hello, my lovely friends! it’s been a hot minute but I’m so excited to be back at writing again. pearl tagged me last week, and since I love all things Christmas, I decided this would be the perfect thing to get back into blogging again. I just finished finals for this semester, so I need a little Christmas fun! (well, now it’s been a few weeks, but why not extend the Christmas cheer a little farther? 😉)
the rules
- mention who tagged you
- answer the questions
- tag friends & notify them
- have fun
the questions
- what are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? and what’s something new that you want to try this month?
- what’s your favorite christmas recipe, food, or drink?
- every christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. but if you could have the perfect christmas, what would the day look like for you?
- what are some of your favorite winter activities? (e.g. caroling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)
- do you decorate? how?
- what is your favorite christmas song or hymn? why is it your favorite?
- what’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this christmas? and what’s your favorite gift to give others?
- describe some of your favorite christmas memories.
- what is your favorite christmas-y book? movie?
- list ten words to that encapsulate the feel of christmas for you.
- in your own words, what is the meaning of christmas?
my answers
- what are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? and what’s something new that you want to try this month?
one of the things I especially love is decorating the tree with my family. we have cookies and apple cider, and put on our favorite Christmas carols. my mom pulls out all the ornaments and makes sure they have hooks, and my sister and I put them all on the tree. it’s usually a nice mix of family and glass ornaments. thankfully, we don’t usually do tinsel; I think the tree looks much better without it XD
another thing we always do is taking a family picture on the stairs every year. when we do our family Christmas, there’s usually 4 of us 6 kids home, and most of the grandchildren too. the stockings are hung on the staircase, and after all the chaos of Christmas day has calmed down, we all gather on the steps and my mom gets a picture! it’s always a fun few minutes of everyone getting there and in a spot where they can be seen. my nieces and nephews are all old enough now that they want to sit by themselves and not with an aunt or uncle. sometimes we’re a little squished, but it’s so much fun to look back on past years and see how everyone’s changed over time. we almost missed the picture this year, but thankfully, we got it before everyone left.
- what’s your favorite christmas recipe, food, or drink?
I’ll be honest and say I love all the food at Christmas time! it’s the time of year when all our favorite family recipes get pulled out again. however, something I will always eat until the end of time is raisin filled cookies. a woman from my church used to make them every year, and they were the best cookies ever. she died a few years ago, and I haven’t had those cookies since then. but, my mom got a very similar recipe from another friend, and they’re just as good!
- every christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. but if you could have the perfect christmas, what would the day look like for you?
for me, a perfect Christmas would happen over a few days. everyone would come home for a weekend, and we have Christmas Eve on Friday and Christmas Day on Saturday. No one has to work, and it’s snowing just enough to look pretty and play in, but the roads aren’t bad.
Christmas Eve would just be a day of games, food, and probably several Christmas movies. Most of us would be outside in the snow for at least an hour or so, throwing snowballs and building snowmen. there would be cocoa and cider ready for us when we came inside. That night, we’d have a birthday cake for Jesus.
Christmas morning would consist of everyone sleeping in, and cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast. Before opening gifts, we’d read Luke 2. After gifts, the kids would play with their new toys, and my siblings and I would play games and probably put Legos together. We wouldn’t have any set meals because there’s always plenty of food if you’re hungry.
If you couldn’t already tell, I love Christmas, but especially when the family is home!
- what are some of your favorite winter activities? (e.g. caroling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)
I do love Christmas caroling, but this year was the first year in a long time that I’ve been able to go. We went to a nursing home the first time, and the second time was at a town Christmas festival.
Snow is not a favorite of mine, but I do enjoy building snowmen and having snowball fights. when my brother was home this week, he, my sister, and I built two snowmen: one by the front door and another in the front yard. The snow was perfect for that AND making snowballs. My nephews were bound and determined to get me with a snowball, but their mission was unsuccessful XD
- do you decorate? how?
we generally decorate with a lot of nativities. my mom collects them, and she has ones from all over the world. it takes a while to put them up, and then forever to put away again XD so this year, we didn’t put out as many. my favorite nativity is the one my uncle got from Italy; it has several villagers in it too.
we also decorate a tree every year, and my sister tries to get the tallest one that will possibly fit in the living room. this year, she also hung lights in the living room and on the doorframe between the living and dining room. we have a garland of mittens that have lost their mate hanging over the doorframe, and that’s where all the Christmas cards are hung up. I think that’s my favorite Christmas decoration! all the mittens were made by either my mom or grandmother, and every time I walk by I see all the cards from family and friends. the last few years, I’ve added lights to the garland too, so there’s no shortage of Christmas light in our house XD
- what is your favorite christmas song or hymn? why is it your favorite?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Handel’s Messiah. it was the finale of my college’s Christmas celebration this year, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I’m going to a performance of the Messiah next weekend with my family and friends, and I am beyond excited to hear the entire production! It’s my favorite because of the majesty and awe it inspires.
- what’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this christmas? and what’s your favorite gift to give others?
I’m really hoping for some new clothes! it would be nice to have some new things for next semester. new books would be great too! it’s always such a vibe sitting on the couch and reading on Christmas afternoon, when all the busyness has calmed down, and it’s just a great time to rest.
I love giving people things that I know they want or are on their wish list. however, it is fun to branch out and pick gifts that will be their new favorite thing!
- describe some of your favorite christmas memories.
any that include family and friends <3
- what is your favorite christmas-y book? movie?
my favorite Christmas book is The Christmas Doll by Elvira woodruff (read my book review here!). I read it every year and it’s so sweet and sad. collections of Christmas stories are also a go-to. we have at least 3, and I’ve borrowed 1 or 2 from the library too.
my favorite Christmas movie is definitely Home Alone! I could watch it every year and never get tired of it. only the first one though, the other ones aren’t as good, in my opinion.
- list ten words to that encapsulate the feel of christmas for you.
silent night, expectation, wonder, light, music, cold, snowfall, hope, and love.
- in your own words, what is the meaning of christmas?
to me, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus and the hope we have through his birth, life, and death on the cross for our sins. it’s a time of hope and joy, remembering that the tiny baby in the manger is the reason we are able to receive salvation and have a relationship with God.
last but not least, the tags
Bethany @ Wandering Inkwells
Betsy @ poppyseeds 1720
let’s chat!
how was your Christmas? what does Christmas mean to you? do you have any special traditions?
