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5 UNIQUE AND SIMPLE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

I hope you enjoyed my Thanksgiving traditions post.

This really is the most wonderful time of year!

I love the crisp cool air, the bright colored leaves are still turning and falling.  My neighborhood being lit up with festive lights. 

This can be a busy and frenetic time of year.  Here are some traditions that help me actually slow down, take time to be intentional and notice the magic and beauty in life teeming all around me. 

  1. FINDING JESUS

As we unpack the boxes of Christmas decorations to deck these halls one very simple tradition is that in setting up the creche, the person who unwraps the baby Jesus gets to hide him.  The general rule is that he has to be hidden in plain sight.  Whoever finds the baby Jesus then quietly re-hides him.  This sets up a sense of expectation.  It’s a very simple way to remind us that Jesus is always hidden away in our hearts, that He is always around us waiting to be found. It’s a simple little tradition that packs a big punch.  Often I have seen my son smile for no reason when he either notices that his hiding place has been found out or that he has found Jesus! Jesus has been on the ceiling fan, in the Christmas tree, perched on shelf or in a corner.  He has been high and low and everywhere in between. My son is 13 now, he still isn’t tired of this hide and seek.

  1. CHRISTMAS CARDS

This one is a BIG production.  My mom is actually the most excited about it.  I don’t get to this every year but it is fun and creative.  I only make 50.  I make rather elaborate handmade cards. It usually takes up the entire dining room table and I start right after Thanksgiving.  If you are the creative type, why not use this as an outlet?  I know very few people send Christmas cards any longer, so this is a more artistic way to put your craft out into the world.

  1. ADVENT CALENDAR with a sort of TO DO list

I found this Advent calendar at Starbucks many years ago.  The back is magnetic chalkboard and those are tins.  Inside each tin I have placed two tiny pieces of paper.  One is a random act of kindness.  Depending on the ages in your family, you can search on google or pinterest for “25 days of Kindness Calendar.”   There are many free ones, some to purchase.  Why not do it ALL YEAR?! In any event, a few years ago I took the time to clip out all 25 and fit one inside each tin.  The second thing in there is the daily dare from Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare calendar.  It is a free resource and something I try to stick to all year to keep me searching for the lovely things in life.  By putting it in the advent calendar, it’s something I can share with my son.  Of course I also put in a candy treat, just so my son will even open it!  The tins are NEVER in order, which again, keep us searching for each day’s tin.

  1. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

It isn’t Christmas without an annual viewing of the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life.  There is a beautiful old time vintage  theater where I live that had an annual showing but I don’t see it on their calendar this year.  It’s a beautiful restored venue with huge red velvet curtains, a very ornate ceiling and vintage marquis and tiny ticket booth in front. This year, it looks like we’ll be watching from the comfort of our own home.

  1. EPIPHANY AND A DEEP HONORING BREATH

All the halls stay decked until January 6, the day of Epiphany or Day of Kings. Did you know that THESE are the 12 days of Christmas?  The 12 days after Christmas.  No way is ANY of it coming down before that.  I love all the decorations and lights all over the neighborhood and I am in absolutely no hurry to take any of it down. So, when we do take it all down and pack it away.  We hold hands, circle all the boxes and take some deep conscious breaths together.  We consciously honor all the time we spent together, all the gifts, all the giving, all the food, wonder and awe.  We give the season space and time to rest in our memories and hearts.  

Do you have any unique traditions?  What do you think of these? Are there any that resonated with you? Are there any that you think you might try this year?  Please let me know in the comments below-I LOVE hearing from you.

I wish you a season full of wonder, peace and love.

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Thanksgiving Traditions

Plain and Simple

Here come the holidays! 

Thanksgiving has long been a bit precarious for this place I call home. For 30+ years now I have lived on the other side of the country from my parents and siblings. Traveling “home” to the other coast for the major Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays became a real hassle.  So sometimes I get melancholy thinking that all my local friends have family nearby to visit while I didn’t–it was just us, our blended family with no aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.  It was a struggle to make these family holidays my own when I much wanted to be with my parents and siblings sharing the responsibilities of cooking and spending time together.  Creating a blended family often left me feeling left out.  So I  have spent decades learning to embrace our uniqueness and making creative heartfelt collections of unique traditions. (Is that an oxymoron?) 

I want to share with you some of the things that have been incorporated into the lives of my family.

  1. The DINNER

Order up!!

