creative ideas and incentives to raising a family that love others well.
Enjoy one of our favorite Christmas recipes below. Perhaps you can find a few new ways to serve and love those around you this Christmas Season. There is no better way to teach our children to love others, than to do it together.
Thumbprint Cookies, September McCarthy
350 Degree Oven, 3 Dozen Cookies
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ shortening
¼ brown sugar, pressed
1 egg- separated
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup finely chopped nuts
Mix butter, shortening, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla
Work in flour and salt until dough holds together
Shape teaspoons into balls. Beat eggs whit slightly. Dip each ball and roll into nuts.
Place 1″ apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumbprint before baking.
Bake 10 minute or until light brown. After cool, fill with favorite jam and lightly dust with confectionary sugar.
Day Ten Giveaway
For the 12 Days of Christmas series, I am giving away a copy of my book, {Why} Motherhood Matters, along with the Companion Journal for {Why} Motherhood Matters.
September McCarthy is the wife to one amazing builder and a home educating mother to ten beautiful children and three grandchildren. You can find her words penned on her blog, at One September Day, September lives a rural life, with her growing family, chickens, gardening, shelves overflowing with books and a project always on the horizon. Her family is her #1 priority and her heart is always at home. She believes in new mercies every day and fresh grace on everyone she meets. You can follow her on Social Media here: Facebook, Instagram, and Blog.
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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules
- You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 17. All posts are linked on Day One here.
- U.S. Addresses only please.
- One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments and all winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced on Wednesday, December 20.
- Share the giveaway with your friends and followers using the share buttons below.
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I love this…some of our most favorite memories have come from the giving. The best gift we can give to our children at any time of the year is the gift of giving with a sincere heart of sacrifice and love, always pointing the greatest gift on earth – Jesus!
My daughter and family are having several of her son’s friends families over for dinner Saturday and the boys (12 year olds) will be serving their parents. They are all so excited to be giving back to the ones who give them so much. Their present to their parents is to go out that morning and bless someone with a secret gift and show the love of Jesus. Merry Christmas! .
I love this so very much. I would have loved to have these ideas when I was raising my boys. We had many wonderful Christmas traditions that grew in meaning after I became a born-again-Christian in 1973. Many of your own bring back memories. My husband is a woodsman & I like you am a baker…a not bad combination. Now, as a senior citizen, I will politely leave some of your ideas with my adult children. Also, this recipe is terrific. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful tradition. It sounds like a great way to help instill generosity in your children.
Some of our favorite Christmas traditions are also baking, sharing and visiting our neighbors and church family! Thank you for sharing!
We enjoy Random Acts of Christmas Kindness- one year we left coins attached to a soda machine and could not believe that it took several days for it to be used (we drive by the location every day on the way to school). We have made some simple gifts for a few of our neighbors too- but I like your idea of praying about it and then deciding on truly random people to share some Christmas joy with– how lovely to make ornaments and treats then deliver them with a message of Jesus. So glad that you shared this!
What a wonderful way to share the good news. Baking has been a family tradition. Year around giving of home baked goods. On to the third generation.
Sharing the Good News is what it’s all about. I love that your children were able to share God at such an early age. Thank you for sharing such a fond and profound memory.
Traditions are so important!!
Love this post so much.
It is great to hear that older children do remember traditions and even long to come back and continue them. I think this might be a great book for my daughter in law. Have a blessed Christmas.
I am humbled by your family’s generosity with time, effort, and love.
I’m also a baker (and writer) married to a builder. Thank you for sharing the recipes!
We love traditions and our favorite.is baking certain kinds of cookies that we only do at Christmas,the memory of baking with my grandma is now being passed on to my grandchildren with me. Thank you for sharing and your recipe.
Such a good message about showing God’s love to others at this time of year and teaching your family how to give. And those traditions are fun as you make meaningful memories together too.
Precious traditions
Thank you September for sharing your family traditions, and it was touching to hear that your grown daughter came back home to share in this Christmas memory again. You are blessed! The cookies sound wonderful, and even though I don’t have a child at home any more, I can certainly share your book with my niece that has three and loves family traditions, like making cookies, fudge & gingerbread houses to share with others! She’s a great example of Why Motherhood Matters.
Lord bless you and Merry Christmas!
I love so many traditions! Baking is always at the top of the list.
