The Year I Spoiled the Surprise

I have many wonderful Christmas memories and one not so wonderful Christmas memory.  It was the year I spoiled the surprise.  I couldn’t help myself.  It happened when I was about 17 years old.  Everyone was gone so I had the house to myself.  With Christmas only a few days away, the presents were piled high under the tree.  I had already looked to see if there were ample gifts with my name on the tag, and sure enough, there were plenty.  As I passed by the tree, the gifts seemed to call, “Open me…open me!”  What was a girl to do? 

Well, I’ll tell you what this girl did…I took every gift with my name on it up to my room.  I shut the door.  Then I carefully removed the tape and wrap from each package and peeked inside. 

An outfit from my mom. 

Pajamas from my grandma. (Like that was a surprise.)

A new journal. 

And several other thoughtful, wonderful gifts.

After I finished re-wrapping the gifts, the guilt and regret set in.  “Why?  Why did I do that!?  I just ruined Christmas!  Now there would be no surprise Christmas morning!”

Let me tell you, it was not worth it.  I have experienced other things that were “worth it” such as, eating that third piece of blueberry cobbler with ice cream.  Now, that’s worth it, but opening your presents two days before Christmas definitely was not.

Sometimes, even now, I wish I could peek.  Peek into the future so I knew what was ahead in life – if I could just see around the bend, even just a couple of days or weeks.  Sometimes I would really like to know what the future holds.  But I guess that would spoil the surprise.  So, even when I’m feeling anxious about days to come I need to trust, not try to figure out or fret, I just need to wait and open the gift of each day, one at a time.

Now, on another note, if you want my best Christmas advice it would be MAKE THIS CHEESEBALL!  Do not attempt the holidays without it.  I make it every year.  My aunt used to make it at our family gatherings when I was a child.  Now I make it at our family gatherings.  It is so beloved by our extended family, I wouldn’t even think of walking in the door without it.  A couple of years ago I began making “mini” versions of this cheeseball (I can make five mini balls from one recipe) and giving it to a few neighbors as a Christmas treat.  Last year we delivered almost 70 mini cheeseballs around the neighborhood!  I’m convinced that people are nice to me just so that come Christmastime, they are on the “Cheeseball List.”  And I’m please to announce that the cheeseball was even mentioned in Church one time.  So…make it.  Don’t wait.  Go right now, get the ingredients and make it.  Enjoy!  Merry Christmas from the Weeks!

1 – 5 oz jar of Kraft Old English Cheese

1 – 5 oz jar of Kraft Roka Bleu Cheese

1 – 8 oz cube of cream cheese

2 green onions, chopped

2 t. Worchestershire sauce (Seriously, couldn’t they have come up with a name that was easier to pronounce.)

Chopped pecans

Cream the cheeses, onion and Worchestershire sauce in a mixer.  Shape into a ball on a plate and cover with chopped pecans.  (Does it get any easier?)  Serve with your favorite cracker…ours is Wheat Thins.