TracyQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1323
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| Posted: Nov 07 2007 at 3:51pm | IP Logged
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We LOVE spending Christmas with our extended family! It's such a blessing to have our family, and my kids would be upset if we couldn't spend it with them!!! Ot was much more difficult when the kids were little for all of us to get up and out, and have so many places to go, but it was well worth it because of the relationship we all have now.
My husband is one of 9, and I am one of 6, and we spend Christmas eve with my dh's side of the family, have dinner, open gifts, then all of us go to Midnight Mass! My husband's the organist, and two of his brothers play their trumpet and sax for Midnight Mass (which is at 10:00 p.m.  ). Most of the rest of the family comes to celebrate Mass with our whole family at our parish. Our kids and I are in the choir at church with my dh, so as a little family, we do make our traditions too!
The next day, my dh has to go play at least one morning Mass, so we get up early, open gifts, and have Christmas breakfast together, which I have usually gotten ready and in the fridge the night before (egg casserole or something). While he goes off to play the organ at Mass, I clean up the wrapping/boxes, etc., and the kids play with their new games or gifts (they're older now, and there are a LOT less toys!  ) This is our little family tradition. Then we all go in the late afternoon to my brother's house to spend Christmas afternoon/evening with my family for Christmas dinner, etc.
It's a great balance we've made. While it's busy, it's beautiful! My dh's dad has passed away (when he was younger), and my mom is by herself (my dad abandoned us), so our huge extended family for both of them is very important to them. It's been one of the biggest blessings of my life to gather with our family every Sunday evening (for my dh's side), and for our traditional holidays with both families.
I know one day things will change; our moms will no longer be with us, the kids will be growing up, and having families of their own, and then as the extended family grows, we'll have to develop new tradtions where we'll have to gather within our own little families with their families, and the traditions from now will be passed down. For now, I'll rejoice in the gift of the family God has given to us, and be thankful for this time. 
Tracy
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Ideas for Christmas Day at home?