This is truly what Christmas is all about! Great post!
Thanks for sharing! We love giving cookies and homemade candy to neighbors at Christmas!
Thank you for the recipe and reminder that homemade gifts are best. ? I love the way you prayed for the right gift recipient!
Baked goods always make a wonderful, heartfelt gift. Love it! ?
Thank you for the idea! As previous posters commented on, I also loved that your children prayed for a recipient. I would love to read your book!
I continue a tradition that started with my mother and continue it with my grandchildren now: sweet rolls for the neighbors on Christmas morning. Thanks for sharing your tradition and your love for our Lord with those you touch each year
Neat idea. So much so, ur adult daughter wants to participate again. Neat!
I love this tradition!
Perfect way to instill love for others and make memories for your family long after They are grown. Thanks for the recipe also.
Getting together to make an old family sugar cookie recipe is one of our Christmas traditions. My grown children still enjoy creatively decorating the cookies!
I wish I was better at creating and building things with my hands…I am more equipped to create with my words and writing. I love how you reminded me there are so many ways to create memories in the shape we are in. Thank YOU!
What a wonderful thing to do with your children! A good reminder!
Thanks for sharing. This spoke to my heart:
The greatest gift in giving has been in the waiting to see how God will use us. While we create and bake and whittle away, we talk and consider just exactly who will receive our gifts and how God can use our smallest offerings.
My mother always makes gumdrop cookies at Christmas and we all look forward to them.
Love this idea even though my children are all grown, my husband and I can still give from the heart.
Thank you for sharing!
I wish I created more with my hands. I love the family moments shared here. I want to create those with my family before it is too late.
I love this. We still go to my Mema’s each Christmas to bake cookies (now with our own children as well. Those traditions/memories are priceless! I will be trying your cookie recipe!
Thanks for the recipe! It sounds delicious. Also thank you for the chance for the book and journal. They look like great reads
I need to serve my neighbors better.
What a beautiful reminder that through sacrifice we get the greatest joy and our greatest hope for our children is bringing them alongside us in this giving life of Jesus.
Baking is one of my favorite things to do and giving homemade gifts is so special. Thank you for the recipe! Your book looks great too!
Another great post. Enjoying these shared traditions.
Beautiful! May God open our eyes and hearts to see those who are lonely not just during this season of Christmas but throughout the year. Thank you for the recipe. I think I will make a batch with my granddaughters and have them select someone to give them too.
Yes! I want to do this. I am seeing neighbors in my head that I met this year that I would love to bring over some baked goods for their family to enjoy. Thank you for this inspiration!
Praying the Christ-centered traditions we have established will carry on into the adult lives of our children.
Love “the greatest gift in giving is waiting to see the results”
What a beautiful way to exemplify Jesus’ loving heart for others during this season! This is a tradition I would love to start with our family.
The times are so very fleeting, I too hope that as my children age they will take the family moments to heart and strive to still be a part or continue in them! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
What a great story. Our family has a tradition of helping a family with Christmas every year. What a fun time to share the love of Jesus
Love this!! What an amazing way to share His purpose for coming into the world…and a great way for the family to work together!
How special for your grown children to want to carry on the traditions!
YUM!!!!! :-) Baked goods are always appreciated!
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I love how you teach your children how to be humble and servant hearted through their gifts to others.
A great tradition
Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Baking goodies to share with our neighbors is one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve! We deliver the goodies on our way to the Christmas Eve service at church.
Thank you for this post it is such a fitting one. I am making these exact cookies on Saturday in remembrance of my father. You see he left this worldly place this morning and those are his favorite cookies. There will be no funeral at this time so for closure my husband and I discussed in the wee hours of the morning taking time Sunday evening to remember my father, their father in law and grandfather for a small bit closure.
Reading today’s blog and finding that recipe on here was like a celestial hug from my Dad
I love this! And it’s sweet that your oldest daughter wanted to start doing it again. Such a sweet tradition! I hope one day to be a good mother and have traditions with my little ones.
As a mother of 4 small children, this one really struck a cord with me and teaching our kids to love others and be givers. It’s so important now days to teach our about the love of Jesus and treating others with that love especially now days that bullying is so bad. Not only teaching them this and helping them spread the word of Jesus but the tradition you started with them is nothing short then amazing. If it could give hope to at least one person then you’ve won!
Thank you for sharing your recipe! Would love to read your book.
