I'm sorry I've been away for so long! I don't know what it is about the holidays but from Thanksgiving forward, my life seems to go into warp speed and I'm not able to do as much as I'd like due to "have-to's" instead of "want-to's". Anyway, I plan on jumping right back into blogging as soon as Jan 1st hits! Until then, I'm wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas and a HAPPY and SAFE New Year! May 2011 be the best year yet! :))
I thought I'd share a family tradition we do every year on Christmas Eve. It's a wonderful event that I look forward to each December 24th. What kind of traditions do you carry out each year? I'd love to hear them! I challenge you to try some new traditions or maybe just focus more on traditions that mean the most to your family. I plan on doing the same and I hope you'll take time to reflect on the importance of this Christmas Season.
---------------------------------
Each year since the passing of my mother in 1999, my husband, children and I do something that I dearly love. We travel on the Eve of Christmas and go to our cemetery where some of our loved ones are buried. Once the graves are found, we place upon the shepherd's crook, a lantern. Inside this lantern is a candle in memory of my mother (and now father, too. He passed away in 2005) lit to remind us that they are never forgotten and always loved. Even though they are no longer here with us celebrating, they are still apart of our Christmas celebrations. We take the time to gather around their grave and acknowledge their presence always in our lives and remember what they are done for each of us. I love this tradition more than anything else in Christmas Eve or Day. As I stand there, I experience no blinking lights, loud music, traffic or Christmas rush... but rather a quiet time of reflection and gratitude for being their daughter. I experience complete peace, inside and out, and am taken by the beauty of the fallen snow and darkness. Stillness is all around. All of the holiday hubbub seems to fade away and I am reminded of why I celebrate Christmas standing in the cold snow. I love the German song "Still, Still, Still" and I think it's a fitting song to describe my feelings and setting on this most important night.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
Merry Christmas ♥
Recent Comments