Holiday Traditions, Old and New

It is hard to believe Christmas is only 3 days away! It seems like I just packed away my swimsuit and flip-flops and now we're sitting in a foot of snow...the days do go by so fast!

In years past, the holiday season seems to have flown by us as well. With both of us working, Thang in school, plus church and family events, we left little time for us to start any family traditions. Since Nora joined the family, we are making traditions a priority around here. When I think back on my childhood, there are a few big events I remember, but the memories that come most easily to mind are the traditions and routines that our family repeated year after year.

Jesse Tree
I got this idea from a blog I follow. Using The Advent Jesse Tree, each day we read a passage of scripture, a devotion, recommended hymns/songs to sing (although we've only sung a couple of these) and a prayer. The readings recount God's story from Creation to the birth of Christ and how each event pointed to the coming of our King. Each day, we also hang an ornament which represents the reading for that day. For example, today's reading includes Matthew 2:10, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy", so the ornament we hang up today is a star. It is a great way to remember how God's had a plan from the very beginning to bring salvation to the world.

Santa Lucia Day

I am proudly 1/8th Swedish, and this was a holiday tradition we followed when I was growing up. You can find a brief history of the holiday here. For the ladies who are reading, you may recognize this holiday from the "American Girl" doll, Kirsten, who wore a wreath of candles and a white gown with a red, satin sash. Yes, my mom did make me one of these costumes, however, I believe it was only worn once for show-and-tell. As the eldest daughter, it was my responsibility to bake the traditional Santa Lucia rolls which were a special, once-a-year treat. Allegedly, I was also supposed to wake my family by singing Christmas carols down the hallway while serving them their breakfasts in bed - for their benefit, we skipped this one.

Santa Lucia Rolls
1 cup milk (scalded)
1/2 to 1 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. dry yeast (dissolve in 1/4 cup warm water)
3 eggs (beaten)
4 - 4 1/2 cups flour


Combine the milk, cardamom, butter and sugar and cool to lukewarm. Add eggs and yeast to milk mixture, stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth. Place in a buttered bowl and let rise until double. Roll and form buns (this is done by making two long, logs of dough, then placing them in a cross and rolling up the ends). Let buns double, brush tops w/mixture of one egg yolk and 1 tbsp. water. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.


Happy Birthday, Jesus
Because it is, after all, the reason for all this celebration! This one is still "under construction" as far as how we will be celebrating it from year-to-year. This year, our church small group had a birthday party for Jesus - complete with a birthday cake, singing and gifts for Jesus (Nora's gift was a few of her dance moves). Last year, I put birthday candles on our Christmas breakfast (stuffed French toast) and called it good. I will probably do this again this year and we'll sing "Happy Birthday to You!" to baby Jesus.

We've started a few other, small traditions and I'm sure as the years go on, we will add more. I am trying to cut down on my online time, so it's time to finish this post off.

We wish everyone a very, merry Christmas as we remember the day our Savior entered the world as a tiny baby boy!

A Christmas Meditation

Just a quick note to point you to this blogpost I happened upon tonight:


Why a Real Christmas May Hurt


Our church has recently been experiencing great spiritual renewal, however it has not come without pain and brokenness. But through that pain, we receive grace upon grace and the freedom that comes only through our Saviour who came to earth as a Babe in a manger.

Finding Breathing Room

As of late, I have felt a bit overwhelmed, overscheduled and all-around exhausted. I really blame no one but myself for not carving out margin in my days and saying "yes" to a few too many things. It is hard as a mom to ever feel like your job is done, because the "to-do" list never ends. But, that doesn't mean we should never slow down, rest or even just stop to smell the roses. I have a hard time slowing down - Sundays are often filled with "catching up" on chores or errands, and most evenings, instead of cuddling up next to my hubby to watch a good movie, I sit next to him on the couch writing to-do lists, reading books on health or nutrition or checking Facebook.

This Fall, our family has dealt with more than it's fair share of illness. Since late September, we've had 5 or 6 cases of yuckies make their rounds in our household - right now, Thang and I are fighting a mean virus. During our 3rd round of sickness, this one a stomach bug, I was forced to lay on the couch all day long as any slight movement caused my stomach to turn. Although I had been sick just a week before, and a week before that, this was the first that I had actually stopped to take care of myself. My wise husband made the comment that maybe this was the only way God could convince me to rest. Hmmmm.

It caused me to reflect on rest and to remember that we are COMMANDED to rest. I even went back and read the creation account to understand the beginnings of this idea of "rest".

"By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." Genesis 2: 2-3

That's right, the God of the universe, the Creator of everything that is, the author of history, RESTED. So, who do I think I am not to rest? It seems I'm not alone. A few of the blogs I follow have had some great posts about finding breathing room as a mom, wife and homemaker, as well as someone who wants to serve those outside our household.


Put Bookends on Your Day
Take the Day Off (Moms Too)
Taking a Weekly Planning & Prayer Retreat
Balance Requires Sacrifice
Busy at Home


Thang told me recently to take some time away as a kind of spiritual retreat - to reflect, to pray and to plan. So, I have a day set-aside soon to do just that. I also recently got the idea to log the way I spend my time during the day for 2 weeks. I am thinking I will start this next Monday - I'm sure it will be eye-opening and very convicting. I got the idea after listening to this podcast of a Women's Training Day at Mars Hill Church, if you have some time, take a listen (also some great info on couponing!) .




Another resource I plan on referencing is Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed, by the ladies over at Girl Talk. I read through this right after I quit working to stay home with Nora. It was extremely helpful to me in thinking through what matters most...and I'm thinking it is time for a refresher! I already have an idea where the "fat" is that can be trimmed back in my life. But, it will be good to spend an extended amount of time really reflecting on what is most important and finding clarification on where God would have me spending my time wisely. With the Christmas season upon us, I do not want the next month filled with so much busy-ness that I can't reflect on the Greatest Gift I will ever receive and enjoying the people God has put in my life.


And, since no blog post should really be complete without a cute kid pic:

Miss Nora, at rest.

(I just love how she puts her arms behind her head, pure relaxation)