What I was reminded of, rather, was that this child is just as special as Micah is. It will have it's own name, own physical characteristics, and own personality. It has been made for this time, and this place. How exciting is that?!?!
One year before Micah was born Jason and I went to a Desiring God conference in the Twin Cities. If you've never been, RUN...don't walk!!! It was a truly awesome two day conference filled with all kind of goodness and Truth! At the conference I picked up this book:
In case you can't read the small print, it is Treasuring God in our Traditions, written by Noel Piper. Noel is John Piper's wife, and John Piper is well...a great, honorable, humble, bold, (I could go on) man of God. I was super excited to read this book, but reserved as we had just gone through two miscarriages and were struggling to get pregnant again. I was not sure that I would ever even need this book, but I bought it anyway...and read the entire book on the drive home!!!
In this book Noel talks about what a tradition is, why we have traditions, and how traditions are important. She also talks about how you shouldn't just have a tradition just to have a tradition. I think she puts it best herself:
In early December, for instance, when Karsten was just over a year old, I thought about or meager Christmas traditions. I tried to see them through the eyes of a curious toddler. I imagined the conversations he and I might have during the month:
"Huzz-at?"
"Candles." Then I mentally supplied the question he wouldn't even know yet to ask:
"Why candles?"
"Why?" I realized that was a question I was going to have to answer from now on, not just for Christmas traditions that particular year, but for all years and every day. At that moment I knew that "just because" was no answer. Nor was "because that's the way Grandmother and Granddaddy do it" or "because it's pretty" or "because it's convenient" or "because that's what everybody does."
She goes on to give you practical tips and ideas for traditions that you can instill in your children that actually have meaning, not one's that just feel good or taste good (like Grandma's Butter Crunch Toffee).
I know this is getting lengthy, but bear with me...there is a prize involved!!!
So, back to me putting Micah down for the night...one idea we got from the book was to have a song that you sing to your child, not just any song, but one song for each child. The song is preferably one that is somewhat common, but also not 'Rock-a-bye Baby'. Before Micah was born I decided I wanted him to have his own song, one mommy and daddy only sang to him. I came across this hymn while visiting another church and knew it was 'it'. Oh How He Loves You and Me written by Kurt Kaiser is the song. It has a simple melody-check, shares the gospel message-check, and is pleasing to the ear-check! Here is the link if you'd like to see the lyrics.
While singing 'Micah's song' to him I realized that we only have a few weeks to decide on a song for the next little munchkin. I think I may have found one, but I am still looking. I love the idea of my kids growing up and asking me to sing them 'their' song. To share something with them that is just between us!
So, how does this incredibly wordy, ridiculously long post produce a giveaway you ask? Its simple...just post a comment either telling me one tradition that you share with your family (your parents/grandparents/children/siblings). OR if you really can't think of a tradition that you share, tell me one tradition that you would like to start!
What does the winner get?!?!?!?
A copy of Treasuring God in our Traditions!
You have until Friday January 29 to enter!
***For those of you who read this post only to view pictures of your cute little grandson, below are a few to wet your palette****
You're welcome!
Yes, he really is that cute in real life ;)
This one's old, but I just found it on my mom's memory card...and I kinda like it-minus the creepy yellow tint.
Yup, he loves the John Deere hat!
Found this on my mom's memory card too, I thought it was awesome. We got a slight snow storm on Christmas day...you can see it coming down in the background!
10 comments:
Well, this book sounds amazing!
One tradition that I want to start with my family is one that my grandma and grandpa did with us. It is called "Sock Supper". We had old red and white striped knit socks/stockings and my grandma would put a very small toy/item in the bottom and fill them with a piece of fruit, veggies, sandwiches, chips, and dessert of some kind.
There was a book she read to us called Socks for Supper about a poor couple that had nothing to eat but turnips. They had a neighbor who had a cow so they wanted to trade for food, but all they had was some yarn. So they knit socks and traded them for cheese and milk. It was a very cute book about community (or that's what it meant to me). I really need to find some new socks b/c the old ones got ruined.
