This borrowed tradition works really well for our little family because we can plan the party any time – no worries about any specific date.

One of my husband’s younger sisters is staying with us for a while. I’m sure she thought the kids were crazy! They were so excited that they couldn’t stop running around and around the house.

Many of the ornaments are ones that my grandma made each year. I think I told her how grateful I was to have unbreakable ornaments – I hope I told her!

There are also several ornaments that were gifts to my husband from his parents when he was a kid. We’ve adopted this tradition, too.

This year, the kids discovered that the Nutcracker actually opens and closes his mouth. See my son’s tongue starting to stick out as he concentrates on this mechanical complexity? It’s a dependable trait, which I find comforting!

Our tree has been undecorated several times since the party – especially the candy canes. The kids know they’re not supposed to take them off the tree.

But there are ways around anything, you know…

God came to a world that was in need of a savior!

This is a crazy mystery – one that is so hard to believe that I had to re-examine it this year. If you get a chance to review how Jesus’ life matches up with Old Testament prophecies… the details are amazing, even down to God’s choice of shepherds to come see Jesus in the barn where he was born. The shepherds examined the perfect sacrificial lamb, and they rejoiced in the peace that is offered to a pain-filled world.

I wish you a holiday full of family, traditions, time together, and peace!