What a fun tradition! My mom makes thumbprint cookies every Christmas. One of my faves!
I love these ideas and traditions for teaching our children to love others well—-always pointing to Jesus. Thank you!
This is so great! I LOVE this season of giving!! I hope that all through the years of my girls when they were tougher they understood the meaning of giving and sharing this season witty others. Not only that I hope they saw that we try to give to others all year long.
Such a beautiful way of sharing Jesus during the Christmas season. Love it!
Precious memories and traditions. The best memories I have are helping my mom bake and make candy. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post and giveaway.
Oh my goodness, this reminds me so much of my childhood, teen years, and young family life. We always gathered around the kitchen table and baked for family, neighbors, and friends. These are some of my most cherished Christmas memories. My baking time is more limited these days, as my children are older and Mom lives 4 hours away. But, I still bake a few batches of their favorites and make reindeer food (who wouldn’t). This year, I am also making handcrafted spa goodies for my girlfriends, with special notes for each one. I am finding joy in the little things.
Thanks for the reminder.
We used to make these cookies at Christmas…thanks for the tastebud reminder! It is such a blessing to see the thumbprints we’ve left on our grown children as they show us the traditions & memories that bring them home to us. Praise & blessings…
Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories
Love traditions and love sharing traditions with my grandchildren. My little granddaughter loves to get in the kitchen and help grandma bake. Thank you for sharing.
That’s neat! Like a backwards Halloween!
Recipes shared from family to family and gifts of love & service…I love this season. Thank you!
What a beautiful memory and tradition
Beautiful book, and yay for journaling!! I’m so happy you added a recipe, we do cookies for our neighbors each year, and I’m always looking for new ones to try! I never thought about going to random houses to do it though!
Love to make cookies at Christmas time.
What a sweet idea and a great way to get the kids involved in giving. Thank you for the recipe.
I love thumbprint cookies. That was my Mom’s favorite cookie and I remember it well and helping her put icing in the cookies. I am continuing on the tradition with my grandson. God Bless
What a blessing! Thank you for sharing. I would love your book/journal, and thank you so much for the recipe! Merry Christmas
I love this, such a great way to help kids learn to give generously and be confident in sharing the gospel.
What a sweet tradition. Thank you for sharing your story.
Fun tradition
The baker and the builder..how sweet!
It is better to give than to receive. I love giving gifts more than I like receiving them.
Making memories and traditions
What amazing family memories. Bless you for teaching your children and grandchildren the ways of Jesus.
Such a great idea! I’m going to try and make these for our neighbors and have my kiddos deliver them.
My first husband enjoyed working wirh wood and hoped to get nieces and nephews involved but, due to failing health, it didn’t work out. For years, we did himemade goodies for friends and neighbors. I’ve kept the gift alive since his death, and have remarried, a man who supports and enjoys the tradition. Would love a cooy of your book!
I love giving. I also love being with family. Love the fact that you let the kids have a say in where they go!
Thanks, September, a great reminder to tell others about Jesus around the holidays! We’ve tried it, but haven’t always kept up the tradition every year…it encourages me to make sure it does!
I love Holiday recipes and making them into traditions. We have been trying to teach our toddler about giving.
Day10 We like to make candy together as a family. This is our biggest tradition.
Thank you for sharing
Love this tradition and how it gets the whole family involved. And what’s better than culminating the creation of wooden treasures and cookies with the giving of them to others to share the love of Jesus.
One of my favorite things I’ve always done is making sweet treats to give to friends, neighbors and co-workers. It’s usually one of everyone’s favorite gifts too…especially those who are elderly and can’t do the baking and candy making they used to do….treasured memories come along with the plate full of goodies, so sit down and listen to their memories if you can….that’s the real gift!! Thank you for sharing the ideas and recipe.
Love thumbprint cookies!
If I should win this, I know just the sweet momma that I will gift this to. She is struggling right now in her role as mom to three littles. Thank you for sharing the recipe and your tradition.
If I should win this, I know just the sweet momma that I will gift this to. She is struggling right now in her role as mom to three littles. Thank you for sharing the recipe and your tradition.
So many traditions being shared. I would love to have been one of those mothers that did more. Motherhood is so important.
What a beautiful tradition!! Thanks for sharing
Love this! My boys and I always bake and make candy at Christmas. They love it and we make gifts for people in our lives.
