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Christmas has held a special place in Pat Godbold’s heart through the years. “It is my favorite holiday for
many reasons, certainly the first being the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a child, it
was a time of eager anticipation.” She recalls all of the delectable aromas in the kitchen from her mother’s
baking, a tradition she would get started on weeks in advance. Pat has fond memories of watching her
mom bake cookies, rolling out the dough and forming shapes with her cookie cutters. Once she became
unable to cook, Pat and her sister took over the baking. “Our mother kept a careful watch over us to
ensure we were doing it correctly!” Pat substituted her own r ecipe for sugar cookies, which were easier
to make. However, they weren’t the same as her mom’s. “I believe the added ingredient of mother’s love
was what made hers so special and difficult to replicate.” Pat has continued the tradition of baking at her
home during the holidays. Some staples around her table include sugar cookies, homemade eggnog and
fudge. “I try to serve treats that have been served for many generations in the Southern home.”
Growing up, Pat eagerly awaited the last dish being washed and put away so she could tear into the
paper wrapped around gifts from family. As they celebrated with extended family on Christmas day, Santa
brought more gifts. Pat’s favorite Christmas memory, however, is from the time of her father’s military
career. “I remember him being home for Christmas during his tour in Vietnam. My brother had just been
born, and the house was full with joy that year.”
While her parents are now gone, some holiday traditions have remained the same. “Just like Mom, I
can’t wait to start baking Christmas goodies; and, the holiday meals are planned out months in advance!”
Although it’s still exciting to open gifts, Pat has learned the importance of giving during this time of year.
“Happiness comes not from what you receive, but from what you give back. Christmas to me now is seeking out those in need and helping others.” Over the past ten years, Pat has become increasingly involved
in giving back, especially during Christmas. She participates in a variety of charitable efforts, including
adopting a family, donating to animal shelters and bringing holiday cheer to the elderly. For her, the greatest gift of all is paying it forward. “It is such a delight to see the happy reactions of servers when I give them
money to pay for the next customer’s purchase in the drive-thru line. One shared with me last year that
the next seven customers did the same thing!”
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SHEMAGAZINE.COM
DECEMBER 2015
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