My Family Christmas Traditions

Hi y'all! Carrie here on a Thursday - what?? Oh yes, because when Ruthy says you post on Thursday, that's exactly what you do ;) 

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love all the traditions that go along with it. From reading the Christmas story, to stockings, to Christmas carols, to favorite snacks and goodies.

My family is big on tradition. Ok... my mom and I are big on tradition and we force everyone else to follow suit ;) I decided that today would be the perfect time to give y'all a peek inside my family and some of my fave family traditions.

First, what's Christmas without Santa Claus?!? Even if you don't emphasize this part of Christmas, his real story is pretty special. Fortunately for my family we have a built-in Santa Claus in my dad - add my photographer brother and adorable nephew to the mix and we're a Christmas card waiting to happen!

*above two photos by Josh Booth Photography

Next is my & my mom's annual trip to this delightful little restaurant in the basement of an old school turned antique shop in a teeny town called NoneSuch, Kentucky. (Isn't that the greatest?!?) The restaurant is called The Glitz and they serve a Roasted Chestnut Soup that I call 'Thanksgiving in a bowl' - oh my word it's so good! The entrees vary but the soup is a constant at Christmas, as is their Grandma Snyder's Christmas Cake which even my often-dessert-eschewing mom loves. This photo is from a couple of years ago but we also just went there this past Tuesday :)

Probably the most meaningful tradition we have (although they're all meaningful to me) is our Names of Jesus ornaments that we add to every year. Sometimes we do this on Christmas Eve, sometimes Christmas Day and even sometimes New Year's Eve - depending on what's going on and who is together - but at some point every Christmas season, each of us shares a "name" of Jesus & how He has been that to us this year. For instance, one of us may pick Teacher and talk about something He taught us in the past few months. Another one may say Great Physician or Wonderful Counselor and reflect on how He has healed something in our lives (not just physical) that year. The possibilities are pretty endless - Redeemer, Truth, Life, Alpha & Omega, Prince of Peace, etc. It's so sweet to hear how God has been working in our lives, and since we make a new ornament for each name shared, we get to look back on those moments whenever we decorate my parents' tree. 

If you celebrate Christmas with a family who doesn't follow Jesus, this is still something you can do in your own worship time during the holiday season - a nice touchstone to remind you that you aren't alone, that He is there and very personal toward you. 

Another tradition at Christmas? Making a list. Checking it twice. When you're bookish like me, some of that list-making involves compiling the best books I've read this year and the ones I'm looking forward to for next year.

Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite Christmas traditions - OR your favorite book of 2018 - OR just say hi - and I'll enter you in the giveaway for this super cool list-making book for bookish folk - Literary Listography: My Reading Life In Lists. Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country!

 PLUS!! Don't forget to enter to win one of TWO KINDLE FIRES!!! 

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Janet Dean is 'Keeping Christmas'

Mrs. Claus checking in (Ok... it's really Carrie) to remind us that holidays are a time for gathering together with family and friends that we might not see as often as we would like. Today is one such opportunity - let's welcome Janet Dean back to Seekerville for the day as part of our month-long Advent celebration!

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Keeping Christmas

Janet Dean here. I’m excited to talk about Christmas, my favorite time of the year! I love everything about Christmas. The music, decorations, goodies, gifts, gatherings with family and friends, and especially the long-awaited day we celebrate Jesus’ birth.

My husband and I tried to keep Jesus front and center with our children by attending functions at church and trying to put the focus on the true meaning of Christmas in our home. Not that we cut out Santa. In fact, when “naughty” seemed to be winning over “nice,” a mere mention that I had Santa’s phone number at the North Pole immediately restored harmony. The hard part for us was finding ways to put Santa in his proper place.

Sometimes that required taking time away from the hubbub of Christmas activities to spend quiet time with our girls, sharing our love of Jesus and the reason we celebrate. We used storybooks and little coloring books that presented the story of Jesus’ birth and Advent calendars with spiritual symbols to trigger conversations about Mary, Joseph, the Star, the Wise Men, their gifts and Bethlehem. Most evenings, with only the lights on the Christmas tree, we gathered around a lit candle to sing one carol and, yes, one secular song before putting the girls to bed. Young children love the story of the birth of Jesus and ours acted out the manger scene with make-do costumes and props.  

We tried to counteract materialism by encouraging homemade gifts and decorations. Our daughters created both out of paper, plaster, bread dough, yarn, shells, tin cans and felt. Many of the ornaments still hang on one of our trees, worse for wear but sentimental favorites. If they wanted to buy family gifts, they had to forgo their “wants” and save their small allowance to shop at their elementary school Christmas store.  

As they grew, we encouraged doing good deeds for others. One way we used was a doll cradle and a supply of straw under the tree. When the girls did an anonymous kindness for someone, they were to put a straw in the cradle. By Christmas morning when the doll representing Baby Jesus was laid in the cradle, he had a soft bed. Or so we hoped!  

When our grandkids came along, we made birthday cakes for Jesus and used the candy cane to talk about Him. Our grandkids entertained us with singing, playing “instruments” and acting out the Christmas story. One year they turned the tables on us, giving the adults roles. Thankfully they were kind and applauded for us, as we always did for them.  

These activities helped our children and grandchildren and yes, us adults, too, to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas, and provided some wonderful memories and mementoes. One truth I’ve learned is the time our children are under our roofs and our influence passes quickly!  

I brought iced cut out cookies and hot chocolate. While we nibble and sip, share a tip for keeping Christ in Christmas or a favorite Christmas memory for a chance to win either a hard copy of Love Inspired Historical’s October 2018 “Two for One” of my debut Courting Miss Adelaide and Valerie Hanson’s Wilderness Courtship or my Ebook novella “A Daddy for Christmas”—winner’s choice. 

Thanks for having me today and Merry Christmas!

 winner's choice between Janet's "Two For One" (above) or her ebook novella (below)

Just leave a comment for a chance to win!

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PLUS!!! Don't forget about our Kindle Fire giveaway (Two winners!)
Enter via the Rafflecopter below!

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Have a Lovely, Simple Christmas!

by Jan Drexler

You know the song, “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas”, right?  Well, start humming and then add in the words:

Have a lovely, simple Christmas! 

It’s the best time of the year,

I don’t know, if there’ll be snow

But the family will have cheer!

Have a lovely, simple Christmas,

And when you see your children smile,

You’ll know they’ll remember this

For years and years with bliss.

Look for the Spirit’s glow

Shining in your home,

This is what you’re waiting for,

The Savior Christ has come!

Have a lovely, simple Christmas!

And in case you didn’t hear,

You can simply

Have a lovely, blessed Christmas

This year!

Did you have fun with the sing-a-long?

But mostly, did you get the message?

Christmas is….Christmas. 

And the message of Christmas is that Jesus came to earth…as God promised,

to live a sinless life…as God promised,

to make the perfect sacrifice…as God promised.

The manger and the cross. What more do we need?

When you’re planning your family Christmas celebration, remember that we don’t need all that stuff that we would like to buy….

Simplify your Christmas this year – hold on to dear traditions, but don’t fall into the trap of lights, candy, loads of food, and presents and more presents…

Give your family the gift of yourself….

…make cookies with your little ones

…read a book together

…play games together

…volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army

…sing

…laugh

…play

Have a lovely, blessed, simply awe-filled Christmas!

Now it's your turn! What do you do to keep your own Christmas celebrations simple?

Today's giveaway to one commenter is a copy of my trilogy, 

The Journey to Pleasant Prairie

and some lovely wall art to decorate your home!

Seekerville Advent Giveaway:

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