traditions

I struggle with traditions, generally. This probably takes root in the fact that over the past 8 years there's not been a ton on consistency in where I am or what I'm doing during the holidays. As a kid there was a rotation between my parents' families, which may or may not have involved the occasional Christmas gift exchange at the Dairy Queen in Ballinger, TX. Or a football game involving me and all my male cousins. Or just a little bit of awesome.

Over the past 8 years or so, God has taught me to roll with the punches as far as holidays go. He likes to remind me that Earth is not truly my home... heaven is.

A few favorite stories from holidays over the past 8 years:

• Going skiing with most of my mom's fam. It was really fun, except when I ruined the snow mobile ride as I cried because it was 20 below. And when my uncle busted his face open.
• That one time we ate Thanksgiving dinner at Golden Corral. As expected- really, really gross.
• When Collin came to his first family holiday with me while we were dating, and my grandma good-gamed him. That's just how she does things.
• At Christmastime when my niece, Kimmie, was 18 months old and I danced her to sleep to cajun soul music every night for a week. I'm sure I ruined her sleep routine for weeks. Sorry Christy.
• Going out of America for the 1st time to England to see my brother's fam and getting to go to Ely catherdal's Christmas Eve service.
• Following a trip to Sherman, TX to spend a holiday with my brother's fam, my mom and I decided it was imperative we run to Oklahoma to go to a casino. We stayed an hour, earning enough to buy ourselves lunch (about $7 each). Then we remembered that Oklahoma is among our least favorite places and bolted back to good ol' Tejas. It's the only time I've gambled anything more valuable that goldfish crackers.

Anyhow... all that to say that I struggle with wanting to build traditions as Collin and I are still forming our little family. All I see is a reason to miss people, places, or things down the road. I think this issue of mine is a total let down to Collin. I think this year we ought to pursue some holiday tradition that points us heavenward in a concrete way, because otherwise it's going to be really hard for me to buy in. It has to be a transportable tradition- one that will work no matter where we are in the world. Otherwise I'll have a reason to be really pouty if/when we move overseas and said tradition can't happen. Thoughts?