Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost here. Christmas again. I really do love the holidays but I always find myself feeling nostalgic and a bit emotional as we head towards the 25th of December. I miss the simplicity of how it used to be when I was little; when my mom was still with us and the innocence of not knowing that someday we would have to face Christmas without her. I miss when my grandma’s house in Huntington Beach, CA would be our warm winter escape from our old and drafty farmhouse in cold Northern California. I miss the wonderful feeling of when the two week break from school would seem to last forever. 
And finally, I miss being really super extremely excited about everything in the entire world and how great it feels to wake up on Christmas morning knowing that it was a SPECIAL DAY!
Although these memories make my heart ache for the familiar, I am also grateful for the new memories that we are creating. I can’t wait to cook a giant paleo feast to share with my family who will soon be spilling into our house, making the kids laugh and scream and the dogs bark and spin in circles. I am beyond excited to spoil my precious little niece who is such a bright light in my life. I love it that we will hold true to our goofy family tradition of singing our favorite Christmas carols at the top of our lungs. I can’t wait to hug close my dear brother and sweet sister. I know I can count on my dad and uncle to tell us hilarious stories in extremely loud voices, and that my boys will stay up way too late and run around and drive me crazy while I try to cook for 15 people. More than anything else, I know that at the end of the day on Christmas, I’ll snuggle up with John and soak up the warmth and love that comes along with the holiday season, and once again I will realize that what I have right now is amazing and beautiful. Although things will never be like they used to, I don’t want to live in the past because it’s up to me to make the most of right now, this moment, this second…
With that being said, my hope to all of you is to have the Happiest, Healthiest, and most peaceful of Holidays and I send you my deepest appreciation for your continued support of this little blog along with our warmest wishes from my family to yours. Hold your loved ones close, honor those who are no longer with us, give gratitude to the brave men and women who are protecting us from harm, and revel in the beauty of what we have in each other.
Here is what I plan to make for Christmas dinner.
Prime Rib, Everyday Paleo Stuffing, Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Pear Salad, and Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, with Pumpkin Pie for dessert.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is super easy. Wrap your raw asparagus tightly with a piece of bacon, sprinkle with some black pepper and grill over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the bacon is crispy, turning once half way through the cooking time.
On Christmas Eve I’m making a giant pot of Albondigas Soup.
Wow, those few sentences had me in tears. As a military spouse who is facing losing her hubby to deployment early jan I really related to those words. I am struggling to find the joy in these last few weeks before he goes and ache for simpler times. I would just love a Christmas where we didn’t have the stress of an impending deployment, a recent posting or even christmas without him ( it’s been at least 8 years since we had a Christmas when none of the above applied!)
You have given me resolve to wake up tomorrow full with renewed Christmas spirit, crank up the Christmas carols and make this a happy, fun Christmas for our two beautiful children.
Thank you and merry Christmas.
Hi Nicole,
Tell your husband thank you from all of us for his service and thank YOU for all you do as well and have a very merry Christmas!! Much love…
Lovely post. Best wishes. 🙂
Thank you Francesca, same to you!
This blog is my sanity…which is saying a lot lol jk. We hosted Turkey day at our new house and did so many of your paleo dishes and everyone loved them. We won’t be hosting Christmas dinner but I will make sure to bring a few of these dishes to our families. Thank you for all you do and hopefully making 2012 the healthiest year of my life!
Awww, thank you Jenn!!
My pre-paleo version of this was made with prosciutto and cream cheese. I would boil the asparagus in a shallow pan of water for a few minutes and then bake for 5 on 350. This is a fabulous recipe.
Can the asparagus/bacon be baked instead of grilled?
Yes! Bake at 400 on a baking sheet lined with tinfoil for 15-20 minutes, turning half way through the cooking time. Cooking times might vary depending on your oven.
You know, I was just wondering what the heck to do with that HUGE batch of asparagus my mom bought while visiting me, and now I know! Thanks!!! 😎 And Merry Paleo Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you so much for your Everyday Paleo “cookbook”, it has made this lifestyle switch so very easy. I have an eight year old step son (who does not live with us but we ) that I was concerned about his not wanting to eat what we eat. Well your book explained what I can and have been doing….it has been relatively painless. Your recipes are delicious, we are having family for brunch on Christmas and everything will be Paleo. This way they can taste the change for themselves. I have your Pumpkin Pie in the oven right now and it smells heavenly!
THANK YOU!!!
Sarah, just learning about Paleo and your website from my dear friend, Jaclyn. I am tired of being a “tired” mom – and am motivated by a diet that will improve emotional and physical health, and not just than my dress size. Stumbled upon your “Christmas post”, and just had to tell you how very precious you are. Your sweet mamma would be so very proud of you ~ for how you are mothering, and living. Thank you for reminding me, at all times of the year, to enjoy all of God’s richest blessings – especially our family – and to live and love well today!!
If you learn and accept that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world. Then it is always a special day. Get away from your commercial and/or pagan beliefs and acknowledge it for what it is, then you’ll always be joyous.