This holiday season, I am hoping to start new family traditions. I'm not exactly sure what they will be yet, but they will happen!
Marc has never been one to 'get into the holiday spirit', but this year I think I might be rubbing off on him a bit. More than ever, I am anxious to put up decorations, pop in my Martina McBride Christmas album and start baking! As Isaac is starting to grow up and become more aware of what Christmas means, I want to begin family traditions. Marc has agreed this year to go cut down a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not sure that will be a lasting tradition for us, however - it's a little hard for me to justify spending money on a tree that sits and slowly dies and makes a mess.
Anyhow, I'm looking for ideas for Christmas traditions - share any that you have had & why they are meaningful!
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6 comments:
We cut our own tree, that's a must. It was nice when we had a friend with property with free trees.
We always got to open a gift on Christmas Eve that was a new ornament, so when I grew up I already had a collection of personal ones. So we are doing that with AJ, and also new pj's that night.
We still do stockings--grownups too. Little practical things, candy, etc.
I am not much of a baker but my mom is and we decorate cutout cookies in vast quantities and with great creativity, like, say, "Check out this gingerbread man's bling. He's Mr. T." :)
The most important tradition for us I think will be that we will be HOME on Christmas morning. My parents always made sure of that for us and we managed to finally be home last year with AJ and it was wonderful. Traveling far and wide to appease all the extended families can wait a day, or at least until after brunch.
Oh--and New Year's Day brunch at Wolfgang's, RIGHT??? :)
Oh, I forgot the most important thing: much playing of the John Denver and the Muppets, A Christmas Together CD!
I play "Child of the Promise" from mid November through mid April. :) It is fun to play it and remember singing in it one year with Kroondyks and Matt Lind. I also have to bring in the Piggy pudding with John the tree hugger and WMW.
Serious traditions--we did the ornament thing, too, and my mom has continued it with the girls. It was nice to have a full tree when I left the house.
We used to cut our own tree, but then last year I got attacked by it two or three times. I quickly bought one in the after Christmas sales and may never cut down another tree as long as I live. I'm okay with that if the alternative is death by Christmas tree.
One of the nicest things that we have started with our "little" family (us and the girls) is to give back at Christmas. In the past we have each picked out a goat or fishing kit or ducks for someone in another country. This year we decided it would be more fun for Ellie to pick out things for a shoebox through Samaritan's Purse. She really had a great time with it, and we'll do one for Meg next year, too. It's simple and affordable, but it reminds us of what blessings we have and what a difference God wants to make in the world through us. The most meaningful Christmas gift I ever got as a child was the one that my parents gave away to a family who wasn't going to celebrate Christmas that year. I still have no clue what it was (probably my baby brother!), but I will remember it all my life. I want my girls to experience that joy.
ummmmmmm going to midnight church christmas eve and opening presents ALL together when everyone is ready...and everyone has their own stocking
I was thinking about this one some more...I loved the tradition that a family I know does (or did) -- they all build gingerbread houses on an afternoon. It started as a time to build together, but now that everyone is old enough, they buy their own products and it's a big competition.
Man, I think I just deleted the comment I was sending.
I have been thinking a lot about traditions too. My friend has been telling me about this book that sounds pretty awesome by NOel Piper called "Treasuring God in our Traditions"...i might pick it up and let you know what I think. here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Treasuring-God-Traditions-Noel-Piper/dp/1581345089
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