Merry Christmas
As this crazy, crazy year comes to a close, I want to wish all of you the merriest of Christmas seasons.
I treasure you and appreciate you so much. I know I say that every year when I post these “Merry Christmas” messages, but it’s true. My life is infinitely blessed because of my interactions with you.
All throughout this year, you have buoyed me up with your comments and reviews on recipes, with your personal notes via email and social media messages, and with your support of me, all the content and recipes I publish here, and also for my bucket list projects (the cookbook! the winter kit refugee project! raising donations for a sweet family friend facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis! THANK YOU!).
Thank you for bringing me back to the simple reminders that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. And that there is a lot of joy to be found when we look outside of ourselves. 💗
Amid an incredibly blessed life, I’ve had some challenges this year that have, at times, weighed on me mentally and emotionally (and sometimes physically) more than I felt like I could bear.
I know I’m not alone; it seems like so many people I know are going through really hard things right now. Which means so many people I don’t know are also experiencing deeply difficult things.
Even though I don’t know all of you personally, I deeply, deeply hope and pray that with the new year will also come new hope, new beginnings, and new light ahead for you.
I’m grateful every day for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who doesn’t take the hard away but instead provides the peace and strength needed to get through it. The older I get, the more I learn and feel and believe that He came for the beggar, for the sinner, for the broken-hearted…for you…and for me.
Brian shared this song with me recently and it is such a beautiful reminder of who Christ is and what He can do for us. It is worth a listen if you have a few minutes. 💗
Thank you for being here. Thank you for being YOU.
Merry Christmas, friends.
You’re the best Mel! Prayers for you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you for bravely sharing your faith.
Christ came for all people. ❤️
I just heard this song for the first time and bought the CD a couple weeks ago! It’s incredible! Hearing my five year old singing “Christ is born… Christ is born!” is the best Christmas present I’ll get.
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful song. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas, Mel and family. ❤️
Thanks for sharing all of you! Merry Christmas. ❤️
That song is amazing, God is so good and He is really there for all of us all of the time.
Gah! Where did your babies go???!!!! Thanks for sharing your life with us. Merriest of Christmases to you and yours!
Merry Christmas Mel and family:)
I was hoping you would share this song. I came across it last year when a girl sang it at a ward I was visiting. That groups version is wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, thank you for all the ways you bless us with good food, real discussions on life, funny stories and all the rest you’ve been giving for so long. I’ve followed your blog for over 10 years and can’t wait to get the cookbook!! Also thank you for your transparent love of our savior Jesus Christ and may his grace continue to lift you up this coming year .
Merry Christmas Mel !
Thank you for your thoughtful and hopeful Christmas messages every year. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, peaceful and joyous New Year !
Thank you,
Linda T.
Merry Christmas, Mel! Thanks for being a constant for me. I’m singing this song in church tomorrow; hoping and praying it goes well because I love it so much.
I love this song, Mel. We have been singing it at church a lot this year, and it’s just perfect. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!
I love your recipes. Buying your book. My grandchildren love the copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls. We love Jesus too. Im so glad I read your seasons greetings. I usually jump to the recipe. Our God, He is faithful to us. He calls us beloved. I am looking forward to seeing Him with you by rapture or by rupture. God bless your 2024.
Hi Mel! Thank you for this post, sharing your thoughts, and hope. And I loved that song you shared. Thank you!
Thank you for shining your light and testifying! This is why I love your corner of the internet.
Thank you so much, and the same to you! Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with warmth, joy, and wonderful memories. May the New Year bring you happiness, health, and prosperity. Let’s hope 2024 is a year of new adventures, success, and continued growth. Enjoy the festive season with your loved ones and cherish these special moments. Happy holidays
I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a blessed 2024. I’ve cooked and baked your recipes since the first month of your blog. It seems so long ago since I started feeding my family with your recipes. You have helped more than you know, especially when I struggled with finding new ways to keep everyone fed and happy. And thank you for posting gift suggestions! Such a great help at Christmas time.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank you for being a bright spot in our days! You are the best!
Merry Christmas, Mel!! You have blessed me and my family again this year with delicious recipes! Thank you for all you do! Praying for God to bless you and your family. Thank you for sharing the music video. It is powerful!
Now that I finally figured out how to make the link work, I’m laughing because you linked the exact same song that I suggested. You are clearly a like-minded kindred spirit!
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! Thank you for all you do to inspire us! Wishing you all many blessings. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Mel! You are a gift to this online community, and I’m so grateful for you! For rallying the troops, doing what you can within your sphere of influence, and allowing us the opportunity to join you in helping others while also providing incredible recipes and real-life talk.
I am excited for your cookbook to arrive, but more excited that it will be the tangible work of someone I have (not weirdly!) 😉 considered my virtual BFF for well over a decade. I hope you enjoy a beautiful Christmas and New Year season with your lovely family!
What a great family! We are so so so so lucky to have you here !!!
You’re such an inspiration and also my most go to website for all things food. So grateful that share your talents and love with us. ❤️
Merry Christmas Mel! I knew that would be the song you linked to before I even clicked the link. It’s so beautiful! Thanks for your recipes, opportunities to give/donate, but most of all for your support for me and especially to Marcus ❤️
Merry Christmas Mel! Despite not knowing you, you’ve had such an influence on my family. Even as my boys are getting older (teenagers!), as I asked them what we should eat Christmas morning, “Christmas eggs!” was exclaimed and I chuckled. What started as a way to keep things simple with young kids and sleep deprivation (for you too I imagine), has lived on to be part of what they love about Christmas. I’ll also be making holiday buns, which we’ve also had every Christmas for many years. Friday night homemade pizza is a tradition because of you.
Life has been so incredibly challenging and heartbreaking lately- and it saddens me to know you haven’t been immune. I truly wish I could show up with some dark chocolate and a giant hug and cry and laugh it all out. This has also been the hardest year of my life and there are times I don’t know how/if I’ll survive. I do know it’ll be okay, somehow, in the end. Faith has new meaning this year. As I told my primary class, “Jesus wins”- so grateful for His sacrifice and that we can remember Him at this time.
Thank you for putting so much good out into the world (good first corrected to “food”- which is also true!).
Another song I discovered this year is “O Come All You Unfaithful”., written just a few years ago. BYU Young Ambassadors recently covered it with a video, which is excellent. It even features my good friend’s son. I hope you enjoy it.
Merry Christmas Mel and thank you for helping families all over celebrate holidays, birthdays, and the every day with good food and bringing loved ones together to enjoy it. We love you and are grateful for you! ♥️
Mere Christmas! Thank you for sharing this beautiful song. Enjoy some rest and retreat.
Merry Christmas, Mel!!
You continue to touch my heart and fill our bellies with your blog posts. Enjoy your holidays and time away from my favorite blog.
We will be trying the new French toast bake instead of having the small batch cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. I know it will be delicious because everything from Mel is.
Wonderful photo of the family! Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years to you and yours.
Yes, Melynda! thank you Mel for sharing this beautiful family portrait- I think my favorite yet. Love how the interactions give a glimpse of caring and love.
Sending good wishes and my gratitude to all ❤️
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mel and family! Even though we haven’t met personally, it is a pleasure getting to know you through your website.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words. You have a gift and you have enriched my life —not only with your delicious recipes—but also with your heartfelt posts. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a joyful new year!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you for your beautiful testimony and heartfelt words. The song is beautiful and yea, a reminder of what Christ can do for us-thank you for sharing. I appreciate you and who you are and for all you share with us-from your recipes to your own real life to helping others. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Mel. What a beautifully worded Christmas message. We are all so lucky to have your blog. You are inspiring!