This is something I cooked up quite some years ago (pun intended.) When I was part of a blended household and kids were coming and going on odd vs. even years and at certain times on Thanksgiving Day…I could barely keep it all straight. And so, one year, I decided to embrace our uniqueness and declare favorite dishes.  Everyone gets to place their order for something on the table.  Anything.   One year, the stepsons really tested this out and we had 4 kinds of meat on the table.  Sure we always have a turkey, but I also want duck.  We have had my famous mac n’ cheese, ribs, acorn squash, artichokes (out of season) , fried rice specifically from the Chinese restaurant up the street. You name it! I’m sure at some point someone ordered it and it was on the table.  (Hint: as the chef you don’t have to have a family sized dish of an item.  Some dishes no one will eat except the person ordering it, so, for example just one acorn squash is enough.  Also, ask about 2 weeks in advance. Some kids want to think about it and it gives you time to shop for ingredients.)

  1. The “GIVING”

The day after Thanksgiving we have all the kids do a rather hefty clearing out.  They go through all the toys they either don’t really play with any longer or are ready to give up.  They know Christmas is just around the corner. So all the toys that are broken we get rid of but the ones that are slightly used, unused and really in decent condition we box up and put on the hearth.  The tradition goes that on the night after Thanksgiving Santa comes down the chimney to collect all unwanted toys.  He brings them back to the North Pole for inspection and repair and then on Christmas Day delivers them to children around the world who are thrilled to have them.  

I found my kids were always quite generous and honest. They played a part in sifting through their toys, making important decisions, letting go and doing good in the world by giving. There were times they surprised me by saying that some one could use a certain toy more than they. Or keeping a toy because it was something that my sister had given and it reminded them of her.  ( A child as young as 5 can do this!)

  1. The THANKS  

Make a thankful collage.

Body Tracing Activity | The moffatt girls, Measurement activities, Activities

Materials:

  • Butcher paper & tape
  • Markers
  • Old magazines
  • glue sticks
  • scissors 

Are you going to have several kids around? Here’s a great idea to keep them working together on a creative project for a while.  Tape butcher paper to walls for each kid.  Have older kids help younger kids trace an outline of themselves. Have kids title it “I am thankful for…”  and then have them draw in their outline/silhouette with them wearing their favorite outfit.  Draw and cut out from magazines some things for which they are grateful.

All cousins and grandkids can take them home when they leave. It’s a great reminder for them and they can even add to it throughout the year. I would like to think they’d hang it on their bedroom wall.

  1.  The BLESSING

Every year, no matter where we are, I read this excerpt of Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation. 

**Click here to read the original speech **

Some years I add a word or two here and there to bring poignancy to just how much it correlates to our current events and to bring folks back in. Beside me choking up absolutely every year, there is usually at least one other tear jerker in the house when they hear it. If I can plant a seed and bring someone to a point of inspiration and true appreciation, I consider that a GREAT day.  Luckily I have Abe on my side to assist. 

  1.  A Holiday Movie

I know….really commercial right?!  The truth is, I really don’t enjoy going to the movie theaters to watch movies.  Honestly,  I critique them too much to enjoy them.  I think they are overpriced and the ridiculous amount of money that goes into them honestly, I find a little sickening. Hollywood so rarely meets my expectations that it’s not really ‘entertaining’ for me.  Sure, I go, once in a while but it’s just not my jam.  Sure I watch the movies years later on Netflix and I like them alright, even better than I would have had I paid $15 at a theater back when it was popular and ‘everyone else’ was going to see it.  

However, the feel good brightly colored family friendly movies that are released on Thanksgiving and Christmas day every year.  YEP!  I love going to those. If not right on Thanksgiving day then the next day…you know after the kids have finished with “the giving.” 

What are some of your favorite memories or traditions for Thanksgiving?

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THE SEEING EYE

Morristown NJ

“Neither charity nor pity…but a normal life like normal people…with the independence to come and go as I please.” -Morris Frank

Frank Morris and Buddy Walking Tour Statue Morristown | Morristown ...

What?  NJ is not in my backyard!  True.  My parents live in Morristown and in THEIR backyard are several gems.  The Seeing Eye is the ‘grande dame’ of them all.

Of course, iconic locations such as the Statue of Liberty (and Manhattan as a whole) are REQUIRED tourist attractions.  How many of us head to see family out of state for visits and twiddle our thumbs looking for things to do once we get there?  During this pandemic, how many of you are looking for things to do in your own backyard?  My advice–not that you asked for it– think like a tourist.

A couple of years ago, there was one year I had more people come visit me than usual.  I took each and every one of them to the Golden Gate Bridge.  It became “my jam.” It’s about 2 hours from my home but…to them, it was a stunning, memorable icon of US attractions. I think I went to the GGB about 5 times that year.  I did not tire of it, neah! Instead, I was a better and better hostess each time I took the next houseguest! Each houseguest was a little different, each time I learned new avenues and new history and new things. I learned and THEY were THRILLED! By the 5th or 6th houseguest, I showed the GGB like a pro! But I digress….

