The Tradition Of Remembering

Tradition...heritage passed down through the ages. Memories you can taste, smell and feel. Just the thought of a moment in time, from days gone by and you are instantly transported through the years. Smack down in the middle of it all, good or bad.

I feel like such an old-timer. A certain kind of breeze takes me right back to a day in Florida, on Christmas break with an old high school boyfriend. Don't know exactly what it was about that moment, but that particular breeze works magic in my hearts remembering.

Sometimes just before dusk, the late evening sun shines through the trees, shadows dancing, the air so crisp, curtains blowing, birds chirping...lithlessly, I'm taken back to our house in Voorhees, kids tucked away for the night and me lying on the sofa with a cold beer watching Bridges of Madison County.The beer, because the two main characters had enjoyed cold beers together, which before the movie, was a memory from the novel.

Kids playing outside, laughter ringing, shrieks piercing, doors slamming, dogs barking and I'm in my childhood neighborhood in New Jersey, playing all sorts of make believe, with friends so long forgotten.

I find it intriguingly peculiar how at the very moment that these memories are being born they just do not register as anything note worthy. So what is it, that as time ages the memory, it becomes a tug on your heart, a moment that stops or steals your breath?These uneventful glimpses of your life.

There are so many lyrics in songs that I can easily put to the movie of my life. Its a nice escape from the daily grind, going back to the way things were. Funny how we never realize how good it all was until its long gone.Well that used to be true for me...today, I think I have learned to separate myself from a moment while its actually happening and look at it as a memory in the making. See it for the remembrance it will become.

Few people have always had the gift of cherishing their lives as they are living them out. Others, it takes a bit longer. Some, never do get it. Thankfully, I'm the one whom it took a bit longer to realize the cherishing part. But I do get it now! Its a difficult feat to master, with all of the busyness the modern world has equipped us with.

My family isn't steeped in a lot of tradition. No special treats or recipes handed down from great grands...no trinkets or treasures. A tale or two maybe, yet those are filled with heartache and bitterness, diminishing the longing for the days of old. And what I mean by family, is the extended version. The kids and I, however, do have plenty of memories that we have shared and love to reflect on. I guess just because these memories are not generations old, they can still be considered tradition of sorts. Maybe their children will be blessed with our cherished memories. Thinking on it now, I probably should start creating traditions of my own to hand down, considering what a gift it is to have.

Well, we've never strung popcorn or cranberries; that's a good one. Most certainly Christmas Church Service. Maybe the girls and I can  start knitting or crocheting by the fireplace while, 'I'll Be Home For Christmas" is playing in the background. I've always loved the idea of a football game, while the turkey is in the oven. Kind of need more of a team than we have at the moment, but you've got to start somewhere! Imagine  ten or fifteen years down the road when the kids are grown and there are significant others and grandchildren to include. We'll have us a football game for sure!

I'm wondering though, if it is okay to borrow from the families I admire. Like the Ingall's and the Walton's. Even though life was hard and you had to live off of the land, things were just much simpler then. So much more desireable. Everything was about "The Family" and the knowledge of where all the good things in you life came from. God was in the heart, He was in the home. Today, we have compartmentalized our social lives and careers, along with the kids and their activities, even God has been placed in a box, so to speak. There's all of this 'politcal correctness'  and the time and place for giving Him thanks should be relegated to the privacy or our homes, He is not to be acknowledged in schools or public functions. If the government were to have its way, God would be a filthy dirty secret, that we need to tuck away and whisper about. YET Reality TV is all the rage. Oh, how I long for the days when we had it right!

Christmas breakfast is a tradition we do have, and  its a winner! So there, my list is growing. We may be at a standstill for the moment, but we will make tradition a part of our family. It will take some prayer on my end. Some things are missing and we'll have to rely on God to fill the gaps.

We're minus a husband, a dad, family, friends and a home. {Well, the ones that are familiar at least.}So, basically we are starting from scratch. I am hoping to make some memories for the kids this year. I am praying we'll come out on the other side with new traditions.

I can always escape into a novel and live vicariously through characters I've grown to love, but my kids are not big readers, so they're relying on me. Its a super tight budget and my creativity level is somewhat diminished. Thankfully, they are quite easy to please!

So, after reflecting a wee bit, this is what our day will look like; Tonight, I'll pick up some hot cocoa and marshmallows, we'll have a Christmas CD playing, we'll string the popcorn and fill out some cards. Christmas Eve, we'll attend service, where we'll enjoy a bonfire on a beautiful property with the stars above and the moon reflecting in the lake, there'll be S'mores and some awesome Worship music, praising our Lord. Christmas day will have us enjoying that awesome breakfast and Church again, to honor the birth of our Savior. We'll come home to the smell of heaven in the oven, head out back and toss the football around. We'll call our loved ones and wish them a blessed day. We'll round out the evening with a reading in the Bible of the Christmas Story and a cozy time watching some classic Christmas movies.

Well.., I think this sounds like a wonderful tradition that I'll look forward to sharing with my family as it grows. I'll start reflecting on and collecting some trinkets to pass down through the gernations and I'll come up with some heartfelt stories to be remembered by.Traditions need a beginning. They have to start somewhere. Who was I to think that I wasn't the right one for the job?

Now I'm really excited...let the new memories begin! From now on, we're all about "Tradition!".

 ~

Christmas Blessings from our family to yours ~now go and make some traditions of your own!

"The Christmas Story"
King James Version

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and The Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this"
(Isaiah 9:6-7).

By The Holy Spirit through the apostle Luke:

The Story of the Birth of Christ

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

                                         Hint: Pause Playlist below to enjoy video

                                      Hint: Pause Playlist below to enjoy video