I am definitely putting this book on my to read list. And I LOVE your idea about the songs for your kids...I may have to adopt that :)
Something I remember doing each year as a child, and something I would like to do with our children as they get older, is to visit a live nativity at Christmas time. I always looked forward to this as a child and I know Abbie (and maybe Olivia eventually) would really like to see the story of Jesus' birth come to life. I am not sure where they do one in our area but I would like to find out if there is one to visit next year around Christmas time. Abbie is still talking about Mary & Joseph and I think she would dig real people even more than the nativity set we have at home...which she is still asking me about why it isn't out anymore.
First of all, I LOVE that book! I re-read it at least once a year :)
Second, could you blog or e-mail me your recipes for the baked oatmeal? I'm very interested!...and hungry :)
A tradition that Brent and I started this year is to ask each other, "How was your day on a scale of 1 to 10?" We really enjoy it because it helps us to hear about the major events that shaped our day and of course the WHY it was so great or so hard! I'm looking forward to Lucy and Brayden chiming in someday. Even though I am with them all day I'm sure I will hear things I would've never known to ask them when we all sit down at dinner together. It will also help me to know how to pray for them, as it has been great for me and Brent this year!
Great idea Dolli, I love traditions! I'm making ornaments to start a Jesse Tree with our family the month of Dec... another great tradition! :o) (this is from Erin, not Brent)
I don't recall many traditions that are specific to my family, though I did try to start a few, none of them caught on. I do not want that to be the case with Grace - this year I made her a Christmas dress for her to wear at our large family gathering. I also made us matching Christmas pj pants. I plan to make pj pants for all of us in the years to come, but not always matching. I also mentioned in our blog, we are re-making the idea of stockings by putting gifts to each other in them rather than gifts from 'Santa.'
Sounds like a great book, I'm going to have to see if I can get it from the library!
Dollie, I am always blessed when I read your blog. Thank you for pictures of Micah. As for tradition, I am sure we have some, but all that comes to mind now is having a birthday cake for Jesus. I thank God again for the families He has placed all of my grandchildren in. Please know I pray for each of you daily, as well as the generations to come, should He tarry. Love, Mom (Don't put me in drawing,leaving it for the younger moms.)
Grandma Kate - That is a tradition with the family of my husband's cousin! I had never heard of it until they invited us this year. I love it and I think we will start that next Christmas :)
Gabe and Fo's special song is "Beautiful Girl" by Randy Goodgame on the "Slugs, Bugs, and Lullaby album with Andrew Peterson, except it's changed to Beautiful BOY for Fo along with a couple switch on words to fit Fo. He has sang it to him every night since he was born. At naptime, I sing "Jesus, You're Beautiful To Me" by Sarah Groves. Within the last couple months, Fo started to repeat the words with us and it just MELTED our hearts! How deep it is printed on his heart! It revealed to us how that repetition will stick with Scripture as well at such a young age.
For Christmas this year we decided on three gifts each for the kids, so we would have an answer, "That was how many gifts Jesus was given!" Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus with a coffee cake. Hope to do a cuter Advent calendar too. :)
I've read parts of that book - this encourages me to finally pick it up and finish it!
Love this post, what I needed to hear today. We seemed to have lots more traditions when the kids were littler, and we seem to outgrow them as schedules get full. I think the one my kids will never forget is snuggle time. Every night Paul worked nights, after baths and all the bed time prep was done, we would all pile into my bed and read a few stories and occasionally watch a movie or something child friendly on TV (VERY rare these days!) usually while I fed a baby. Riley (now 10 1/2) asked just a few days ago "What ever happened to snuggle time??"
Loved reading about everyone's traditions. Excited to start a few of them at our house too!
I have a friend who every year documents the year in photos. She either has a photo book made, or briefly scrapbooks it (like one pic per month on one page). Love that. So, I am trying that this year. Trying to almost take a pic per day. I have realized how important recording these memories are, after looking at my mother-in-law's albums. What a treasure!
Post a Comment