New Traditions

I am a sucker for traditons. If nothing else, my kids should have a plethera of "we used to do..." or "remember when we..." This has been a year of transition for us. We are still working out what traditions are important irregardless of who is at home or will be participting vs. those that we MUST do together as a family. One thing we normally do as a part of our advent study is to put walnuts/pebbles into a jar. As I mentioned in a previous post, not much of that has been done this year. The purpose of this excercise is to discover what the walnuts (the most important things) are for each person. We discovered early on that if we put the walnuts in first, the pebbles (smaller less significant things) will always fit. It is a good focus on our priorities. It also helps us to stay focused on things each of us deem important during this holiday season. A few weeks ago my dad mentioned that a new ice stating rink had opened up downtown. I went to the website and gathered information. We decided to go on a Tuesday because 1)Owen doesn't have gym on Tuesdays and 2) it is buy one get one free night. Once we got into the car, I informed them that this was a "no whine, no fuss" event. I have to say, even the kids agreed, we had a glorious time. We haven't done something like that in a long, long time. We were way past due. The kids even humored me and let me take all kinds of pictures. We skated, went and ate dinner, then skated some more. I think it has definitely made the "to do again" list. We had ten million things we could have been doing - yet I know it was a walnut, even without doing the visual exercise!

Looking back...

Yesterday, we had our first family Christmas gathering for the 2011 season. As we were driving home, Ryan and I were talking about something when I realized that we graduated from ASU 17 years ago yesterday. I don't know what made me think of it. It is crazy to realize that 17 years have passed. We were so excited. Ryan had his first "real" job interview the week before. We had gone, looked around the town, found a place to live, etc. We graduated on Sunday and then moved all of our stuff in on Monday. Then, went "home" to celebrated Christmas with our families. Crazy times. When we got back to Hendersonville, Ryan started immediately with tax season hours. Emily and I had to discover the town on our own. That was WAY before google maps and/or GPS, even cell phones really. I would have to call a place and ask for directions. They would say something like "well, go down road such and such and turn where Bobby's tire USED to be" (Umm, if I knew where Bobby's tire USED to be, I probably wouldn't need directions!) It is amazing to look back and see how far we have come as a couple, as parents, as a family. God has blessed us more than we could have ever imagined.

Stocking hung by the chimney with care....

Umm, nope. Well, yes, they are hung. On a bare mantel, over a broken nativity. I have my candle holders out - the same ones I have used since 1998. Empty, with no candles. I have two boxes of "stuff" Ryan keeps begging to put back up into the attic "you only have a week" he keeps telling me. Here's the thing - I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas. Giving gifts is one of my most favorite things on the planet to do. However, I don't like gift giving to just get a check mark or to cross some one's name off of the list. I love all of the decorations. I have already mentioned my insane love for my house - it triples seeing it all lit up (or partially lit) Christmas lights. I love sitting around our crazy tree - our ornaments tell a life story (several, in fact) rather than a color-coded Martha Stewart type tree. I love reading all of the Christmas books (which haven't even been gotten down out of the attic.) In years past, I would wrap and number all of the books so that was our "countdown" for Christmas. I am pretty sure Alexa and Ian have never even heard some of these stories. And do you know what, for right now, I am okay with that. The crazy thing is, I am okay with the fact that my candle holders are empty (for now), that two strands of the icicle lights are out, that my nativity set needs even more hot gluing. I am not feeling the pressure "you only have a week". My mind is hearing/saying "you have a week." Now, next week, I may be crying a different song but for now, I'm good. Two years ago, Ryan and I took a weekend trip away to Christmas shop. It was one of the best things we have ever done. We went to a deserted Bed and Breakfast and stayed in the "Love Shack" cabin! I didn't even want to stay there because of such a cheesy name. However, it was the one with the special and it turned out to be a lovely cabin. I had my list and we shopped by day and stayed in the "love shack" by night (are you singing the B-52s song about now - it happened every single time!) Anyway, last year I was back on my own and I didn't like it. So, this year, I am not getting a weekend away but I am getting a day. Ryan has taken the whole day off tomorrow and we are leaving at daybreak and not coming home until we are done. I have my lists, my store plans, and my list of things "to discuss". I think that is why I cannot sleep, I am so excited! Ryan, not so much, but he is being a good sport about it. Then, next week, I have several activities planned for the kids and for us as a family to get us mentally ready for Christmas. I've got a week, I'll be ready!