Festive Pretzel Chocolate Melts (and a different kind of Christmas)

My family and I are experiencing a very different kind of Christmas. As many of you know, my husband was recently transferred for his job from Iowa to Southern California! What?! (I can still hardly believe this, even as I write this). So our family packed and packed and we made the huge move from everything familiar and cozy to everything new, yet exciting. I am unable to adequately express how different Christmas feels this year.  Instead of sledding, we’ve been doing this…

Instead of hanging our evergreen wreath, my husband decorated our palm trees. And yesterday, we saw Santa riding a motorcycle down the street.

But even in this warm and new place, I am determined to keep our family Christmas traditions, and that means hot chocolate and Christmas stories everyday, and making lots of holiday treats. This week we made snappers (watch out! addictive!) and these festive pretzel chocolate melts.

We turned on our favorite Christmas music and made sure all the Christmas lights were on. All the kids helped line the trays with pretzels and then topped them with Rolos, Hershey’s kisses, and Hershey’s peppermint hugs.

We popped them into the oven for two minutes, and then gave each one a smoosh with an M & M. After they cooled, we tasted our creations and discussed which candy was the best. We decided Rolos were our favorites. Which variety would your family like best?

We had a great time together, and in that holiday moment, this new house really started to feel like home. A different home, but a home that I know we together will make lots of Christmas memories.

And I was reminded that everywhere, even in a new home and state far away from family, that Jesus is with us. He is our Emmanuel, and I really can feel that this year.

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).

Merry Christmas, dear readers!