Family Traditions From Generation to Generation

Mom
Ezra Taft Benson wrote (Ensign, Nov 1989) "Foster wonderful family traditions which will bind you together eternally. In doing so, we can create a bit of heaven right here on earth within individual families.
After all, eternity will be but an extension of righteous family life."
Granddaughters - 4 generations sharing family traditions

Holiday traditions: Kids of all ages love it!
Thanksgiving, Dutch Christmas(Dec 6th), Parent's Christmas Party, Grandchildren's cookie party, Christmas Eve Nativity presentation, Christmas Night & family games.


Family Tradition: Thanksgiving Dinner


Letter to our children and grandchildren: Be Grateful - Thoughts of Thanksgiving
"To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." (Pres. Thomas S. Monson Oct. 2010)


"It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart."


"Gratitude is the very essence of worship – thanksgiving to the God of Heaven, who has given us all that we have that is good." (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley)
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” (Greek philosopher Epictetus)



Family tradition: Dutch Christmas (Dec 6th), The Dutch kept the St. Nicholas tradition alive. In sixteenth-century Holland, children placed wooden shoes by the hearth the night of St. Nicholas's arrival. The shoes were filled with straw, a meal for the saint's gift-laden donkey. In return, Nicholas would insert a small treat into each clog. In America, the shoe was replaced with the stocking, hung by the chimney. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas "Sint Nikolass," which in the New World became "Sinterklass". later changed to "Santa Claus".
Saint Nikolaas (Sinter Klaas), from the Dutch Father Christmas, from the English Kris Kringle, Christkind from the Germans , Befana from the Italians, Bobouschka, from the Russians (a grand motherly figure instead of a male)

Letter to our children and grandchildren: This Christmas Book, The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes was special because it reminded us of our own Dutch Christmas celebrations. We hope you got to put your shoes out on 5 Dec. and that you received a treat on the 6th of Dec. Traditionally you got a book or game at that time. Something to enjoy while waiting for the big Christmas Day on the 25th.
Dad/Grandpa served his first mission in Germany and your Uncle Larry served in Holland. Both of them experienced Christmases where these traditions were honored.

We hope you too have holiday traditions that you share with each other. The most cherished traditions of this holiday is the remembrance of Jesus Christ and his love and service to mankind. We too can honor his traditions by serving others and believing in Him.

Family tradition: Parent's Christmas Party
Adult children join together in a festive meal and a game or two.


Grandchildren's cookie party
The anticipated "cookie party" or sometimes the "gingerbread house" party is for grandchildren and any adults that are young at heart.

Decorating and eating the yummy sweets is a real treat.




Letter to our children and grandchildren: After decorating cookies we watched “The Polar Express” and saw the children in the movie enjoy hot chocolate, song and dance.
We journeyed with them as they learned to believe in themselves, in goodness, in friendship, in faith, and in happiness.

May we too enjoy the journey of life and learn to believe in ourselves, in goodness, in friendship, in faith, in happiness, and most of all in the Son of God, The Savior of the World, Our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ. May we teach the children to believe in the true meaning of Christmas…



Birthday parties brings cousins together all through the year.


Christmas Eve & Nativity presentation,
Luke 1:1-13 (New Testament of the Bible)
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Letter to our children and grandchildren: The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following 2010 Christmas message:
"Prophets and Apostles Speak Today First Presidency 2010 Christmas Message .
In celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ our thoughts turn to that sacred occasion when He was born “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He promised: “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Truly, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer who was “wounded for our transgressions … and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Our prayer this Christmas season is that the light and testimony of the Savior's divine mission will come into our hearts and be reflected in our lives and in our homes.

May each of us be blessed, not only at this Christmas season, but also throughout the coming year. May our faith in Jesus Christ increase as we follow His example in all we do and say."


Christmas Night & family games. Letter to our Christmas Treasures - our children and grandchildren: May you remember now and all through the coming year that Jesus is The Christ, The Savior & Redeemer of the World. The greatest gift you can give is to keep His Commandments and serve one another. How blessed we are to know that He lives and loves us.