As we grow older and our families grow older and grow in number, it’s been hard to keep the same traditions we have done in the past. We will try to recall some of the traditions we tried to establish when the families were smaller and grandchildren were younger…it’s been so much fun, and we had to be creative and make some changes as the years went on. Some of it continues on to the next generation as their families gather together.
Most of our family traditions center around the two holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving: We have gathered at our home in the past, but now that has changed off and on. I HAVE to make Danish Red Cabbage for a few that like it. I also make a sweet potato casserole that we all love and has been passed on – of course, the regular pumpkin and pecan pies. Darin and his family live in California, so we miss them.
Christmas: Christmas for our entire family was always held at our home after our church service at Calvary. Our whole family attended the service and met at our house for soup…Oyster stew…chicken noodle and chili…a must-have was also the Danish cucumber sandwiches sprinkled with dill weed…the frozen Mint Dessert was always a must, as well as Jesus Birthday Cake…cookies, breads, candies were enjoyed as well…sometimes the grandchildren helped to make the Danish peppernuts (a labor of love taking about 6 hours of rolling, cutting and baking…well worth the time that we hope will be passed on for generations to come!!)
When the Grandchildren were young, they put on a little program which involved almost everyone and was so much fun….I hope that too will be passed on to incoming generations…We then went downstairs, and Grandpa read the Christmas Story at the level all ages could understand…maybe even a child would read it…We shared gift-giving…grandma tried to be creative in various ways to involve everyone, trying not to focus just on US, but OTHERS…it was always such a fun and BLESSED evening with our WONDERFUL family. We always missed Darin, Meeghan, and family except for the few times they were free to join us.
As we are older, we have to let those traditions go and realize we are not in charge anymore…they have to be free to create their own, and we’ll join in when invited.