What good ideas
Such a lovely tradition!
What a great idea.
I just love this tradition. We do make cookies as a family tradition in my family and give out tins of them to neighbors and friends but it is always nice to see the details that go into someone else’s traditions. I am going to try the recipe.
Thanks for sharing…and for the recipe!
Love these, wish baking brought me joy. But it’s just work.
Family handmade gifts is such a wonderful idea!
Love this! My goal this year is to do more home made gifts for our neighbors and friends/family! Thank you for sharing this with us
Oh, my goodness….I love this tradition of baking, making and delivering!! Thank you for sharing this tradition.
Those are precious moments that your family created. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful memories and ideas to share!
I love this idea! I think that homemade gifts from the heart mean the most to people because of the time and love put into them.
Yummy cookies! The books look great!
what a wonderful tradition! Such sweet memories that would make. God Bless!
I love this idea. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy giving year round. I just wish people were more giving year round and not just at Christmas. God uses any and all of it for His glory.
I love making handmade gifts for gift giving occasions! A few years ago a friend of mine posted 12 day of Christmas that she had given to someone who was feeling pretty down. Over the last several years I too have added this to our gift giving. It’s lots of fun to do and the person gets some sort of a gift over 12 days to let them know that someone is thinking of them daily.
Hi Karen and September! I liked hearing about your family tradition of making and giving. I have a new daughter and want to instill in her a spirit of giving also. It feels so good to give to others. This year, our family gave through a charity at my husband’s work and through the giving tree at church. May God continue to bless us abundantly so we can continue to give each year. Your book and journal sound truly wonderful. I think I will definitely benefit from reading and writing in them. Thank you so much for this post! Merry Christmas!
Wonderful tradition and so meaningful! Thumbprint cookies were some of my favorite growing up and now my college age kids ask for them too.
Great idea that I can do with my grandkids not only at Christmas but year round!
I think the tradition of giving year round is a great idea and will help the kids to understand Christmas better
Another lovely tradition! The wide range of these are so inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tradition. Would absolutely love this book set. I have a 6 year old little boy.
I love this tradition too! So many amazing traditions have been shared these past ten days! This has been a fun contest to participate in even if I don’t win, I actually have because of all the great ideas to start with my family to make some new traditions! Love it!! Thank you for the Thumb print cookie recipe too, I can’t wait to get my kids together to make those soon!
It is always fun to share with others, this is the season of giving. Although we should be giving the gift of love every day of the year -the gift of Jesus love for us. Thank you for sharing your family recipe and traditions.
Thumbprints are my hubby’s favorite!
Your heart must have been warmed by hearing your grown daughter make that request. What a wonderful spirit of giving you placed in each of your children.
Traditions like this are so important! I definitely need to plan to start earlier next year!
I love the traditions of teaching our children to share with others, especially at Christmas. My grown daughter shared the other day that one of her most treasured memories was going with her dad at Christmas to deliver gifts from our Church to a family who had very little. She was amazed at how excited the children were to have a gift of their own under their Christmas tree. Little things to us make such a big impression upon our children.
How sweet!
Love this! I love the excitement of sharing with our loved ones but the idea of giving to my neighbors….the wheels are already turning!
What a beautiful way to create memories with children! I want to do something like this with my 8 year old son this year. I hope it isn’t too late…
I love this idea! We make cookies as a tradition already, what a beautiful way to share Jesus with others! Thank you!
Such a great tradition and reminder. Easy to give goodies to those you already know, but to really pray about neighbor’s to love on with this sweet gesture is awesome!
Can’t wait to give the gift of giving with my little one when he’s a little older. These are reasons that motherhood matters! Because these could be our greatest contributions to The kingdom!
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
This is a wonderful tradition, I only wished I would have done better with my own child.
It is great you found people you did not know to bless at Christmas.
What a wonderful idea!
I love this story! Blessing others needs to happen all year! And, who doesn’t love cookies? :)
What a wonderful tradition! I think me and my grandson will start this, this year!
Some of my favorite memories was cooking and baking with my grandparents.
This is such a sweet tradition! And I just put this book on my wish list this week so it made me smile to see it here. And I needed that because it has been a rough morning and it is only 8:30 am.
What a heartwarming reminder of how special traditions are to children!
Love sharing items with friends.
