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My Most Treasured Christmas Gift

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Home Stager

My Most Treasured Christmas Gift

 

While I have been blessed to have many memorable Christmas gifts, there is one that is my most treasured.

 

My first apartment was in West Houston.  My group played water volleyball every weekend in the pool at our courtyard. We went out together for dinner on the weekends and during the week, we cooked dinner together or went out for drinks.  It is also where I met the love of my life. 

 

However, that’s another story. One of my friends, Barbie, was the kind of girl many women would love to hate but couldn’t. She was tall and cute and probably should have been a model. We couldn’t hate her though,  because she was so darn nice…to everyone. 

 

Through Barbie, we got to know her mother, who lived nearby. She often had dinner with us or brought casseroles that could feed a dozen of us. 

One night after work, there was a knock at my door. When I opened it, there was Barbie’s mother holding a big plate of beautifully decorated home-made Christmas cookies!

 

I was overwhelmed!

 

In my home, everything was homemade. My aunt made the best spritz cookies that were dyed deep deep red and green. There were always homemade cookies in a jar at home. 

However, once I started working, there wasn’t time (or room in my small kitchen) to make homemade cookies.  None of my friends made them either. 

 

I’ve treasured that beautiful plate of homemade cookies every Christmas. 

 

When our friends had a cookie exchange in FL, I thought of Barbie’s mother when I made several plates of cookies and delivered them to my neighbors and friends. 

Larry and I will begin our Christmas baking soon and when I hand out our edible gifts, I will be thinking of Barbie’s mom. 

 

This is my entry in the December 2024 ActiveRain Holiday Gift Exchange.

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(25)

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Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

I love this that Barbie's mom made a plate of home baked cookies for you and look at the profound effect it had on you! It was so meaningful...great entry into the contest!

Dec 03, 2024 06:17 AM
Kathy Streib

Dorie Dillard Austin TX It really did. I will never forget that gesture. We love making cookies for the holidays and giving them to our friends and neighbors. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:07 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for sharing this story.

Cookies are a good gift....especially those that freeze well.

Dec 03, 2024 06:40 AM
Kathy Streib

Roy Kelley it's nic when you can freeze the cookies for later. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:08 PM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Sounds like barbie was the perfect name fpr your friend. Have a super fantastic week!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Dec 03, 2024 06:40 AM
Kathy Streib

Bill Salvatore - East Valley She looked a bit like Barbie!!!

Dec 03, 2024 06:09 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, that is very special, especially since you didn't have the room to bake your own Christmas cookies.

Dec 03, 2024 06:45 AM
Kathy Streib

Joan Cox so true. And since I was just starting out, I didn't have a lot of baking utensils. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:10 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

What a nice gift. When I moved into my present home, a neighbor across the street brought over some Christmas cookies. It made our day!

Dec 03, 2024 06:55 AM
Kathy Streib

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty That was very thoughtful. People don't do things like that these days. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:11 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy that gift was special in many ways, and you were blessed to have received it.

Dec 03, 2024 07:01 AM
Kathy Streib

George Souto I was!!!   Barbie's mom joined us some times for dinner and was so much fun. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:12 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

What a lovely story, Kathy. Special gifts like that cannot be forgotten. (So when can I expect my cookies to arrive? 😉)

Dec 03, 2024 08:05 AM
Kathy Streib

Nina Hollander, Broker I just read your post today and I loved it!!!! Well, I'm going to have to start my baking now!!! 

Dec 03, 2024 06:13 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kathy Streib hi Kathy.. thank you. Fortunately, everyone knows I'm a terrible baker... so no one expects baked goodies from me!

Dec 04, 2024 07:07 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

What a delightful memory that is, Kathy.  I have a neighbor, who every Christmas leaves a loaf of pumpkin bread at my door.

Dec 03, 2024 12:37 PM
Kathy Streib

Myrl Jeffcoat that is sweet!!!!  I'll start my holiday raisin cake soon. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:22 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Clubgroup!  

Dec 03, 2024 12:40 PM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Myrl Jeffcoat I appreciate the honor. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:27 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Barbie (and her mother) sound like dolls. Pun intended.  I love how something as simple as a plate of homemade cookies can have such a lasting impact. My daughter-in-law used to bring me plates of cookies like that. I miss out on them now that I spend winters in AZ.

Dec 03, 2024 02:33 PM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams you could start it there!!!!  That would be a fun tradition. 

Dec 03, 2024 06:29 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy Streib  loved your post, I am not a baker thanks to Diane.... and all I can say is need to give you my address and your cookies are welcome here:)Endre

Dec 03, 2024 09:44 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have always loved receiving a plate of cookies for Christmas, although they aren't part of the diet that keeps me thin, haha.

Dec 04, 2024 04:12 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Giving or receiving a lovely plate of homemade Christmas Cookies is always a delight!  I was just thinking about what to make for our neighbors and others that I enjoy giving cookies (or something equally as  yummy) for the holidays!  I can totally understand why that gift of cookies, all those years ago, meant so much to you Kathy!

Dec 04, 2024 09:50 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Kathy Streib 

Lovely gifts make outstanding memories! Barbie's Mom would be proud of this post!

Dec 04, 2024 10:09 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Kathy Streib I like how you said everyone wanted to dislike her but could not. Homemade cookies and a whole plate, wow -- I am sitting here wondering about an air fryer 

Dec 05, 2024 12:22 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

What a great story about a thoughtful gift from a special person. And an inspiration for you as well at a special time of year.

Jeff

Dec 05, 2024 05:08 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Kathy, A wonderful memory you carry with you each holiday season.  Nothing like the gift of homemade cookies.  

Dec 08, 2024 05:55 PM
Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Hi Kathy, What a wonderful story! This made me think that somehow I remember a neighbor who was very welcoming to us when we moved from CA to AZ. She gifted us in 2007 a homemade cookie, beautifully wrapped - it still says in my memory after all those years.

Dec 09, 2024 08:16 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Such a sweet story! Literally, LOL.

Barbie's mom would be so happy to know how happy her gift made you.

Dec 09, 2024 09:02 AM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

I literally just finished baking 504 cookies to fill realtor gift baskets to be delivered this week. Only burned one batch. 

Dec 10, 2024 09:51 AM