When my kids were little we had the sweetest tradition. On the first day off from school during the holiday season we would pile in the car headed to the nearest coffee shop. Hot chocolate was on order and a Danish or two would be eaten. We would leave the coffee shop with our to go cups full headed to the nearest Hallmark store. The kids would pick ornaments that had to do with things that happened in their life over that year. My kids love that tradition and we have great memories to talk and laugh about every year when we look at my tree and see all the ornaments that were bought over the years. Like when my daughter got her first speeding ticket she picked a police car. Or when my son became an Eagle scout we bought a boy scout ornament. We bought ornaments for baptism, when we got a pool, built our barn, dances, surgeries. We bought ornaments for almost all of the events in our lives. It was the greatest tradition because it built a Christmas tree of memories.
Our family has many traditions for the holiday starting with putting up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving day. That way we enjoy it the whole month. On Christmas Eve every year we invite all of our family and friends to our home for a party. We have a blast doing a white elephant gift exchange, eating really good food and Karen’s amazing cookies. We enjoy great conversation about the year past and the new year to come. I love this tradition I get so excited about it weeks before and I’ve already started planning for this year.
Traditions don’t have to be complicated and fussy. They can be as simple as breakfast on Christmas eve with someone special. A book you read to all the children at a celebration or a shopping trip just for the girls in the family. The sky is the limit when you plan and start traditions.
Just a few days ago someone said to me “I don’t enjoy Christmas all my family lives away and I don’t get to be with them”. Well being happy and enjoying the holidays are a choice, we make them what they are. It’s hard to be without family to see and visit with during this time. If you take the time to look around there are so many people in your life that don’t have family around so why not gather with those people to comfort each other and share the holiday together? Start a new tradition of your own in your home and invite those that don’t have a family to be with or can’t travel to be with their family. Starting a new tradition will bring a lot of happiness to the holiday and something to look forward to year after year.
I’m looking so forward to the holidays with all my traditions. I’m looking forward to spending time remembering past traditions and starting new traditions with my grandson. You have the power to make your holiday full of memories or time wasted. I’m gonna make my holiday as Blue Happy as I possible can. I hope you continue old traditions, start some new ones, and go be Blue Happy.