What a wonderful tradition – we try and do a couple of fun things with our kids each year to keep the focus on Christ in the season!!
Love your tradition! I think I might try this with my grandchildren!
Our traditions we do on Christmas is putting up the tree, making cookies, and making ornaments for the tree but the best one I love to do is on Christmas eve I put Jesus in the stable and say a prayer for the new year.
Love your writing style – and thank you for the recipe!
Sounds like a great book for my daughter in law.
I love your tradition. I also like your books. I know being a stay at home mom and a homeschooling family is what God has for my family. Even though at times it can get tiring and overwhelming, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and a homeschooling family.
We usually give gifts to our neighbors, but I LOVE the idea of randomly picking those that the Lord leads you to… Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I would love to get this book. In our culture, the lie that mothering does not matter as much as moms working outside of the home is a hard one to fight. The women of this world need your message- mothering matters!! Thank you, September.
What a great memory and tradition!
I love this
I’ve recently been attacked for being an at home mom, it’s discouraging and hard battle to fight… It makes me feel less than…resources like this that encourages us mother’s whether we work or don’t has been a great blessing to me!!!
We love going caroling. The faces of the elderly light up when you show up.
I love this. I am trying to do the same and love to do for others.
Struggle sometimes to do all I want due to busy time of year but I’m working on that. Would love to win this.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for giving us a chance to win.shared on Facebook and Twitter. Our family Christmas Eve tradition growing up was to open one present.now we get together on Christmas Eve and have bday cake for jesus
Love, sharing, giving! What fabulous ingredients for a wonderful life! Thanks for sharing your tradition; it warms my heart.
And, yes, motherhood definitely matters and is the best job in the world as well as one of the most challenging.
What a great tradition!
Beautiful tradition. Jesus is everything. We need to share Him.
Thank you for sharing your families traditions. How wonderful to have those sweet memories. I love Christmas for that reason, the family time, the loving and caring for others and the general positive feelings that time of year brings!
Simply loved hearing about your traditions! Children learn from what they observe!
Thank you for yet another awesome Christmas tradition. I would love to try to incorporate this into our Christmas activities next year.
Thanks for the new recipe. I love involving thw whole family in making cookies as gifts too.
We love baking for the holidays and make plates for ministry leaders, teachers and neighbors!!
Beautiful
Teaching kids to give wholeheartedly to others at Christmas time is so important. We bake for our neighbors, but I would love for us to engage even more on a heart level. Thank you for the encouragement.
What a beautiful tradition. Thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful tradition. I love Christmas and sharing the true meaning of Jesus and what he did for us. :)
What a beautiful tradition!
Awesome tradition & Purposeful Parenting sounds great too!
What a great idea. My sister and I used to come up with some small ideas to give as gifts to family. For several years I made most of my gifts and really miss being able to do that. Now days it is so rare (at least in my extended family) for kids to make anything.
Oh my …so much goodness in this post and I don´t just mean the recipe. Thanks for sharing!!
We cook for the elderly in our neck of the woods!
May God bless you and your family this Christmas season.
Perfect day to read this. My daughter’s dance studio is downtown – and we regularly see homeless people on the streets. I will pack up some of our Christmas baking and hand it out tonight. Thanks for the idea.
What a lovely tradition! And I love that your daughter missed it and wanted to come home to participate. I hope my adult children also have fond memories of our family traditions!
As a baker myself, I love that tradition. Your recipe is very similar to one handed down in my family through four generations.
i love this tradition……and that your daughter wanted to re-live it.
Baking is one of my favorite things and we’ve enjoyed sharing with others over the years, sometimes at Christmastime, but more often just during the year for anyhow!
I host a cookie exchange every year.
what a sweet story!
That is a sweet tradition. :)
We also love baking cookies and treats to give to our neighborhood. The girls so enjoy it because 1) Mom always lets them taste test and 2) they exude joy when they get to walk up to their house and hand a sweet neighbor some delicious treats : )
This book I should on my Christmas wishlist! I would love to read it. Thank you for the wonderful post and recipe!
What a sweet tradition and to go to neighbors they don’t know to share Jesus’ love, that priceless. Thank you, September.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories! A wise lady once told me that she wishes that she had let her children see her serving others when they were small. I have tried to have my children serve with me, so they can see the blessings service brings to others. Thanks for the reminder to bless others.
Lovely tradition!
