It’s December and the Christmas season is upon us. I love this time of year because it is filled with family traditions. Our family has changed over the last 6 years and our traditions have evolved as well. I have enjoyed establishing family traditions because I know those traditions will lead to memories that will last us a lifetime and inspire our children to one day do the same with their own families.

Today, I’m sharing some of our family’s holiday traditions.

Serving Others

Growing up, I always saw my parents going above and beyond to help others in need. It is their service to others that fostered that same desire in me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been volunteering on Thanksgiving morning with my family’s church to prepare meals for those in need as part of the Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner, an annual even sponsored by the Mozel Sanders Foundation. Each year, the Mozel Sanders Foundation provides thousands of hot meals to people in need across the city of Indianapolis on Thanksgiving Day. When Tommy and I got married, we continued this tradition of serving on Thanksgiving morning and plan to do it as long as we can. The past three years, we have taken Jaden along with us because it’s important that he sees us serving others. Hopefully, we will inspire him to continue acts of service as he grows up.

For the past few years, we have also served with a local organization that provides Christmas trees and gifts to families in need in the county we live in. It’s always fun to wrap gifts for others and hear the stories of how much joy this organization brings to those in need during the holiday season.

Decorating The Christmas Tree

One tradition that we held in our house growing up was decorating the Christmas tree during Thanksgiving weekend. I remember playing Christmas music on my dad’s old stereo and my mom baking chocolate chip cookies. The year we got married, Tommy and I purchased our first Christmas tree and decorated it during Thanksgiving weekend. Although little, the tree was perfect for our small one bedroom apartment. Ever since, that’s been our family tradition. For the past two years, it’s been fun seeing Jaden get excited about “helping” us decorate the tree.

Breakfast with Santa

Each year, the Jaden’s daycare hosts Breakfast with Santa. We’re able to get an annual photo with Santa and enjoy some holiday fun and games with the daycare staff and other families.

Christmas Service

Each year, we invite both our families to join us at one of the many Christmas services hosted by our church. We love that we get to celebrate the true meaning of the season with both of our families.

Christmas Morning

Prior to his birth, we would spend almost all of Christmas day at my in laws house. On Jaden’s first Christmas, we started a new tradition of spending Christmas morning at home. On Christmas morning, I make breakfast and we open gifts together. My parents and grandparents have joined us in this tradition, which has made Christmas morning even more special.

I’m looking forward to continuing our family traditions and maybe adding a few more this holiday season. It’s the last Christmas we will celebrate as a family of three!

Happy Holidays!

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Leave a comment below.