CHRISTmas Traditions......

I was thinking last night, as hubby and I were watching a little bit of television, about Christmas traditions. Our family has several traditions, that we have kept each and every year.


Our traditions start with our CHRISTmas tree. Know-one is allowed to put up the tree, or even get out any of the decorations until all four of us are home at the same time. We have always done this the week after Thanksgiving, and although I do so love CHRISTmas decorations, I prefer the week *after* thanksgiving to put them all up. This, for us anyway, avoids any feelings of *being tired of decorations* before CHRISTmas even gets here. We all help bring out the boxes of decorations, then we decorate the tree and the living room together. Even at the ages of 23 & 18, our Possum & Redneck will still pick, or argue (kiddingly of course) with each other about which ornament looks best in what location. They are usually just kidding with each other, yet it is still kind of cute that even this little *tradition* has remained even into their *beginnings* of adulthood.

We have also, nearly every year, gone CHRISTmas caroling. What fun this is, and what wonderful responses we have gotten from those whom we sang for. Most every time we have been with a group of people and friends we go to church with. It always seems to turn out to be a night where the Joy and the CHRISTmas spirit just takes you over. Even during the time's when we might have forgotten a word or a phrase to a song, it mattered not. Fun is always had by all. Have you ever gone caroling? Do you still go caroling? I just love it.



Some of our other CHRISTmas traditions involve my hubby's entire family. Ma & Pop, all four brothers, all four of us wives, and ALL *18* of the children. We always get together at Ma & Pop's house on CHRISTmas Eve, for dinner, which usually consists of tons and tons of different varieties of finger foods, desserts, soda's and coffee, and homemade candies and such. We eat, talk, giggle, pick on each other, have tons of fun, take more picture's than probably would be usable. Some walk around singing all the time, others are fairly quite, the kids....are all over the place just being kids, the teens and young adults are....well....either joining in on the adult conversations or watching tv. When all the eating is finished (on the first go around, that is), we all *28* of us adults and kids (now that's a lot of people to get into a 24? by 15? den) gather in the den and get ready to open the gifts that we have all brought. We all bless Ma & Pop with gifts, and they bless all of us with gifts. As the years have gone by, and the numbers of children have grown for all of Bob's brother's we have had to make changes over the years, as the children have grown in number (hubby and I were only able to have 2 children, but his brother's were all blessed to be able to have *lots* of children/blessings. It does at times make us a bit sad, but we are comforted in knowing that when we reach Heaven, we will get to see our other 6 children that have been at God's side). At first, we wives and brothers stopped buying for each other and only bought for our nieces and nephews. Well, then as the number of children kept growing, we would draw names, example, hubby and I have two kids, and so we drew two names. As more and more blessings kept (and still keep) coming along for all the others, this became too much financially, for all. So we ratified gift giving once again. This brings us to what we do now. We currently no longer exchange gifts between any nieces & nephews, nor brothers, nor wives, nor for aunts or uncles, we brings gifts for Ma & Pop, and they bring for us. Some of the *young adults* have made their own changes in this gift giving. Those of them who are employed, and those whom choose to, now share in this gift giving to ma & pop, and between themselves. We have tried to get ma & pop to ratify and to change, in regards to no longer buying for the brothers or us wives, yet they will not. No matter, they enjoy themselves and so do we. This time that we all spend together on CHRISTmas Eve is such fun. It has for me, become one of my most favorite things during this time of year, something that I do so look forward to. I do so love being part of such a LARGE family, and the times when we all come together, become better and better as the years go by.

When we get home, CHRISTmas Eve, from ma & pop's house and all the events there, our little family of four, usually changes clothes into comfy pj's, then we usually all indulge in some hot, homemade cappuccino and then we all meet in the living room. This is the time when we open some of our presents. Now, last year my "children" talked their dad into letting them open "ALL" their presents CHRISTmas Eve. I protested, and complained about this, but to no-avail. The "children" LOL, won. So when CHRISTmas morning came, there was no early rush to the tree, no-one getting up early (except me and my hubby, old age patterns are now fully set in, LOL.). Yes we know they are 23 and 18, but no matter what ages my children are, or will become, I will never cease to love the sounds of them getting up early, getting us all into the living room to open gifts. So this year, hubby **will not** (for fear of his own life, he he) let, nor allow, the total opening of *all* CHRISTmas gifts. We will open a few CHRISTmas Eve, and then the rest on CHRISTmas morning. Otherwise the house will be as it was last year, far to quiet, with my children sleeping in far to late. I just don't think I could stand it again this year. So as long as my children are still living here at home, I want presents still under the tree on CHRISTmas morning, people (my kids, hubby & I) to wake up with a bit of CHRISTmas excitement, joy and fun, with all the noise that comes along with it. These are (because of my childhood year's spent living with my grandma & grandpa, & memories of holiday's with them) part of what I always have loved , and still do love about CHRISTmas day.

As it is CHRISTmas Day, hubby and I started many, many years ago with another tradition being added. Ma & Pop (my in-laws) come over for CHRISTmas dinner with us. When I got married and then got Saved, no-one in my family was saved or in church, nor did/do they celebrate CHRISTmas (they were in another religion called "The Baha'i Faith, I'll tell you about that one later). Time and the world being what it is, my sisters and their families now celebrate CHRISTmas, yet I fear, not for the right reasons, just the *stuff*. So CHRISTmas has always pretty much excluded *my* family. Don't get me wrong, we have tried over the years to buy gifts for all of them, yet reality sets in and I realized we could not afford to *buy* for everyone, and that *my* family were only celebrating for the sake of the *gift giving season*. I do how-ever buy for my dad a gift, but it's for his birthday....December 25, can you believe it? My sister-in-laws all have families that do celebrate CHRISTmas, so they spend part of CHRISTmas Day with their families. This is when I realized this left ma & pop at home alone most of the day (after having gone around to see all the grand children's presents). So hubby and & decided that they would come to our home for CHRISTmas Day dinner. I always cook a *huge* meal, and once in a while I even get my dad to come to town and spend the day with us (surprise). So....every year on CHRISTmas day, I usually have quite a few others that bless us, and come to eat CHRISTmas dinner with us. I LUV IT!!! Family and friends all gathered around my table to eat, fellowship, and celebrate CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY, together. This is what most truly makes my heart full and overflowing.

CHRISTmas is not about the **GIFTS* we give each other, but about *THE GREATEST GIFT* of Jesus Christ, and His gift of Salvation to us. This should be what we all try to remember and focus on through this time of year. The tree's are always so lovely, sparkling, tinkling and have a warm glow about them, but this is not what CHRISTmas is about. Even the many presents, which are put under such a lovely glowing tree might look wonderful, yet, this is not what CHRISTmas is about.

CHRISTmas is about CHRIST and HIS birth.

What traditions do you keep each year, and do you keep CHRIST

in the center of your

CHIRSTmas ?

Love & Prayers,

Ronda

Have A Peachy Keen Day.

What are some of your CHRISTmas traditions?