So, Morristown has a few gems. The Seeing Eye campus is one of them!  If you are ever anywhere even NEAR Morristown, NJ PLEASE try to plan a Thursday visit.  It’s something you will walk away thinking you have learned something new that you didn’t know you didn’t know.

Located at 10 Washington Valley Rd. (less than 1 hr from the GW Bridge out of Manhattan)  in the rural part of Morristown.  Morristown has a city center like many other small cities however,  it extends far beyond the center into a very rural area with what I would call ‘sprawling’ homes and old estates and even older converted farm houses.  So, if you are going to visit The Seeing Eye, there are plenty of places to eat, shop, gawk and daydream as you drive down long winding country roads.  Park just about anywhere along the way and enter the 90 mile Patriot’s Path for a lovely (and EASY) hike or jog or picnic in nature.

OK…THAT’S Morristown…

The Seeing Eye.  

What I knew going in was that dog trainers (and their trainees!) are seen all over Morristown city center. I also saw from passing it on the way to my parents’ house that the headquarters is quite large.  So I googled it–60 acres! Ok, that’s a lot of land! …why so much?  I’m a scientist at heart too and scientists always start with a question.  I wondered what went on in this complex that utilized 60 acres?! Inquiring minds want to know. So on one visit to my parents’ we called and reserved a spot on the weekly Thursday tour.   My son is a veritable Dr. Doolittle and he was THRILLED throughout the entire tour.  My parents who have lived in Morristown for close to 30 years–and my own mother who is a real bunny hugger–had never been so they too were enthralled with the time we spent there.

Watch this beautiful and brief 3 min. video produced by The Seeing Eye.

We met and convened in a conference room.  A person who adopted a dog from The Seeing Eye gave a presentation. Then a trainer told her story as well as a brief history of the founders and the foundation.  This part was quite brief, about 30 min.  We then were given a tour of the facility and grounds and even MORE information was disseminated throughout the tour.

In 50 words or less.  This place is a top rate, first class act.  The dining facilities have linen tablecloths and napkins, shiny silver, open spaces.  The grounds are beautiful and impeccably kept.  That’s all surface stuff, sure, but at the heart and core of it is the deep seated commitment to DIGNITY.  The entire campus emanates dignity. For that alone, I commend and applaud The Seeing Eye for carrying out the vision of its founders. 

Top Five Stunning Facts:

  1. All recipients of The Seeing Eye dogs only pay $150.  Bam! That’s it! Airfare is even included! Recipients live on campus for a little over one month to acclimate to a dog,  train and bond with it. The Seeing Eye is able to provide this because they thrive from a well managed endowment.
  2. All veterans pay only $1.  That’s it! BAM! BAM!!! If you or a veteran you know has impaired vision PLEASE spread the word!
  3. Are you or someone you know losing vision?  Interestingly enough, the woman who spoke to our group didn’t “look blind.”  At the end of her presentation she addressed that.  She said, “I know some of you are thinking that I don’t look like I’m blind.”  (Talk about transparency!) Turns out she had gone blind over the past several years.  She staved it off with denial for years and was hit by an electric car coming out of a driveway one day.  After healing, she returned to her denial and again, walking down the street she was hit by another electric car.  Turns out, electric cars make little to no noise, so she doesn’t HEAR them coming, they SEE her coming and assume she will stop and misunderstandings can be deadly.  So after the 2nd incident, she contacted The Seeing Eye.
  4. All other dogs are called Service Dogs.  Only dogs from The Seeing Eye are called Seeing Eye dogs.  They have trademarked the term.
  5. To keep the breeds pure. The Seeing Eye breeds and trains all their own dogs. They don’t adopt from anywhere. They began with only German Shepherds and now include Golden Retrievers as well.  These are the only 2 breeds they use.
  6. BONUS FACT!  Nearby families (within driving distance) can sign up as puppy trainers. This is an important part of the program because it’s important that puppies are loved and acclimated to human families at an early age.  Maybe your family can adopt a puppy temporarily with a purpose! GREAT lesson for kids (of all ages!)

Do you want to read a little more about the history of The Seeing Eye before going? Read more about the founders Morris Frank and Dorothy Eustis.

Do you have a hidden gem in YOUR backyard? Maybe you’d like to write a guest post and tell us all about it here! (Send me an email or PM on FB.) Our globe is shrinking even more during this pandemic and you don’t know what folks around you don’t know!

Do you know of great places in Morristown to spend the night or have a meal? Do have experience with service dogs? Please comment or ASK AWAY below!