When my boys were little, we baked two gingerbread houses from scratch—no kits, no shortcuts, not even cookie cutters for the construction.
Each son had his own house to decorate, and the kitchen was lively and messy with frosting and sprinkles everywhere.
As they grew up and schedules got busier, we shifted to one gingerbread house. Each boy took two walls. The roof was mine.
Now that my boys have grown into men, there’s less time for rituals like these.
Work, commitments, and living apart makes it harder to get together.
So this year, I’m changing it up again.
I made the gingerbread dough.
My engineering‑student son, Willy, created the templates for the building pieces, rolled and cut the dough, and prepared all the parts.
And instead of a traditional gingerbread house…
we’re making a Japanese temple, inspired by my daughter‑in‑law, Rica, who is Japanese.
Willy and I will build it together and decorate it sometime this week. And when Christmas comes, we’ll dig in and enjoy it for dessert. A new twist on an old tradition — and a way to bring back the fun, the memories, and the connection.
Do you have a tradition that’s lost its spark?
Be creative. Revive it.
Joy, meaning, and connection are important for health and happiness.
What tradition are you considering bringing back?
PS. This the Japanese temple that Willy and I built. This makes my heart happy.
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