Thanking God for Grandchildren, July 25 & 26

Saints Joachim and Anne are the grandparents of Jesus. July 26 is there feast day. In January 2021, Pope Francis instituted a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. It is to occur every year on the fourth Sunday of July on the Universal Calendar of the Catholic Church. Today is the fourth Sunday of July and the first celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly took place at the Vatican and in Catholic parishes throughout the world. 

Christmas cookies in July

Pope Francis reminds us, there are many reasons to honor both Saints Joachim, Anne, our grandparents, and the elderly. I am sure you can think of many reasons to remember your grandparents. For many of us it is their example of faith that they modeled in their daily lives and practices. Perhaps you saw your grandparents going to Mass or praying the rosary. You may have seen them reading Scripture or volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or a crisis pregnancy center. Some of you learned how to bake cookies, crochet, knit, or sew because of your grandmother. Others of you learned to fish, hammer a nail, change a tire from a grandfather. Maybe you learned all of those things and more from your grandparents. 

One thing all grandparents have in common with one another is their love for their grandchildren. Whether grandchildren live close or far away, they are precious to their grandparents. I imagine Jesus' grandparents loved to see Him, to hold Him, and to play with Him just like we do with our grandchildren. The fourth Sunday in July and July 26 are reasons for families to honor and celebrate their grandparents, elderly family members, and friends. And they are occasions, also, for grandparents and the elderly to thank God for the blessings of loving families and friends.

Our grandchildren live all over the United States, so when we are able to all be together as a family it is a very special time. I like to bake with our grandchildren. Here are some pictures taken recently of ten of our eleven grandchildren decorating Christmas sugar cookies. The recipe is given at the end of the pictures. 

Star, heart, angel, and Christmas tree cookies
with VivianS

Ella and Becket side by side decorating cookies

 

Damien dabbling with the frosting!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Hannah and Jack with Piper. All finished!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

PREP: 20 minutes                    CHILL: 1 hour or more BAKE: 10 to 12 minutes

INGREDIENTS*                                                                     EQUIPMENT

4 sticks of real, unsalted butter                                                  1 large mixing bowl

2 eggs                                                                                       Measuring spoons

5 cups all-purpose flour                                                             Measuring cups

2 cups sugar                                                                              1 small bowl

A pinch of salt                                                                          Rolling pin

1 tablespoon pure vanilla                                                           Variety of cookie cutters

1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in                                           Clean rolling surface

3 tablespoons of milk                                                                Wire racks

Frosting or icing

Decorations: colored sprinkles, colored sugars, candies, candy flowers, chocolate bits, etc.

 

DIRECTIONS:                                                            YIELD: 5 to 6 dozen cookies

1.     Soften butter to room temperature. (Microwave for 5 seconds. Check to see if butter is softened. Repeat until just softened.)

2.     Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 3 tablespoons milk.

3.     Mix butter, eggs, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla, dissolved soda, and milk in a large bowl with clean hands until the dough is smooth. The dough does not seem to be adversely affected by handling. Form dough into a ball, dust with flour and chill thoroughly before using.

4.     Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.     Break chilled dough into conveniently sized pieces. Take only the amount you want to bake for today. Add a bit more flour for ease in rolling out.

6.     Dust the surface with flour. Place dough the size of an adult fist on surface. Roll out . Cut out with cookie cutters.

7.     Bake on ungreased cookie sheet until light brown about 12 minutes.

8.      Cool on a rack.

9.      Decorate simply for Advent cookies but pull out all the stops when decorating Christmas cookies.