Janelle Esker Family Traditions, every family has them. They can be educational, happy, serious, hilarious. One of ours to cut down our own family Christmas tree every year. I grew up doing this very thing with my sister and parents. My father grew up doing the very same with his siblings and parents. When our family started to grow, we felt it was an important family tradition to continue. We have never missed a year! This fact seems incredible to me, even through sickness, rain or shine, freezing or warm, even the year of my husband’s life-threatening brain surgery we managed to cut down our tree and have it decorated before Christmas.
Yes, miracles still do happen!
Part of our family tradition is in choosing just the “right” family Christmas tree. It can get messy, as it is hard to get 8 people to agree on the same tree! But somehow every year we manage to agree on just the right one.
Throughout the years of Christmas tree “picking and cutting,” we seem to have a lot of laughs along the way. This year was no exception, I live with a bunch of jokers and I am so very happy that I do!
It was very pleasant weather, so we could take some pictures while we were cutting down the tree. Some years it has been so cold the whole process goes quickly as we all hurry to pick, chop and haul it back to the mega van. I was so thankful that we had good weather this year.
We reveal to ourselves
and others what is important to us
by the way we celebrate.
―
There is something so sweet about spending time with your family remembering so many years of “doing the same thing”. The fact that some things never change brings comfort and consistency to a family. Spending time remembering the old times brings much joy and laughter!
About 6 years ago my husband passed the torch of tree cutting onto my now 19-year-old son Andrew. He has done a great job and he makes light work of it too. I think my husband may have been secretly delighted to pass on this to my son, it was a right of passage at the time.
Kylie picked our tree out this year. Literally, walked right up to the tree and said that this would be a good one. We all took one look at it and agreed! That has never happened before! (This is a “Where’s Waldo” picture, or in this case “Where’s Andrew”, can you find him?)
The tree chopped and Andrew carrying it to the mega van so we can go home to another family tradition of having hot chocolate while we decorate the tree. YUM!
One more family pick and what a great time we had! So thankful for these family traditions that bring the family together and continue providing more family memories!
YOUR TURN…
What are some of your family’s favorite traditions?
Blessings,
Janelle, this looks like so much fun! I really enjoyed reading about your tree chopping tradition. As I read your words, I was reminded of how wonderful traditions are and the way they anchor us through the ever-changing tides of life. You have a beautiful family!
Tarissa,
Thank you for your kind comment! I just love how you stated it “family traditions anchor us through the ever-changing tides of life” Beautifully put!
We share the same Christmas tree cutting tradition! Our kids are still young, so we are in the process of establishing our own traditions. But, one tradition that I love the most is that we gather around and read Luke chapter 2 as soon as we wake up on Christmas morning. Then we pray together before we begin any gift giving/receiving.
I just love you family tradition of reading Luke 2 and praying together before opening gifts! We also read Luke 2 but I would like to add praying together before we open gifts! Thank you for that wonderful idea!
Every year we go see Santa on a Santa Train ride. That’s always a lot of fun!
That sounds like fun! I just LOVE family traditions!
I just want to say I really like your blog. You really have great articles and reviews!
Thank you so much, Jaime! I really appreciate your kind words!