So important to talk to our children when serving others or volunteering, not only about how we may be affecting other people but how it is affecting us.
I love serving with my daughter and husband. It is so special!
We do similar things. We love baking and sharing, especially at Christmas!
Great ideas!! I love baking for others…only wish I had some of the builder in my too. Thank you!
Love this!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love this tradition. Last year I started a tradition that is similar to this one. I wrap a few sweatshirts up and put them in my car. On Christmas morning when I see a homeless person standing on the corner I give them a present
I also give them Christmas cookies Merry Christmas everyone
Love your post, will share the book with one of my daughters one who is a mommy and one who is becoming a mommy next year.
What a great tradition! I am your that your family has blessed many a person with your generous gifts.
What a wonderful tradition and such a way to be a blessing to others. Thank you for sharing!
My favorite gifts are homemade. It has more love in it.
I love the idea of praying about who to give the treats too. I think we are going to do that this year.
My parents are ministers and we traveled a lot and lived in many places and countries. Along the way, we’ve Incorporated Christmas treats from all different culture. Cookies from around the world. It’s been such a great Holiday Tradition that I look forward to every year!
A beautiful tradition that has so much depth to it. I love the idea of letting God us you for His will.
Thanks for sharing your family recipe
I love traditions and do the same things my parents did with my sister and I when we we’re young.
Thank you so much for your inspirational story about the traditions your family has developed. Also thank you for sharing your recipe. I love trying new cookie recipes.
So lovely… My favorite: “. The best gift we can give to our children at any time of the year is the gift of giving with a sincere heart of sacrifice and love, always pointing the greatest gift on earth – Jesus.” Love that!!
i just love this! My kids get so excited to help bake holiday treats and deliver them to our neighbors.
Thanks for reminder to look outside ourselves for Christmas giving/traditions. As a tired mama, it gave me hope it is not too late to start giving traditions even now.
A beautiful giveaway :)
So glad to learn about this guest writer for the first time. I will be buying this book, and maybe I’ll win one to give away to a friend!
Every child (every person) needs to learn to give and think of others, rather than thinking of themselves. It can really open their eyes when you do something like this. By the way, you’re only the 2nd person I’ve ever heard of named September! :)
This book has been on my to get list for a while!
We have delivered goodies before and it’s been such a joy to surprise others and to reach the kids about sharing God’s love with others. Helps keep us all grounded in the true meaning of the season!
September – What a great role model for your children that it’s better to give than to receive and doing it all to make Jesus know to a world full of hurt..
What great ideas. I love it.
Thanks.
How wonderful to teach children early in life about .the gift of giving. The joy it brings to everyone. Traditions all all throughout the Bible God honored His people who kept traditions.
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This is an eye-opener. How are we being stewards? I really try to slow down and pay attention to people around me. Life is busy, but we still need to be relational.
I like how September describes herself at having a heart for the home. ~?~
My Christmas traditions was being with my dads side of the family at my grandmas house. My aunts, uncles and cousins having dinner and catching up on our daily lives. The dinner had grandmas greatest rice with pigeon peas. Thank you September for sharing your traditions with us.
My niece and nephew used to do this when they were small kids. They loved giving their goodies to their neighbors and I’m sure the neighbors enjoyed the treats as well as visiting with the kids too.
The best gift…Jesus.
Thank you for sharing your family tradition! I love trying new recipes! These thumbprint cookies sound great to make with my 4 yr old son & 4 yr old grandson too!! Yes it’s not a typo…i have a son & grandson the same age! It makes for really fun times at home tho.
Thank you for sharing (both your story & the recipe)! :)
Not all of my boys, I have 5, enjoy baking so this year they have found a different way to serve the neighbors. We just had over a foot of snow, heavy , wet snow and lots of trees and branches have fallen. They are young men by the way, not babies anymore. They are cleaning up the neighbors yards and the roads in our subdivision. We live in a very wooded area and we don’t normally get snow let alone this amount! They are doing this free of charge in the spirit of Christmas giving, I’m very proud of them. Merry Christmas to everyone!
This read looks amazing! Thanks for the recipe! Blessings! Michelle
I love that your children prayerfully considered the recipients of their blessings! What a wonderful way to teach them to give! Thank you!
A wonderful reminder of the true meaning and significance of Christmas, the gift of Jesus.
Wonderful. My son and I have enjoyed crafting and baking at Christmas time. Thank you for sharing.
