Now that I am older and a momma, I still LOVE Christmas. I always planned and dreamed of the ways I would decorate my house and tree and the stockings and things I would incorporate and the things that could fall by the wayside if need be. I thought about how my spouse's family would have their own traditions that he would want to share and that we would need to work together to compromise and create our own wonderful holiday atmospheric wonderland for our own family in our own home.
Well, things happen. Dreams don't necessarily come true the way that we want or think that they will. But, the traditions that I hold most dear and have discovered are the most important to and with my boys are the ones that have become my holiday heartbeat. Here are my most favorite, treasured few that I would like to share with you. Feel free to borrow and incorporate them if you would like to.
First of all, December 25th is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. That is first and foremost in our home. So, every year we make Jesus a birthday cake which we serve as dessert after Christmas dinner. We also do not start unwrapping any presents on Christmas morning without taking a moment to recognize the significance of the day, thanking Jesus for loving us, and then singing "Happy Birthday" to Him. (It always makes me tear up to hear my babies sing this for Jesus with all their heart.)
I have taught my boys about Santa Claus. I know that there are numerous circles and thoughts about what, when, how, why and blah, blah, blah, telling your children about Santa Claus means and does to your children. Here is what I think. I believe in telling children the truth, in simple ways for them to understand and it is your prerogative to partake in the tradition of Santa, so than you take it from there. I taught my sons about Saint Nicholas and about his great love of the Lord. I have taught them about all of the various men around the world that children refer to as their countries' version of Santa Claus. I also told them that the reason Santa is such a loving, generous, kind man is because he loves the Lord and wants to celebrate Jesus' birthday with all of the world. Jesus thought that was a wonderful idea and since Christ is the greatest gift of the world, it is ok with Him for Santa to go out and share birthday presents on HIS birthday with the rest of the children in the world. That is what I have told my kids.
I do tell them that I have Santa on speed dial and that I have the opportunity to meet with him occasionally and will help him decide and pick out what toys and items they will get for Christmas, but it is ultimately Santa's decision. To see my boys get so excited and to think that Jesus loves them so much that there is another man that loves Jesus so much that they all want to share their presents with them, it just surrounds and secures them in their precious love.
There is something that is required from my boys. Every year on Christmas Eve, the boys must go through their current & old toys and find one or a few that are still in good condition, but that they no longer use or play with. They leave it under the tree for Santa. Santa gets to take these toys as presents to other kids in the world who do not have nearly the blessings that we have because #1- God loves a cheerful giver. #2 - You reap what you sow. And #3 - It is better to give than to receive. I want my boys to always remember that you give of yourself first.
When we are able to, we will take an Angel off of the Tree at the mall or a church and will work together to help a child or we do Operation Shoe Box. No matter if we have to ask for help ourselves, we ALWAYS find a way to give back as well because it is our way of making sure we share presents in Jesus' giant birthday party.
The last thing that I can think of is something that I have done for both of my boys every year since I was pregnant with them. Every year I buy each of them a special ornament. It must be representative or themed around whatever they were "in to" that year or their favorite thing at that time in their life. Of course there is the "Baby's first Christmas" for each of them. Here are some examples: Josh could not live without these two Toy Story toys in his hands all the time for nearly 18 months. He would sleep with them in his hands. If you moved them, he would literally wake up and scream until we found them. (This was about the time he was diagnosed lol) So that year I found the PERFECT Buzz and Woody ornament and wrote the year on the bottom in a Sharpie. Here's the catch. The boys are not allowed to use these ornaments. They never go on our tree. I have a box with each boy's ornaments in them, all labeled and dated. And for some that look a little weird like, "What was mom thinking?" I enclosed a little note explaining why the ornament was chosen. I plan on continuing to buy them ornaments year after year until they get married and have their own tree. This will be one of my wedding gifts for them. The last ornament I add before giving will be "First Married Christmas Together" or something like that. Yep - I am a mush-pot. Can't wait to meet my future daughters-in-law! NO! Wait a minute! I take that back! You know what I meant God! lol
So that is all I can think of at the moment. We do try to do the gingerbread house, cookies, and rice krispie treats. But being disabled, taking care of 2 disabled kiddos and a disabled mom, pre-packaged ones - as much as they hurt my pride - work just fine! Thanks for listening to me ramble! I hope you enjoyed your holidays season this year! Please share some of your favorite traditions that we could possibly add to ours or someone else may want to also!
Thank you for reading about our traditions. And I mean it! Please do share some of yours! I love hearing about them. Happy New Year! Hugs & Hope xoxo
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