Two more Christmas traditions

When I was in college, I started buying all of these Christmas books. I enjoyed reading Christmas books during the Christmas season. Now that I have kids, this is a little bit harder to accomplish, but I still enjoy it.

This Christmas season I'm reading this:

I bought it at least two years ago, and am just now getting to it. (I forgot I had it last year, how often do you peruse your bookshelves?)

John went to bed when the kids went to bed tonight because he wasn't feeling well, and I turned off all the lights, except the Christmas trees, and read by the lights on the Christmas tree. I'm only on page 60 or so, and I've already cried through most of the book!!!

I love this book's message so far. Have you ever noticed when hearing Christmas stories from long ago, it seemed that all people wanted for Christmas were things that they needed? Like, it was a boy's wish just to get a coat for Christmas, or to have food on the table? How spoiled are we in this day and age? Though, I know there are still people out there that still have those same desires, it seems like it is more about all the frilly stuff now. Don't get me wrong, I love frilly stuff (not be confused with my dislike of fru fru stuff), but it all seems a little much when you are reading about stories where all someone wanted for Christmas was a coat, but their single mother couldn't afford it, and they didn't get it, but it ended up being their best Christmas ever anyway. I still just wish I could have been there to buy the coat for him.

This leads me to my next Christmas tradition.

Every year at Christmas time, my family did secret santa for families. The old ring the doorbell and run. I have memories of sitting with my family in a dark station wagon, on a dark street, waiting with excitement for my dad and brother to come running to the car hoping they didn't get caught. I can think of times sitting with my mom making a list of what to give the families. I enjoyed wrapping the presents. I even remember the card board boxes sitting on the table being filled to take. Some of the families that we did, I had been to their homes, I knew they were less fortunate, and knew the boxes would be appreciated.

This is a tradition I want to carry on with my children. Even John, a few weeks ago said, "We haven't chosen a family to do secret santa for yet."

This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.