I love this and it’s so timely! My mother makes delicious jam but my pantry is over flowing! I hope to make these cookies in the next few days….and share them :)
Thank you for sharing your family recipe. We give gifts of baked goods or cooked goodies as well, but this year, I want to add on the most important aspect-asking the LORD who we need to give to. You have imparted a treasure to your children! May you be blessed as you continue to do good works and share the love of our Savior and LORD, Jesus Christ.
As a new mother, I am indeed learning just how important motherhood really is!
While I am not a biological mother, and have my own children, I am a role model to those around me and try to share my traditions with them, just like you have! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing. I want my kids to care more about giving than getting.
Day 10 for me: Thank you for the recipe and your story!!! Such great ideas to make new memories with the family!!!
Can’t wait until this weekend to get busy cooking meals to share with friends.
I love to give but I’m better at giving to my family and friends rather than those who are my neighbors. How do I show them Jesus by not caring enough to give.? Love the recipe.
I can’t wait to try this cookie on our baking day for our neighbors. I love the idea of driving around and also praying about who we should deliver them to.
Thanks for sharing!
I love this because I am currently trying to teach my 6 year old daughter that it is better to give than to receive. We are blessed when we give or use our gifts to bless others!
I have two sons and three grandchildren. I wish I could have had more children but it did not work out. I love your gift Idea to let your family give to others I hope to be able to try this with my Grandchildren.I did not do this with my children because I am not very creative.I just love your story
What a great tradition! This would be so fun to do with my granddaughters! Thank you for sharing and thank you for the chance to win your book and the journal. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
The builder & the baker….that is my husband and i! Thanks for sharing your traditions.
What a beautiful story September!
I’ve noticed as a Nana how little ones are learning and always watching. We have a tradition of hanging every Christmas card up on our mini-blinds (and I have a basket for pictures and notes). After Christmas we pull one each meal and pray for that family. If we have guests they pull the card. Last week our 4 year old grandson was spending the night – 4 cards were hanging – he says are we going to pull a card and pray for them.
Let’s keep making and handing down those traditions. Thank you for the recipe.
I love this idea. Fabulous post!
Thank you for the recipe…and the thoughts on serving others and sharing the love of Jesus. I think I would like to try something like this. Blessings!!
Love this tradition! We’ve done something similar, but we need to make it a tradition too! Thanks for the inspiration!
Love.
So sweet..giving always is so rewarding. Thanks for sharing
What a wonderful tradition. Love that your sister wanted to re-create it!
My daughter is home from college and I just bought some ginger bread cookie mix bc we know someone in the nursing home who loves ginger bread. You’ve encouraged me to get the whole family involved and see what they can create to give to this special person :)
Wish I had done more reaching out when my children were younger.. I am going to share these ideas with my adult children to do with my grandchildren…..my son is an architect and daughter in law a baker…so can relate a bit….Merry Christmas to you and yours…
I love the combo of you and your husbands gifts and incorporating them as you did. I wish you were around when my kids were little. I would have done some things differently. Although we delivered Cookies to the neighbors. I believe going to strangers and sharing the story is an amazing idea.
Blessings
Karen
Beautifully said, and thank you for sharing this recipe!
This is so awesome! My kids and I have baked and made goodies for years, but we have always given them to people we know. We may have to start something new even though they are adults now.
We have so many fun traditions that bring a flood of memories; children laughing, bright eyes excited, and even smells come drifting back to reality.
Love this. I love what you said and so important to teach and instill in my kids the importance of giving with a sincere heart, sacrifice and love for others. Can’t wait to try your cookie recipe. Thank you for sharing with us.
I would love to read your book, mothering matters. I have dedicated my life to my children and family. I feel like I have made intentional memories for my children. But as raising children is very challenging. Would love encouragement in my mothering journey. Feel defeated.
What a lovely tradition!
I love this tradition you and your family share. My children are all grown but how fun this would be with my grandkids :)
Your tradition is one that has the true spirit of Christmas.
So special! We love giving gifts to friends and neighbors, too! No builder husband here…but we make crafty ornaments and lots of cookies!
LOVE DAY 10
I think the best gifts are ones we make and give to others. I love being with my family and friends, this is the only gift I want.
what a wonderful tradition; the smallest gesture can touch anyone in a tremendous way!
So wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Love this idea!
