Home for the Holidays

Photo from FreeDigitalPhotos.net by feelart

I feel really conflicted when I hear the “home for the holidays” song on the radio.

Honestly, I still don’t really know where home is.

I miss a LOT of things we did as a family at Christmas in the bay area.  I saw that Bethlehem was there last week and I literally got a little teary.  I really miss that, but I also have to remember it took a good 5 years to really get traditions of our own in California.  This is only year #3 here.

I miss things from Utah.  I miss going to Temple Square to see the lights, and the Primary Children’s Christmas tree thing, I miss Christmas Around the World, I miss being with my family, I even miss snow (but only on Christmas, I am fine without it the rest of the year).

I know we need to dive into traditions around here.  I’m having a hard time though.  I REALLY miss stuff from California.  So, here’s 5 ways I’m going to do it, tell me what YOU are going to do!

1.  Involve friends.  We have great friends here, and I think the more we do things over and over (even simple things) it becomes a tradition and something we look forward to.

2.  Get out!  One of the best things about living in the dessert is great weather in the winter.  I hope to do some hikes and enjoy the cool crisp air!  I remember playing in the snow when I was growing up.  Might as well play in the sunshine too!

3.  Use religion.  Christmas is about Christ, and while probably 50% of our traditions don’t involve Christ, I would hope that many will.  We need to somehow make the Mesa temple lights a tradition.  So far it’s been just trying to trudge through, but maybe if we…

4.  INCLUDE FOOD.  There were restaurants we pretty well only visited on our Christmas traditions in California.  We can do that here too.  I love food, and regardless of what you think, food brings back many memories AND traditions!

5.  Ask around, read.  There’s plenty to do at the holidays, it’s just hard to know what’s good and what’s not so good.  Or, at least what would be good for YOU (and me, with a 4 year old is different then what we would have done with just one baby back in California).

6. Realize that traditions aren’t big thing.  We don’t have to spend a lot of money, or a whole day doing a tradition.  Kids remember us, having fun together year after year because we are a loving family who LOVES Christmas!