2001

I have this thing for tradition. I own no less than five books on ideas for creating family rituals. From our holidays and vacations to our everyday routines, my husband and I have built some pretty amazing family traditions.

2002

Each Christmas season, we go to the Candlelight Tour at Mount Vernon.

2003

We all make a wish as we toss a penny into the fountain before we leave the hotel at the end of our vacations.

2004

We pray for Dilu, the sweet child we sponsor through World Vision, as a family, at every meal.

2005

My longing for tradition isn’t born of purely of nostalgia, though admittedly there is some in the mix. No, I love ritual because of the continuity it provides with the heart of our family – Love. Our traditions are an anchor. The winds of change may blow all around us, but one thing doesn’t change. We are a family of deep love.

2006

……….

2007

On Christmas Day, 11 years ago, Derek and I decided to chuck our plans for a big fall wedding the following year, and use the 12 days of Christmas to plan a wedding. (I wasn’t pregnant, as everyone suspected, though we did have big plans.)

2008

As much as I love tradition, I wasn’t attached to many of the typical bride’s ideas of the perfect wedding day. I didn’t have any attendants; my best friends were not even there. I didn’t walk down an isle. We never cut a wedding cake or had a first dance. There was no photographer.

2009

In front of an amazing stone fireplace, next to a Christmas tree, we entered into a covenant. In the presence of our immediate family and God, we promised a forever love, only possible because of the birth of the baby we celebrate at Christmas. It was the perfect wedding, for us.

2010

On our honeymoon, we purchased a customized “Just Married” ornament. As I was watching the artist write our names, I had a vision of a Christmas tree filled with anniversary ornaments. And so it was born, one of our first family traditions.

2011

May several generations of our family sit, Christmas morning, under a tree filled with reminders of our great love.

2012

Happy Anniversary, Derek. I love you always.

2013

What are your favorite family traditions? I would love to hear!

This article has 4 comments

  1. Carol Carter Reply

    Your great love blesses all that are touched by it! Some of my favorite traditions are weekly worship, daily scripture reading & check-in with the Lord, baking around the holiday, Black Friday shopping with family, Lenten reflections, and spring flower planting. All of them are opportunities to count my many blessings…

  2. Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy Reply

    So sweet. And I just went back and read your wedding story for the first time–how fun!! We’ll have to talk about this in person the next time we get to share gluten-free pizza šŸ™‚

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