A Season of Traditions and Memories

Happy Advent to all of you, near or far, wherever you are. This is a special time of year. I’ve shared some of our traditions and a special story below. May you and your families be blessed during Advent and the whole Christmas season. Christmas is more than just one day!

Here are some ideas to help us slow down a little bit during this time of year.

• Take your time hanging up the decorations - it doesn't have to all be done in one day!
• Cut snow flakes out of paper and tape to your windows. Cut strips of paper and make colorful  paper chains to decorate with.
• Sit down with your family and read a Christmas story and daily scriptures at the dinner table or before bed.
• Don't go into debt! Be honest about what you can afford and what you can't afford.
• It's okay if you don't have time to bake from scratch! Buy some roll out sugar cookies and sprinkles and then let your kids and or grandkids sprinkle away!
• The smell of cookies baking in the oven and spending time with you is what they'll remember and cherish!
• Go to Mass or your church service as a family -make spending time in prayer and with the Lord a priority!
• Hug your spouse, hug your kids and think about making and giving some sentimental gifts.
• Print out some pictures and make a collage in a cute frame for their room.
• ...Or make them a photo album of their very own.
• Buy some of their favorite snacks and warm comfy socks!
• As a family, pick out a gift for someone who isn't as fortunate and let your kids help wrap it.
• Find out what your local pregnancy help center needs and get your children to help wrap and the deliver the items. Or place the items in a something they can use, like a laundry basket. Encourage your teenagers to make Christmas cards for some of your elderly neighbors and they can leave them by the front door.
• Watch uplifting and faith filled movies such as (these are some of my favorites):
  • "It's a Wonderful Life"
  • "A Christmas Carol" (I like the older versions)
  • "Miracle on 34th Street"
  • ...and movies about the Birth of Jesus!

The following story is one I wrote on December 11, 2016 and is one of my favorites:

A Season of Memories

Good morning out there! Two more weeks and Christmas Day will be here. I have enjoyed this season of Advent. The inside of our home is all decorated now. Jim and I always decorate our Christmas tree together. I love standing back and looking at all the hand-made ornaments our children proudly made years ago. Our grandchildren have shared their talents as well. Our tree is adorned with a beautiful, sentimental array of mismatched ornaments. Faded paper chains, lights, trinkets of all kinds, and memories - our Christmas tree is decorated with memories. The center piece on our kitchen table is a beautiful nativity scene; the Holy Family and the three wise men, the shepherd boy with his lambs, a donkey, and a cow. Two angels hover above.

My daughter and I bought this set on the day after Thanksgiving when she was in the fifth grade. This nativity scene has been set up in different locations throughout the years, but we have decided that the kitchen table is the perfect place. You notice the beautiful nativity scene right when you walk into the kitchen, a very popular place in our home! This nativity scene is another memory, a tradition that we hold dear. The kid's teddy bears now wear Santa hats and Christmas tree head bands. We have a Little People Deluxe Christmas Story Set (Nativity Scene) in the living room for the grandchildren to play with. They love arranging the set just like they want. When you place the angel on top of the stable the star lights up and the tune, "Away in a Manger" is heard. They all love this nativity set and I love to listen to them as they play with it.

The other day I heard one of my granddaughters’ say that this wise man was going to bless Baby Jesus with holy water. Oh, how I love all my babies. On my window sill above the kitchen sink I have "the breakables", my nativity scene that was delicately carved from olive wood and was made in the Holy Land. The intricate designs and shapes are amazing. This was a Christmas gift from a very sweet friend. My cousins gave me a special snow globe. It is so beautiful; the base of the globe is heavy cut bronze and the Holy Family is right in the center of the globe. It is also musical and the key to wind it up is underneath the base. My grandkids will ask me to shake the globe up for them and to wind the key so that Silent Night will play. I also have a ceramic night light of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus (this stays up year round) that I turn on as soon as the sun begins to go down. My daughter-in-law gave me the night light and she loves where I've chosen to keep it. I keep one other really close to my heart item on the window sill, well really two, but in my heart they are a single set. It is a simple ceramic hand bell with a shepherd painted on it. I think it is a Precious Moments hand bell. It had a little ringer inside of it and if you shook it, it made a tiny little tingle sound.

Years ago, probably about seventeen or eighteen years ago, my dad and my daughter were playing with a balloon in the living room. They  were hitting it back and forth to each other like it was a volley ball! I walked through and told them that they better not break anything. Now remember, this is "my dad" and my daughter, they kept right on playing. The balloon hit the hand bell, it fell from the mantle and the little ringer inside broke off, but that was it, it didn't shatter, it just lost the little tingle. My dad felt so bad and I told him that it was okay. I remember laughing and telling them both that they were a mess! Dad went out and bought me another hand bell.  This one was silver and has a little carved bear as the handle. It has a little ringer inside and when you shake it, it makes a little tingle sound. I really miss my dad. He's been gone a little over eight years now. When I look at those hand bells I always smile. Every now and then I pick up the silver one with the bear handle and shake it so that I can hear the little tingle sound. This morning I looked out the kitchen window and what  did I see -Four bright red, male cardinals and their wives flying in and out of my big oak tree. I stood there watching as tears streamed down my face. My dad loved birds and he would whistle and call them when we were outside. I've heard people say that when you see a cardinal, an angel is visiting you that day.This morning my yard was full of angels and I watched them with delight, oh what an absolutely magnificent sight! The season of miracles is upon us as we wait for His birth!

Open your eyes to the signs that are everywhere, the signs that show God's love for us, how much He cares!