Traditions

Charlotte playing with the family of Carolers


My dad playing the piano before church


"Mommy, Daddy, boy and girl" as Charlotte affectionately called them

I am a very traditional person. I love heirlooms, I love my grandmother's china that she passed down to me, and I LOVE traditions - old ones and new.

Being home always makes me nostalgic - and holidays only make it worse. Our family has several traditions and the above photos are just a few that I wanted to remember.

Charlotte fell in love with many things at Nana's house (like the many, many nativity scenes that are on display everywhere - mom collects them). Her favorite - other than playing with "baby Jesus" - was this family of carolers that has been in our family for many years. I, too, played with these figurines every Christmas and it was precious to see Charlotte care for them as I once did.

Whether my parents think so or not, we grew up in a musical home. Classical music was played A LOT (I specifically remember Vivaldi blaring on my father's stereo) and we all took piano at some time or other - some of us moving on to other instruments. My dad also learned when he was young and when we were little, he spent many a Sunday morning tapping out old hymns as we readied for church.

There are other Christmas traditions that I will always cherish. The candlelight service at First Pres (which I got to take the kids to this year), our annual watching of "A Miracle on 34th Street" (the old black and white version) on Christmas Eve, the message my father prepared every Christmas morning (that I hated as a child because I wanted to open gifts, but have come to appreciate now), and the Christmas party we had every year with friends coming over Christmas night to celebrate.

I am so thankful that I grew up in a home that was rich in traditions. Honestly, it is those things that I remember - not the gifts I received on Christmas day. I hope that Doug and I can pass the same onto our children.