The Best Christmas Present Ever

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As Sunday drew near, and the weather looked quite interesting, we decided to go ahead with caroling, even though the temperature was to drop 30+ degrees and have wind chills hardly above zero.

The first batch of cinnamon bread was started promptly after we came home from church, and the baking continued throughout the afternoon.

Abigail didnt help, but she was happily held by others. Here she is enjoying her teething ring.
Abigail didn't help, but she was happily held by others. Here she is enjoying her teething ring.
Bread rising!
Bread rising!
We went through lots of gooey, rich filling, and Mom was a wonderful help by mixing up several batches for us.
We went through lots of gooey, rich filling, and Mom was a wonderful help by mixing up several batches for us.
By the time one batch of bread was rolled out with filling, it seemed like the next batch was ready!
By the time one batch of bread was rolled out with filling, it seemed like the next batch was ready!
Mixing up our fourth and final batch!
Mixing up our fourth and final batch!
Rolling the dough out.
Rolling the dough out.

By 5:30, most of the 36 loaves of bread were ready, and family members donned layers and layers of winter clothing. One batch took longer to bake, so Anna and I stayed behind to finish those while the rest began caroling. Candles were quickly extinguished by the wind, so those were left behind after the first few houses. Nathan drove their mini-van with the extra bread, and sometimes several hitched rides in the van from place to place. (Someone in our family had a traumatic Saturday evening, because they stepped on a rusty nail, and we had to take them to an urgent care place to get a tetanus shot. The person managed to make it around for caroling, walking very carefully on the injured foot.)

We frosted the loaves with a cream cheese frosting--yummy!
We frosted the loaves with a cream cheese frosting--yummy!
Anna hole-punched each card, and then wrapped pretty Christmas ribbon around each loaf, attaching the card to it.
Anna hole-punched each card, and then wrapped pretty Christmas ribbon around each loaf, attaching the card to it.
Front of the card
Front of the card
Inside of the card.
Inside of the card.
Here are most of the loaves, minus the nine we were still finishing up.
Here are most of the loaves, minus the nine we were still finishing up.
See how bundled we were? Guess who this one is?!
See how bundled we were? Guess who this one is?!

As we went from house to house, some of the comments were, “We look forward to this every year!” to “This is the highlight of our Christmas season” to “Couldn’t you have picked a warmer evening? This is the coldest of the year!” to “Would you like to step in?” (which we declined—we were so layered/bundled up, we would roast!), to “I’ve been waiting for you!” to our favorite, “This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever ever had!”

I brought my little camera in my pocket, and I took this picture. It started to snow as we caroled--it was PERFECT!
I brought my little camera in my pocket, and I took this picture. Joseph played his guitar to accompany the music, and with the temperatures, it was amazing he could do it! We had purchased some inexpensive hand warmers which helped him, and he used gloves with the finger tips cut off so that he could still fret, but the rest of his hand would stay semi-warm. It started to snow as we caroled--it was PERFECTLY scenic! By the time we had finished, there was snow all over the ground, and it was beautiful.

We delight in going to 40 homes in our neighborhood (and a few outside the area) each year. We hear lots of positive feedback from those we go to, but, our hearts are blessed as well! It is something that we look forward to every year, and it’s truly a highlight to our Christmas season.

We would encourage you also to consider taking an evening and blessing those around you.

Rejoicing in Jesus,
Sarah for the family

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” Psalms 95:1

14 thoughts on “The Best Christmas Present Ever”

  1. What an amazing tradition you guys have. I didn’t realise that people actually do this, I thought it was only in the movies! (a little embarassed to say that!) It’s a very foreign concept to me here in Australia. We have carols by candlelight in a park in most places and some people bring a picnic dinner. It amazes me that it’s freezing cold there and we’ve hit 38c (100f) in the past couple of days. And our God is sovereign over it all! He truly is awesome.
    Merry Christmas to you all.
    Oh and that bread looks wonderful!!!

  2. I think this is my third time reading the Christmas caroling in your household and I enjoy very very much of the ritual your whole family perform every year. Just reading and looking at the pictures makes me smile.

    I never saw caroling in our neighborhood nor I don’t even know where to begin this tradition. My husband side doesn’t carol and I don’t know the tradition that well…I think most of my neighbor is not Christian though. They might not welcome me…

    I love looking at the goodies your family makes…I could just imagine the aroma your house smells…yummin’….

    I do hope whoever got injure will recover soon. It happen once to my sister…she had to go to ER for a shot also.

    Keep warm and keep the spirit up and thank you very very much for sharing your tradition with me. I truly enjoy reading.

  3. Look at those snowflakes! The bread looks delicious…is the recipe posted somewhere on your website? If not, would you be willing to share?

  5. That is such a sweet tradition! I remember the joy of nearly freezing to death while carrolling as a child.:^) That’s not much of a problem though in South Carolina!

  6. What a wonderful ministry! I think what you all do is great. We live overseas and unfortunately the language barrier keeps us from doing things like caroling. I did take a few goodie bags to our immediate neighbors last year, however. I attached a scripture message to each one in English and Lithuanian.

  7. Caroling is a wonderful tradition that my dear husband has done and now we all do it as well… We carol some neighbors and friends and bring them homemade cookies and fudge. (I love the cards you made…I think we should do that this year!) I’m sure we don’t sound as nice as you but it sure is fun and heartwarming and nice to do as a family!
    Before we moved, our church…as a group…walked around our tiny little country town (very poor area) and caroled shut ins and such. It was terribly cold (Indiana) but what a blessing!
    Merry CHRISTmas!!
    Beth
    Oh…I agree…we would love to have the recipe!! 🙂

  8. How amazing , I wished you lived closer and could carol at my house. And the bread looks delicious–what a real treat to receive:-)

  9. I see someone already beat me to it, but I was also wondering if you would share the cinnamon bread recipe. I bake my own bread, but I have never found one for sweet bread that I really like. Those look yummy!

  10. Thats a really neat ministry you all have! The bread looks good! Would you mind sharing the recipe sometime?

    —–
    I’ll post the recipe for everyone in the next day or two! 🙂

    Sarah

  11. Oh how beautiful!!

    Words escape me when I see how you all work together to be such a blessing. Even to all of us who haven’t ever heard you sing or tasted your delicious looking bread.

    Press on the faithful testimony to the Glory of HIM who is worthy!

    And have a blessed and holy Christmas.

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