One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

I love traditions.  The Collins dictionary defines "tradition" as:

"the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc., esp by word of mouth".  

I am thankful for the traditions that we have started with our family.  I am thankful for the tradition of picking out a Christmas tree, even if we had to modify it a bit and pick it up from the school parking lot.  

"This is embarrassing"  was our children's response to posing with our tree (even though we waited for the buses to leave).  I am hoping that one day they will be thankful for the traditions that we have started and that they too will start traditions of their own with their families.

I am especially grateful for the gift of my parents and grandparents "handing down from generations to generations" their beliefs and the Word of God.  We too as parent would like to do the same - to "Impress them on our children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up".

Continuing to give thanks...
#4094-#4114

-tradition of choosing a Christmas tree

-tradition of family pictures around the Christmas tree

-helping decorate the Christmas tree (although they are becoming less interested in that)

-her giving heart, especially at Christmas time

-how she is planning to give something/ make something for all the widow ladies in our church

-her interest in the ornaments, particularly the glass ones and the candy canes!

-how he helped his father with the lights outside, so that I didn't have to

-our beautiful, rather large, Christmas tree

-how my sister is very humble about her gifts and talents
-how she loves to help others

-poinsettias on all of our tables

-our tradition of a scavenger hunt with the stockings

-celebrating Dutch tradition, by opening our stockings on Sinterklaas (Dec.5)

-an intergenerational game of Memory
-the blessing of cousins

-her new best friend and how she adores her second cousin

-how she overflows with love for her daughter (and all of her family members)
-her sense of humour and having lots of laughs with her while watching "Home Alone 2"

-loving the snow

-preparing her ammunition before the bus comes

-a dollar store toy that works and hasn't broke (yet)