Motherhood—there’s nothing in my life I have loved as much!
Beautiful memories are the best memories….it warms my heart when my children remember things and want to do them. We love to give…I would give Christmas away to see smiles on faces and the love of Jesus in hearts. Your book sounds like a great read. Thank you for sharing. May you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed evening!
Love this.
I would love to read your book on why motherhood matters. I am a sahm to my two year old daughter. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Would love to win this book!!
I love baking cookies with my kids. We are going to decorate gingerbread houses next week. Can’t wait.
I love this so much! We are what I like to call a “homemade family.” Our favorite gifts and ornaments are the ones we make from hand. I love the idea of doing this and spreading love to more than just our immediate family. What a wonderful way to teach children the joy and wonder of giving. Oh, I just love this. Thank you.
I really need to instill giving into my children at Christmas. All I hear right now is what they want for Christmas. I need them to find out what they can give!!
I’d like to be more intentional in teaching our children to give, serve and share the love of God. This was very inspiring and provided some great ideas for the Christmas season. Thanks!
It’s great to teach children to give personally and that giving does not have to involve a lot of money. We try to chose a single or widowed person at Valentine’s day to make a card and some simple candy for
Yum love thumbprint cookies!!! What beautiful memories your family has created.
I love sharing my family’s triditions with my nephew’s. And passing on the recipes from the late 1800 that have come down through the family that are the best. The stories and love in the stories that just can’t be replaced by anything. Thank you for sharing it made me remember. And think of my parents and memories of when I was small and had Christmas at home (under 10) with Mommy and Daddy are under the tree.
What a sweet tradition! It’s so important to help our children learn, and remind ourselves, to remember the reason for this season…to make giving the focus.
I’m not a mom yet but, when I do become one, I want to be a purposeful parent!
Traditions are very important!
I could so relate to this … my husband is good at building things; I love to bake. Over the years we have done lots of both in our Christmas traditions with our family.
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
What an awesome way to share Jesus with others by building and baking together! I love it!
Thank you for the recipe! Love that sharing your gifts to others has impacted your family as well!
Thanks for sharing!
Such a wonderful tradition!
This is a lovely tradition!
Love this idea, especially praying about who God would have you deliver them to. What a servant’s heart!! Thanks for sharing!!
This book sounds like it is packed full of wisdom and encouragement!
Love this!
Love this! Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely LOVE the way you use your gifting to give to others! And your book looks so interesting!
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed reading about your Christmas traditions. I’m crafter and love making things to give to those that I love.
I love to bake and my husband loves to build as well! In addition to building our home, he’s cut out wooden triangles that I painted to look like sparkly Christmas trees for a friend. He’s cut out wood coaster ornaments and burnt initials & arrows in them so we could gift them to friends of ours. My kids and I made cookies, fudge, divinity, and Oreo balls and have enjoyed boxing them up to give to the mail lady, UPS driver, and post office workers. Handmade gifts are always more memorable!
I enjoyed this story. What beautiful memories.
I remember working on making wooden cutouts of animals with my grandfather. Those are memories I hold dear.
Thank you for sharing your tradition and recipe. how precious to have your daughter call and desire to continue that tradition. We have often shared, on years we could, baked goods with our friends and neighbors. I love the concept of praying over who and letting the kids decide.
Christmas baking is our favorite! We are getting ready for round 3, this season!!
What a wonderful Tradition.
Thanks for sharing!
How awesome it is to teach our children to share with others! I’m looking forward to doing just that with my daughters this week. The time spent in creating and delivering to hand-picked people is sure to brighten everyone’s spirit. I will be praying that God lays on our hearts who needs our love & care most, so that we do not overlook them.
Wonderful! Great thing to teach our children.
I live this. Thanks for reminding us of taking the time together and to share.
I love all you shared!
I love baking & making memories with my kids!
I loved reading this! And i would love to read your book. Thanks for sharing your cookie recipe with us, my daughter and I are getting ready to do lots of baking this week and i love thumbprint cookies
Sounds like a great book!
I would love to have that set. I think it would be great to start to journal.
Love your tradition! The recipe looks delicious…like a favorite I found years ago too.
Thank you for this message!
Merry Christmas!
Such a great tradition! Simple and meaningful gifts. Puts gift cards to shame huh? I definitely can benefit from taking the time to really gift from the heart.