Celebrating the Holidays
In our family, Christmas is a big deal ! With five kids and 10 grandkids, our house is always full of life and laughter. When I asked Caleb about what he wanted to share with you this December, he suggested sharing some fun activities our family has enjoyed over the years. After a bit of brainstorming, we came up with a small list of things you can do together to celebrate this joyous time of year. • Visit the snow and try sledding, skiing, snowboarding, or making snowmen. • Have a gingerbread house design contest. • Watch your favorite holiday movie while stringing popcorn as a decoration. • Make a cozy cup of hot cocoa for everyone and read a story together. • Cut out paper snowflakes while listening to your favorite holiday albums. • Drive around your neighborhood to find the best Christmas lights.
Spreading Holiday Cheer
The most wonderful time of the year is here again, and with it comes fond memories of family time during the holidays and the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones. I still remember when
my youngest kids, Jeanine and Caleb, were really small (just 6 and 5 years old!), and my wife decided to plan a family Christmas caroling day with my extended family. She and my sister spent a few days baking cookies and other treats with the kids, making simple care packages for all our neighbors. In preparation for our outing as a makeshift caroling group, my sister made a list of caroling songs and played them on the piano so we could practice ahead of time. We went from door to door, knocking or ringing doorbells, eagerly awaiting our next audience to appear on their porch. When doors opened, we sang in our best (mostly on key) voices as one of the kids smiled and said, “Merry Christmas!” while delivering the packet of cookies and treats to the neighbor. Reflecting on this memory, I am reminded of how good it is to be the bringers of joy in our community. As you make plans for the holidays this month, whether you are carrying on long-lasting traditions or forging a new way of celebrating, I encourage you to take time and consider how you might bring a little more joy into your world. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, I hope your celebrations are merry and filled with love.
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