I love Christmas traditions. After our Christmas was disrupted last year due to moving and temporarily living with relatives, my kids seem to have lost their Christmas spirit. While I tried my best to do all of the things that my kids are used to experiencing between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, it just wasn't the same. I wasn't quite myself, our busyness never died down, and we were still navigating life with a new baby in the family again.

This year, it's back to business as usual- just in a new house. I've been prepping for weeks, doing everything within my power to bring back the magic of Christmas. The hot cocoa bar is set up, I have everything we need for cookie-baking, the house is decorated inside and out, and it's finally time to set up and trim our new Christmas tree, which Sacha and I are very much looking forward to. The kids, however, still seem indifferent. Who can blame them, really? After two strange years of Christmas, thanks to Covid-19, and another being displaced, they might not even remember what Christmases past were like.

My hope is that after we get our tree up, participate in worship on Sunday, and then kick off the Advent season with Christmas Traditions (an annual event hosted by our church where we have soups and make Advent wreaths), my kids will start to remember and feel the joy of the holiday season.

If anything, my prayer remains that they keep the birth of Jesus close at heart. Our traditions as a Christian family are most important to me of all, along with spending time with people we love most, and serving others.

What have you done in preparation for Christmas/the holidays? Do you put up a Christmas tree? If so, when does it go up? I'd love to hear more about your Christmas traditions! Leave a comment below or join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful and joy-filled weekend as we kick off December!