The Traditions Continue

Each year during the Christmas season we have our traditional "things" that we do.  The traditional gatherings that make the season feel special.  The downtown "Holiday" parade...We wouldn't want to put the "Christmas" label on that....unfortunately...Sorry, I digress.. I usually start the season by going to the craft show I blogged about in November. Then it's the Church Christmas broadcast from Salt Lake. Friday night it was our annual Christmas Ward (previously, Branch) social. It was different this year because of our membership growth we couldn't hold it at the Church...just too small.  So we had it at an Elementary school where a few of our members work.  My kiddos went to that school and it holds many memories of other traditional functions of the season.  Many concerts were attended by us when our boys were little. Room mother assignments for parties and basketball games too. But in a short time from now this old...really old..school will be abandoned for a shiney new one that our town passed a levy to get..along with a new middle school. All really necessary changes. But I'm not that fond of change. I like the comfort of "usual".  I'm still trying to get used to going to Church and not knowing everyone and their kin that are sitting around me. I'll be sad when the schools are empty and the former soccer field by our old home will hold a building instead of soccer nets.....  The junior high has the big auditorium where the high school has it's plays and concerts. My favorite memory is going there for a "Holiday" concert and bats started flying all over the place while the kids were singing "Silent Night"...not very reverent, but very memorable! Another reason why we need these new schools.  New traditions will be made. We'll have church socials that will be different from the old ones...but they'll be good too. They will be the start of other peoples traditions...and memories. Time moves on and we must too. Next weekend one of my favorite traditions will take Jack and I back to Chicago and my family Christmas gathering. We'll see everyone, exchange silly "white elephant" gifts, eat too much, laugh too loudly, and enjoy the days with my Mom. I know we won't always have everyone there.  My Sister's son Jono passed away in 2004, a few weeks after Christmas that year. We never would have guessed the younger generation would not always be there.  So I guess we need to treasure each tradition and enjoy the memories. I think that's why I take so many pictures. I want to preserve and stop time...just for a second. I want to be able to reflect and to remember the good times more than the bad ones.  I want my Grandkiddos to remeber YaYa always asking them to smile and think of it as "tradition"  Here are just a few snipets of our tradtional Christmas social.

 The venue

The food!

The music that brings in the Spirit and reminds us of the real reason for this season.

The older generation....Happy Birthday Estelle! She'll be 91 on Tuesday..Yep, 91! She's a beauty!

The cutie teen generation!

The big Man himself....bringing excitement and joy to the youngest generation

And YaYa and PawPaw....May we always enjoy the traditions that make this season special.