One thing to which I’ve always clung during the Christmas season has been our family’s Christmas traditions. We put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorate the inside and outside of the house. Christmas music plays in the background. For the past few years, “family” has been my youngest daughter and my grandson, as my other two daughters live in other states and for one reason or another cannot come home for Christmas.
This Christmas is different is so many ways, starting with that our Christmas tree is still sitting in its box on our living room floor. Decorations haven’t even made it upstairs, much less out of the boxes. And when I sent Joe out to put up our blow up Santa and Rudolph, as well as a snowflake lamp, he spent the day clipping back the roses for the season and blowing up the leaves. Our yard looks much better, but not at all festive. We’ve been attending the church down the street rather than the one with the lovely choir in which I used to sing. With our current health situations, that would just be too much, no matter how badly I miss it.
Beginning to look a lot like Christmas? Not so much around here.
I’m still recovering from a major surgery I had done a month ago. Mostly I’m good, but there are still moments of brain fog. I missed two weeks of work and have had to scramble to make ends meet this month. I thank God He brought along more editing clients and I have a book to finish.
Yet though everything is shaken in my world right now, I also have so much for which to be grateful. My middle daughter Kimberly just got a new, wonderful job as the regional manager of a cookie company. This in itself is a huge blessing, but even better, she will be home for Christmas for the first time since she turned 16 and started working at a movie theater.
My youngest daughter took over guardianship of my granddaughter, bringing her home to Colorado. I’ll have both my grandkids here for Christmas this year for the first time in forever. And just this week we were privileged to attend her school choir concert in which she had a solo!
And for the most wonderful cherry on top, we’re expecting our third grandchild in early June.
So even though our Christmas looks much different this year, I’ve discovered it’s a good reminder to focus on the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Joy to the world, the LORD HAS COME!
What about you? What’s Christmas looking like for you this year? Tradition or change?
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
There are decorations but we have not put the Christmas tree here, my brother is in poor health, he suffers from insomnia and does not feel well during the day and my father has a lot of work. With the pandemic, it is not certain that we have too many gifts … but it is fine that way we have each other and having a family that loves you, friends and a warm home is enough. You are not going to take material gifts to eternity.
Traditions all the way for us. So important.
Christmas changed drastically last year after Mom passed on Dec 11. This year is drastically different again. The only “decorations” I put out is the Nativity, and I decided to put it in a totally different place this year. We haven’t done a tree in years, and no decorations outside in a long time, either. I won’t be home for Christmas this year, as a friend has invited me to spend 4 days with her family, so it’ll take me one day to fly out, I’ll be with them 4 days, then a day to fly back. My oldest sister usually celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve with her daughters and their family, but this year, my youngest niece has to work that day, so I’m going to spend an extra day and night with them when I get back and celebrate Christmas with them, too.
After a starkly different covid Christmas last year in which British Columbians weren’t allowed to gather in each others’ homes, 2021 looks a bit more normal. Even last year, we were able to hunt for Christmas trees in the wild with our son’s family and share a bonfire and hot dog roast afterward! We also did that last Friday – so great to have that fun tradition with them.
This year our daughter’s family will be able to come for a few days between Christmas and New Year’s, and we’ll also be able to get together with smaller groups of extended family. I’m so thankful.
I’m so glad you’re recovering from your surgery and that you’ll have more of your family around you this Christmas. We’ve been praying for you!!!
Congratulations on your coming grandbaby! That’s such an exciting time. I haven’t had a traditional holiday sine 2013. The following year I was in a nursing home (after breaking my hip), apart from my 12 year old son for the first time, had just lost Momma and had our first big family split. I have only had a tree up once since. This year I hope to bring Daddy from his assisted living home and my daughter will be here from out of state for the first Christmas in 10 years but have to make a more every day type of meal. We had the blessing of being here together for Thanksgiving & I made a full turkey dinner. Such a treat but my body has not recovered yet. The one tradition I have kept, except 2014, is to make our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of cinnamon rolls. There isn’t as much family to make them for but I make them for those who still get along.
Good morning, Sounds like you will be having a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas! Congratulations on your new grand baby ! I pray that you will soon be back to your good feeling self. My Christmas this year will be extra Special for sure, we have not seen our son , his girlfriend and our youngest grandson that my son has with another woman. More than likely our youngest grandson won’t be here, (his mama isn’t the nicest) but we will make the best of it, we have not seen them for almost 2 yrs since COVID hit, they live 6 hours away, so it will be a Very , very nice Blessed Christmas. May you and your family have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. Isn’t that awesome seeing our grandchildren performing , this week our 8th grade grandson and our 15 yr old granddaughter had their Christmas Band Concerts, it is Always such a treat watching and listening to them performing .
Mostly tradition, although the tree which usually gets decorated the weekend after Thanksgiving just got decorated this week because I was on vacation last week and didn’t trust my cat with the ornaments, lol. Glad your recovery is going well.
Change! My Mom who we have lived with for 8-10 years is now living in a nursing home. We are in my childhood home with all my Mom’s things. I expect her to be right there. In so many ways, this year has been like a dream. God has a plan. I just keep trying to move forward. Thank you for sharing. God bless you. Merry Christmas.
