Gingerbread Houses

For 16 years Valley of Peace has opened to children of all ages to decorate gingerbread houses. Families are encouraged to make a reservation and bring a bag of candy for this fun free event.

Organized by our church energizer bunny, Stacy Garza, members of the congregation use Stacy’s recipe to bake the walls and roofs starting in the fall. A weeknight prior to decorating day (affectionately referred to as D Day), we meet to glue the houses together with frosting.

Such a fun evening – laughing as the houses collapse, propping houses up until the icing dries, and chatting with friends. High School students come to do community service, and friends and neighbors help glue, too. We strive to build 100 gingerbread houses. And the advantage – no children have to endure the frustration of a collapsing gingerbread house!

On the appointed Sunday afternoon, kids from 2 to 19 come. It is a family tradition for many in the Wood River Valley community. Two stations are staffed where children can create trays of candy, pretzels, cereal and marshmallows. Icing glue pots are liberally arranged on all the plastic covered tables. The activity takes over the entire church.

Kids and parents are everywhere, spreading, creating and gluing. Pretzel shingles and marshmallow shingles top houses. There are Froot Loop sidewalks, licorice fences and gumdrop smiles. There are slapped-together decorations and very sophisticated designs. Talking, singing, Spanish, English and laughing all mingle in a glorious din.

Each gingerbread house is glued to a piece of cardboard, to which is taped a short message. “If you do not already have a church home, Valley of Peace would love to invite YOU to join ours! Sundays; worship at 10 a.m. and Bible study at 9 a.m. ‘For unto you a child is born. He is Christ the Lord.’”

A church member wanders among the groups of artists and sculptors, to discuss the church and the meaning of Christmas.

Children and parents return home with decorated gingerbread houses, songs in their hearts and smiles on their faces. And the energizer bunny and her helpers all start scrubbing the floors.

Another year and another connection with the community.