This blog is primarily a gift for my children. It is the legacy of their childhood. The best bits, the memories, successes and trials for them to look back on as adults. A gift of love and of the treasure of our family life. I don’t want to forget, but I also don’t want my children, especially the younger ones, to forget their childhood story and just how loved they were.
Something Gary and I did when we first married 16 years ago was to form our own traditions. Traditions are so important, I think, to the fabric of a family, even if that family only consists of two people deeply in love with each other. Traditions create a family identity which never dies. A simple smell or a piece of music has the power to transport you back to a moment in your history, in truth a mesh of many similar moments – the riches of a tradition oft repeated. In addition, traditions ground us, lending a soothing and comforting rhythm to our modern, frenetically paced life.
It is these traditions I intend to share here. Some we have been doing since our first year of marriage, others are newer. All are important to our family.
Our church holds a Charity Christmas Fair in late November each year. It is a chance for all the charities our church supports to come and sell their (often handmade) crafts. In addition the church is transformed into a cafe, with musicians, orchestras and singers playing in the background. We save all our pennies through out the year just for this occasion and buy many of our Christmas gifts here.
In actuality, our children begin their preparations for the fair weeks before its date. The older ones are part of the church’s youth choir and sing during the fair each year. This year A5 was old enough to join the very young children’s choir, so I had the pleasure of hearing her sing also. Here is a photo just before we left, in the choir shirts:
It is hard to take photos and avoid having other people in them so I have had to crop most of the ones I took which means they are not always the best of photos:
This event is so much bigger and ‘funner’ than my photos can show. We had a lovely time and came home with our arms laden with goodies!
Looks and sounds fabulous 🙂 you might have guessed from my blog but I love all things Christmas!
Me too! Autumn and winter up ’til new year are my favourite times of the year!
So much is happening in your household that I can’t keep up! 🙂 Thank you for sharing one of your family traditions, which I, too, feel is really important to have. Lovely to see the active participation of your children in your church activities. 🙂
We’ve slowed down somewhat this week as my youngest is vomiting everywhere!
Oh no! Hope she is better now!
I love Christmas, and enjoy hearing about other people’s traditions. Will you be sharing more?
I thought I’d share our Christmas traditions.
What a great family tradition. I love the children’s choir. I was in one of those for 13 years of my childhood. It was very important to me. I am sure the kids will cherish these memories.
Blessings, Dawn
They love the choir. It’s run by one of our very talented friends who chooses the most fabulous songs for them to learn.
Sounds like so much fun! So great that your kids participate in singing – A5 looked just adorable! What a great tradition – and a great way to support charities. By the by, I really like your new buttons 🙂
blog icon buttons… I don’t know what to call them!
Yes, I’m teaching myself new things all the time!! It’s probably overkill but I’m enjoying making them so much I keep popping in ‘just one more’!
Lovely as always-such a blessing for all of us to see
you and your family in action!
Hi Tonyia! Thank you very much!
What lovely memories. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your sweet family.
Thank you Phyllis
What sweet memories you are making with your children. Their pictures are just lovely. Your blog will be a wonderful scrapbook of treasures.
Hope you have had a most excellent day.
I really hope so Donna. The children already love looking back at all the photos.
I love the memories and traditions that you share with us. It does look like lots of fun.
Thanks Beth.
What a wonderful event, and how fun to be able to go.
We really do all look forward to going. Granny usually comes as well, but she couldn’t this year.