Tick tock,
tick tock....The clock is ticking to that favorite time of year, and I can't believe it is here so soon! I am so very excited to celebrate the very first Christmas with my new husband! Last Christmas, the wedding was definitely on the brain, so this Christmas I look forward to focusing on shopping, decorating, parties, presents, memorizing parts in Christmas plays, family and FOOD. The Christmas traditions that I grew up with are so special to me and definitely something th
at I look forward to continuing with my very own little family
. Its been so fun taking the traditions of two different families, mixing them together, and coming up with our very own Christmas traditions!
So...here are a few of the traditions that we have instilled, year number one. They are traditions that I pray my children look back on as sweet memories, just as my husband and I do. They are traditions that I hope do not fade away with passing years, but stand the test of time. They are traditions that are forever ours, and that is what makes them so special!
*Photo tree. I am a photographer and absolutely love photographs with a passion! I believe that there is beauty all around us, and photographs are forever captured moments of that beauty. On our Christmas tree, we have assorted frames of all shapes, colors, and sizes with pictures from special memories throughout that year. I love this tradition because it is a fun, unique way for us to reminisce on all the memories and all that the Lord has done for us throughout the year.
*Christmas letter. One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting all of the Christmas cards in the mail! I love seeing everyone's picture and reading about how they are doing! This being our very first Christmas, its as good a time as any to begin our Christmas card tradition. In this past year, we have learned and experienced so much! My husband loves to write, so we have decided to always have a letter to go along with our picture, just to update our family and friends on what in new with the Goetsch's this year :)
*Christmas Story. It was tradition for my husbands family, as well as mine to read the Christmas story before Christmas dinner. I LOVE this tradition because I believe that it is SO important to keep our holidays Christ-centered! After all, it IS Jesus' birthday!
*Birthday cake. Speaking of BIRTHDAYS :) In my family, it was always tradition for us to make Jesus a birthday cake on Christmas, and yes, even sing "Happy Birthday" to Him! This may seem a bit silly to some, but to me, its the tool that my parents used to teach us, when we were young, what the Christmas Holidays are truly all about! And the tradition stuck! And it stays :) Yay for birthday cake!
*COOKIES! Can you tell that I am a huge fan of food? Growing up, my mom would always break out the baking about a week before Christmas day. We would bake so many cookies and set them out on our "Christmas cookie plate". I know that this is a simple tradition, but it was the one time a year that I was allowed to be messy with my mom(ha!) and the laughs, messes, and conversations while baking Christmas cookies with my mom are some of my sweetest memories! I am not a mommy(yet), but this is definitely a tradition that I want to continue with my husband and future children. I realize that this tradition is crazy dangerous on the waistline, so I have decided this year, our Christmas cookies are going to the homeless shelter! It is a way for us to develop these memories, and spread the love with others. (Although, I am quite sure that we will save a few for ourselves). ;)
So, here is a sneak peak into our upcoming Christmas as newlyweds. And whether you are a seasoned "tradition maker" or a new-bee like me, keep your traditions alive! You never know who's life you could be impacting...maybe even your own! Happy Traditions and a Merry Christmas to all! :)
-Ashley Goetsch
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