So part of having an abundant life is not just getting things done and achieving them. it’s about spending less time on the things you have to do to make more time for the things you want to do. And this time of the year is a perfect time to start stretching your priority mussels. It’s easy to get lost in the things we have to do and not enjoy the things we want to do that create the memories that give us that abundant life. So here are some ideas on Christmas traditions you can add to your life to make the holidays a little more abundantly joyful.
Decorating:
I love decorating at Christmas. It’s really the only holiday I want to decorate for. There have been years with less going on, but still, I get some holiday cheer spread around the house. I think one of the best things you can do is make it a tradition when you decorate. For me, it was and still is the Saturday after Christmas. We knew that Saturday was Christmas decorating with music and movies and fun. I also know people that it’s what they do on thanksgiving. Whatever you choose, just pick that time every year to look forward to Christmas decorations.
Heath Bar Coffee Cake
This is a Christmas day tradition. It’s not Christmas breakfast without the heath bar Coffee Cake. It’s a family secret recipe and I have yet to bring myself to sharing the recipe because it was my Grandma’s tradition that you don’t share the recipe, just the food. Maybe someday. But I took over making the coffee cake and I still make it in the same pan she did. And one day I’ll hand it over to one of my kids.
Donuts
I’m not as extra as my grandma was, so I don’t wake up on Christmas morning to make donuts. But I did decide to make donuts on our Decoration day. And these aren’t just any donuts, they’re benjets. Not that I knew that growing up. My grandma just made cinnamon sugar donuts and they were my fav! After she passed I figured I’d never had them again because she didn’t leave a recipe, and I just knew some of her friends brought her the mix every year. Then I went to New Orleans and found out, she made bengets. So now I have them again every year at Christmas time.
Festival of Lights
This is a local tradition. My husband and I have been going every year since we met. It’s the light show at the zoo and it’s full of hot chocolate and lights and music and some of the animals are still out. This will be our second year with kids at the festival and I can’t wait.
Making Paper Snowflakes
This is something I always loved to make as a kid. I always loved seeing how my little cuts would make a snowflake. And I’m going to have my kiddos make some for the decor. Plus, you can leave them up a little longer since it’s more winter decor.
Christmas Music
I love Christmas music, and since there aren’t many thanksgiving songs, I always start the Christmas music at the beginning of November, and I won’t apologize. This season, one of my favorite lists is actually a trap music list. Click here to check it out.
Christmas Eve Service
We always do christmas eve service as a family. I miss the days of candle light services, but still, the nostalga of getting together and singing traditional music and hearing the christmas story. It just makes me cozy.
Hallmark Movies
I love the cheesy Hallmark movies. Even though you know how it will end and every story is the same, these movies peppered into my normal Christmas movie mix just brings joy to the season.
Find Baby Jesus
This is what My family did before elf in the shelf existed. My mamaw hid baby Jesus for the month of December since Jesus wasn’t born till December 25. The person that found him got an extra Christmas present. And it wasn’t easy. I don’t think I ever found him, but it was fun trying.
New: Waffle House at Midnight
This is one of the new traditions we want to start. After Christmas eve service, we’re going to take the kids to the waffle house and get hot chocolate. It will be late, it will be cozy, they can have as much as they want so they go crazy then a sugar crash. It will either be great or a disaster that we never do again. We’ll see, but it will be a memory.
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