Traditions!

I have to admit that I am a firm believer in TRADITIONS! I love that we have certain traditions in our home, they make me happy, they make me feel safe. It also feels good to see the next generation getting involved in our time honored traditions. Today my granddaughter and I went and cut Holly down from someone’s tree ( yes, we did get permission first ). Angie is 5 and everything about the holidays and traditions are quite magical to her. She was so excited to get the holly and then help me come home and decorate the front porch with holly and pine boughs ( something I do each year ). Tonight was our Annual Neighborhood Christmas Open House, we have had these Open Houses for I think this was our 18th year, maybe 16th…can’t quite remember?  But it has been a Family Tradition of ours and we love it. We have always felt like it is important to get to know your neighborhood and to let them get to know us. What a joy it has been to have our house full  ( literally ) with Neighbors and Friends who mean the world to us. Since we moved away from our home and family in West Virginia, over 23 years ago, we have really come to appreciate these neighbors and friends who have become like FAMILY to us. What a wonderful night, what a wonderful tradition.

Another tradition that we started since the kids were little was matching Christmas stockings. We started out with some knit ones that we bought, they were different prints but still the same style. As our family grew, I realized the chance of getting more of those same stockings would be slim…and it was! So 3 years ago, I decided we should have matching stockings for everyone and that I could make them and quilt them. The kids love the stockings, of course I made them extra big, but with all ten on the mantle there isn’t much more room, so when our little grandson arrives in March, we are going to have to put all the stockings a little bit closer, we don’t mind though…at least they match!  

One tradition that we started (after we became grandparents ) was the Christmas Mice! We read or tell the story of the Night Before Christmas and talk about ‘not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse’, then I tell them how many Christmas mice I have hidden in the decorations, and they have to go find them. It is fun to see them look all over the house for them. I got a few more mice to add to my collection this year.

Well, it is late and I am more than beat…but sooooooooooooooo very happy and grateful for my life and how blessed and rich we are with friends. Sometimes during the holidays, life gets busy…but I hope I never get too busy to tell all of you how very much I love and appreciate you in our lives!

Guess I had better go turn off all the Christmas lights and head to bed. Good night dear friends!

“Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.”    ~SUSAN LIEBERMAN,

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”
~ Agnes M. Pharo