Holiday traditions

Hello everyone!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at least, around my house it is!

Last weekend we put our Christmas tree up, and my hubby started a fire in our fireplace for the FIRST time! I baked cheesecake as we decorated the tree and listened to Christmas music with our kids.

Though I know that the true meaning of Christmas is not about decorating trees, it is still fun to gather together and spend time together as a family.

In fact, when my hubby and I first got married 8 years ago, we got inspired to start our own holiday tradition from a conversation with a friend.  This friend told us that every year they purchased a special ornament to hang on their Christmas tree. Through the years they had amassed many ornaments, and each one had a special meaning to them.

Implementing this same tradition has been such a blessing to us!!  Now as we decorate the tree, it tells "our story" as we hang the ornaments.  There is the snowman ornament of 2005 that represents our first Christmas together.  Then there is "Baby's First Christmas" ornament of 2006.  It was only a month after our son was born that we purchased this one, excited to have our little one join our family.  Then we got a dog ornament to celebrate the year that we got our dog Sunshine.  Over and over, one by one, each ornament tells our story, and is a reminder of God's goodness in our lives.  The things He has graced us to see, and the hope we have with Him a part of our future.

We still have to choose our ornament for this year, but I know it will be a special one.

Some other great holiday traditions I have heard about are:

• Getting a new set of pajamas on Christmas day 
• Baking Christmas cookies
• Making a Gingerbread house with the family/kids
• Watching a favorite Christmas movie (A Christmas story, anyone)
• Volunteering at a local soup kitchen

Are there any holiday traditions you celebrate around this time of year that mean a lot to you?

Stay sew-filled!