Favorite Family Tradition

"The purpose of the Church's year is continually to run through her great history of memories, to awaken the heart's memory so that it can discern the star of hope"-
 Pope Benedict XVI, Seek That Which Is Above

For today's entry I am actually using the writing prompt from Write31Days - "your favorite family tradition".  I knew this was not going to be an easy topic to write on given that I came from a culture that lived and breathed tradition.  Most of my fond memories have tradition at the very heart of it.  Now that I have my own life making traditions with my own family the choice becomes even harder.  

One of the perks of the homeschooling life is the many opportunities to create memories through traditions.  The rhythm of our days usually sway and bend with the rhythm of the liturgical calendar. Days are marked with solemnities, feast days, (saint) name day, baptism day, etc. as we add to the treasury of memories and traditions of our family life.  Admittedly, we have picked up and dropped (the ball!) on some of these celebrations through the years because sometimes the rhythm of real life trumps all.

The one favorite family tradition I pray we continue to keep is cutting down our own Christmas tree.  Come to think of it all my favorite traditions revolve around Christmas.  We usually go to our favorite tree farm on the first or second Saturday of December.  I remember one year when they were all sold-out on the second week and we had to scramble and look for a different tree farm.  It just did not feel as special.  Our favorite tree farm is not just a cut and leave place. We actually linger and sit in a heated barn drinking hot cocoa, playing checkers, chit-chat with the owners, admire the cozy Christmas store and really make a day out of it.

How we came to patronize this particular tree farm is something I've written about in the past.  The first time we went there I did not realize they only took cash or checks.  I asked an employee for the location of the nearest bank but she just handed me a self-addressed stamped envelope telling me to just mail them a check.  How can you not patronize an amazing business like that?  They've had our business ever since.  And yes, I did mail them the check that Monday.

My favorite year was when there was about four inches of snow on the ground, the pond was frozen over and the farm looked like a Christmas postcard. I wanted to build a tent there ala Peter at the Transfiguration.  It was everything I had imagined as a little girl in the tropics. I was finally living the dream, so to speak. 

 In our ideal retirement life my husband and I would be running and living in a Christmas tree farm. 

With all this Christmas talk, now is the time to remind you all that there are only 83 days before Christmas!

What is your favorite family tradition?

Now go visit my friends as they write with me this month - Nicole, Barb, and Christine