Christmas Memories

Do you have any favourite Christmas traditions? Growing up, we would always open our stockings in the morning. My mom liked to put a fun toy at the top, peeking out enticingly. It often included candy and small toys, and, of course, an orange in the toe! When we were fairly young, my family started a tradition of going to sing Christmas carols at a local care home on Christmas Day. Many of the residents were taken to spend the day with family, others had family come to visit them…but many were completely alone. Later on in the day, we would eat our turkey supper. Before unwrapping gifts, my dad would read the accounts of the birth of Christ. While we realize He was probably not born on December 25, we wanted to keep the focus on Christ.  Other fun Christmas memories include baking while listening to Christmas music, or sipping hot chocolate in a nice, warm house.  

This will be my first Christmas without snow. And although I hate cold, it really does feel strange. It will also be our first Christmas so far away from family and dear friends.

  As I think of all the travel I have done recently, while pregnant, I have fresh sympathy for how Mary must have felt, also needing to travel while pregnant. How many luxuries I enjoy compared to her. I wonder if she was disappointed about their final accommodations, when her nesting instincts would have been so strong? Or was she too tired to care, and grateful to have anything at that point?  No, I truly have much to be thankful for. We have an opportunity to form new Christmas traditions in a new country. And somehow, without all the glitter and bows, it’s even easier to focus on the “Reason for the season.”  

Do you have any special Christmas traditions? What is your favourite Christmas carol? Please share below!  

I won’t be posting anything in the next couple of weeks, so I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 💕