Monthly Archives: December 2016

The Nuts and Bolts of Christmas

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It’s that time of year again! I’m sure you’ve decked the halls and the tree is decorated, and you probably even have a string of lights or two on the exterior of your house. Now it’s time to get down to the best part of Christmas: the food!

For me, food at Christmas ranks right up there with the presents, and probably higher. Snickerdoodles. Chocolate crinkles. Flavored popcorn in a big tin. Fresh cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. And for sure, Nuts and Bolts!

A few years ago, I became the Keeper of All Things Nuts and Bolts in our household when my mother-in-law passed down the family recipe and conferred the honor to me. I take this role very seriously. What are “nuts and bolts,” you ask? Think: several varieties of Chex, peanuts, with some Cheerios and pretzels thrown in and a host of nummy spices (which for the sake of my inheritance will remain nameless). Mix them and roast them in a low-temperature oven, creating a delectable and savory-yet-slightly-sweet anytime (or everytime) snack. I tell you, it’s addicting.

It’s funny, isn’t it, how many of our traditions are centered around food. Food is not just sustenance; it’s often an experience, and the emotions of those experiences help keep us connected to one another. This is why families find themselves defining their holidays—and often their relationships—by their food. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

What are your family Christmas food traditions? I’d love to hear! (And if you’re not sworn to secrecy, you can even share the recipe.)

Wishing you all the best this Christmas and always,

Doug Lawrence

Doug Lawrence is a professional real estate broker in Gig Harbor, Washington with Keller Williams Real Estate. He’d be delighted to assist with your home buying, selling, and investment needs. You can reach him at dlawrence@kw.com or by phone at 253.341.5287.

 

The Gift of Giving

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The value of a (person) resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.

~Albert Einstein

As much as I enjoy receiving Christmas gifts, I think my favorite part of Christmas has always been watching my family unwrap and enjoy the gifts I have chosen for them. I really do find it more fun to give than receive (not that I don’t like receiving!).

The quality of “living to give” is something I admire in others. People who live generously—not just with their money, but who give generously of themselves—really make the world go around. Many times, they are nameless and faceless, so to speak—not motivated by recognition or financial return on their investment, but rather by the intrinsic joy that comes with generosity.

This runs counter cultural to the messages we receive around us in our culture most of the time and especially over the holiday season. Buy, buy, buy. Accumulate. Indulge. You deserve it. At the same time, there is a whole population, a whole world, that is desperately in need—and not just materially. Sometimes the greatest needs are needs of the heart, for things like compassion, friendship, and assistance.

Generosity is that quality that empowers us to be the answer to another person’s need, whether that need is financial, emotional, practical, or spiritual. A friend of mine pointed out, “We win by losing. We gain by giving away. And, our greatest memories are of the gifts we gave rather than the ones we received.” I couldn’t agree more.

I hope you enjoy the best gift of all this holiday season – the gift of giving!

Best wishes, Doug

Doug Lawrence is a certified real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty in Gig Harbor, WA.