Hey Deb, I managed to get my three trees up. I put one in the family room, one in the living room, and one in my office. We made it a tradition a few years ago to put them up on Halloween. I got one up by the deadline, but didn’t get them decorated until throughout the first week of November. We’re having the gathering at our house like we usually do. We’re supposed to go caroling with our church tomorrow night. But it’s supposed to rain, so I’m not sure if that will happen or not. Some things are happening on schedule, some are iffy. And our son has a new girlfriend who will be included in our festivities. Congrats on the new grandchild and I’m glad you have them together.
It’s our regular traditions with family just money is hard though
We always do our regular get togethers
Sorry I am so late been an interesting day. Hot and I intended staying home but had to go to the Church due to an inspection of fire equipment and me having keys to all areas (did the cleaning and newsletter at the same time and came home exhausted).
I am slowly getting things up for Christmas I got a smaller tree which is tied to a small table and anchored with weights (Libby still is trying to make it nap but so far its still standing).
But not all is up and thats ok. I am playing Christmas music and watching lots of movies. Last year I got really depressed due to the lack of things to go to and just the being alone. I wasn’t really lonely but I felt like I was alone I didn’t go to one Christmas breakup or lunch or anything. The carols on tv were not like they use to be. this year isn’t much different but am trying to counter things. with watching more movies, and even got the presents (all 2 of them) under the tree which didn’t happen last year and even got some gladioli in a vase which reminds me of Christmas past when a lady use to bring some every year. Even when I have been away I have a few decorations up even if its only a small tree (like you would have on a table). and a couple of small things just to make it a bit more festive.
Sounds good having family home and congrats on the news of a new grandchild
Tradition – Caroling on Christmas Eve!
What about you? What’s Christmas looking like for you this year? Tradition or change?
Christmas is pretty traditional this year for us. The tree will go up this weekend & decorated, then packages will go under it Christmas Eve. It’s usually a quiet family affair at our house and that’s just the way I like it :-)
We have guardianship of our seven year old grand-girl and have had her since just before she turned four. So I can understand the responsibility, dedication and hard work it is to take care of a child you had not anticipated on being fully responsible for. Yes, it’s well worth it though, don’t get me wrong. She’s a well-loved child and has been the delight of our lives. We love looking at Christmas through her eyes with all the excitement and anticipation! It gives us back that child like faith :-) Keeping traditions for the next generation is something we most treasure.
It’s amazing how my view on the number of gifts under the tree has changed. I’ve really started to value the things upon which I can’t put a price.
I hope to return to a more traditional Christmas next year, but I’m embracing what God has for us now. I totally agree with you on the importance of embracing traditions.
I like the idea of spreading out Christmas! More time with family and friends.
My current series takes place on a Christmas tree farm with all the fun times to be had there, including a sleigh ride and bonfire, as well as cutting your own tree. I’m now on book five and wishing there really was a Winslow’s Woodlands to visit!
I really dislike cooking and baking, as odd as that sounds, so I try to make everything as easy as possible or pass it off to others. This year my middle daughter is trying to convert us to veganism (never gonna happen!) with a full vegan Christmas dinner. But hey, as long as I don’t have to cook!
It’s truly lovely to watch our grandkids performing. I understand family issues all too well and know how blessed I am to have both grandkids with me this year for the first time in forever.
We had to get a new tree this year because the cats trashed our last one, although to be fair it was a very old tree to begin with. I think we’re skipping ornaments this year, which will hopefully help.
God bless you, Debra. Sometimes it feels as if all we can do is hold onto God like a toddler grasping a parent’s leg. I’m praying that the wind will die down in your life and you can take a breath.
Oh, sure. Show us all up. Make us all look incompetent. THREE trees? And I felt so good when we got our ONE tree up. It’s lovely that your son’s girlfriend will be able to participate in your family activities this year. Enjoy!
Money seems to be a huge factor in many people’s Christmas plans this year, especially thanks to COVID. I’m glad you have traditions to see you through.
I’m glad you have those events to look forward to. I think get togethers are one of the most important of traditions.
Sometimes being lonely happens even if we’re in a crowd. My thoughts and prayers are with you through this holiday. I know what it’s like to struggle. You’re ahead of me. I finally was able to purchase two gifts for the grandkids but haven’t gotten them wrapped yet. Maybe that’ll help me feel more as if it’s Christmastime.
Caroling on Christmas Eve? I love it! I used to be so involved in my church choir. They (I’d barely put myself into their category) are SO amazing and beautiful, especially at the Christmas Eve service. I miss it so much, but this time of life it just can’t be.
I think that’s one of the things that is hardest about this year, is not being able to offer all the merry and bright Christmas traditions for which I usually strive. But at least my grand-girl is here with us, and that’s the real blessing. Yes, it’s a HUGE change when we thought we’d be well into empty nest time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am hoping she can experience the childhood wonder of Christmas this year, even if she is 13 and would roll her eyes if I so much as said as much.