Christmas Traditions

Ashley over at Our Happily Ever Afters is doing a link up of Christmas traditions so here are mine! This is third Christmas that Chip and I have spent together as a married couple and during that time we have started our own Christmas traditions for our little family.  We put up our tree sometime during the week of Thanksgiving and fill it with ornaments that we have collected while traveling! I love that each of our ornaments has a special memory of time that we have shared together.  Another tradition is to watch our favorite Christmas movies after we have made cookies together.  I absolutely love the time we spend cutting out cookies and laughing at Rudolph and Frosty!

Rudolph and Hermie

Fixin to make some cookies Y'all :) 

The end product cookies and hot chocolate which now reside in my belly:)

Chip and I firmly believe in giving back to the community and we hold a coat drive, toy drive, and gingerbread workshop with local homeless children each year.  This is fun for me because I get to play with all the kids at the shelter and act like a big kid!  We also give presents to each of the children every year.  Christmas is my favorite time of year because my soul rejoices at the birth of Jesus Christ and how much God had to love us to send his son into this cursed world just to die...

Presents and Gingerbread Houses all ready to go for the big party at our local homeless shelter!

I try to take time during the Christmas season to reflect on God's purpose for my life and think about how far I am along the path of accomplishing the things that he set before me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Here are pictures of our tree and my table setting........

 Not a terrific picture but here is our tree:)

Our Table

If you have not had the opportunity to try out "Elf Yourself" you should because it is so funny.  Chip and I were unable to send cards to everyone we wanted to this year so we sent a little elf video instead. Here is our picture and a link to our video.  Merry Christmas!

 

Our Elf video