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We love traditions…they mean a lot to our blended family…

but being blended also means our traditions need some flexibility.

Years ago when we first blended…new Christmas traditions were conceived…

our children opted for pizza…and we’d celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Over the years as our children and family have grown…moved away,

because they are traditions we don’t want to forget

we do our best to have our Christmas as close to Christmas as we can get.

And those years some family can’t be present in the room…

we face-time on the phone…or better yet…we do a Christmas Zoom.

This year being in NC we modified our tradition…being no where near a Dominoes…

If we couldn’t have our pizza delivered…we opted for Digoirno’s

This year our of gift-giving tradition changed as we all conceded 

coming together at our cabin was the only gift we needed.

But since there was a new member of our family 

who knows nothing about traditions yet

many of us threw caution to the wind and bought gifts for Violet.

We played our traditional game…with our traditional door prizes

but this year the game came with a number of surprises.

The biggest one was a special door prize that came with fame and glory

won by Aden…a miniature lamp like the one in A Christmas Story. 

It’s a new tradition this Christmas that as a family we were happy to begin it…

Aden gets to keep this lamp until next Christmas…when someone else will win it.

We also had a second celebrations this year…another tradition to amend

so Taylor who worked on Christmas Eve…on the 26th could attend!

This is a sampling of our family’s traditions…that have changed as we have grown

which are similar, I’m sure, to family traditions of your own…

Because when it comes to our traditions…in life there are no parallels…

They are the place our love and contentment reside…

and our joy and happiness dwell.

I am grateful on this and every Christmas

that I am never to old to believe…

Never too old to search the skies…

for a glimpse of Santa on Christmas Eve/

As I watched Debrah holding Violet this Christmas… 

and all the laughter and joyfulness surrounding them I heard…

I thought how incredible this is Violet’s first Christmas…

while it’s Deborah’s 73rd.

When I walked over to her 

as she was holding this years wonderful surprise…

I noticed Violet was sleeping soundly in her arms…

and there were tears in Deborah’s eyes.

“Is everything okay?” I asked 

as she cradled Violet’s little head.

She nodded, “Sitting here with all my family…

I’m just so happy!” Deborah said.

I doubt Violet will remember how every family member held her…

on her first Christmas Eve this year

how they smiled as they cradled her…

how they whispered in her ear…

And I smiled thinking how she won’t remember…all those arms around her…

all those whispers that she heard…

how even though Violet’s too young to remember her first Christmas…

I’m sure…Deborah…will remember her 73rd.

One of the things I’me grateful for about the Holiday season

as it lingers with us for a while…

is how it reminds me as I look around

there is always a reason to smile.

As tormented as Vincent Van Gogh was…

there was also a lot of wisdom there…

He said: if you truly love nature…

you will find beauty everywhere..

And following his logic…in this season of Noel…

If we truly love Christmas and the holidays

We should be able to find love everywhere

and everyday…as well.

I am an early riser…I get up while the heavens are still dark…

before the birds and animals come out to play…

before the night moves on and gradually gives way to the day.

But over the years being up at this time…while many are still asleep

has given me a wealth of memories I shall forever keep.

Take the other morning for instance…we were a handful of days before Christmas

when, on a cold and silent night…

the sky, though dark, was so clear every star was shining bright.

As I looked up at that magical sky…I was blessed with a wonderful sight

the trees that surround our cabin seemed decorated in star light. 

As I stood there bundled up…it was a mere 16 degrees…

It looked to me like a million fireflies were nestled in the trees.

Legend has it that Martin Luther was walking through the forest

(I’m sure…also trying not to freeze)

when he was struck by the beauty of the stars 

shining though the evergreen trees.

And he created this tradition…

that is still followed by your family and ours

when he brought an evergreen inside for his children

and decorated it with candles to represent the stars.

Standing outside this morning…looking up…I admit I was in awe

as I felt what Martin Luther must have felt…seeing what he saw.

It made me stand there a little longer…trying my best not to freeze

while watching nature prepare for Christmas…by decorating all her trees.

Yes…for years I rise early…as night gently and gradually gives way to day

and with memories like this to greet me…I would’t have it any other way.

They were spotted at the downtown Christmas celebration…

smiling…laughing…singing…filled with joy and jubilation…

Their attention darted from one thing to another

as the empty street they excitedly crisscrossed.

They held hands with one another…so neither would get lost.

The street was awash in Holiday colors.

Store windows decorated in blues, whites, reds and greens

snowmen, Christmas trees, Teddy bears even a life-size Nativity Scene. 

They were mesmerized by the luminaries…and the giant lollipops.

They even said hello to the elves volunteering in Santa’s workshop.

As they watched the sun set over the mountains 

adding to this night all the colors nature can bring….

they paused to watch and listen to a choir of children sing.

As they listened to the sweet voices of the children sing their song

It wasn’t long before they joined the crowd and began to sing along.

They stopped in the ice cream shop… 

they visited the candy store…

excited on this evening at all the wonders to explore.

The evening ended as magical as it began

She took a photo with Mr. And Mrs. Claus

and he…with the gingerbread man.

In case you were wondering…as people often do

She is 73 years old and he is 72.

As we age and mature in life…

It is inevitable we pass through different stages…

but Christmas has…and always will be

for children of all ages.

I am grateful before I ever blow a candle 

or open a present

for being blessed

to take a moment to remember

all the wonders I already possess

May we be blessed to understand 

one of the most beautiful messes we make…

(which in itself is a keepsake)

is the mess we leave around the house 

once we’ve eaten, unwrapped presents and played…

on Christmas Day.

So I suggest after the celebration is over…

before this holiday fades into the past….

that you sit and enjoy the mess a while…

and not clean it up too fast.