I wish that you could meet the people on our team. They are sincere, passionate, loving, and creative leaders. I enjoy coming to work everyday because I look forward to working with this team.
One of the things that I love most about our team is their commitment to their own families. They are some of the best mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters that you will ever meet.
Here are some of the Christmas traditions that they enjoy with their families. Feel free to steal a few and make them your own!
Christmas Eve Tradition
Thea Russell - Waumba Land Host Team Director, Browns Bridge Campus
We used to gather every year on Christmas Eve at my Grandmother’s house. We would laugh, eat a ton of food, open presents, and just enjoy being together! We’ve done this every year since I was born. A few years ago my grandmother passed away and I really missed our traditional Christmas Eve family celebration. I wanted this tradition for my children!
Now we stay home together every Christmas Eve. We read The Nativity Story, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and bake cookies. Later in the evening, my husband dresses up like Santa and sneaks out to the backyard. As soon as my little one spots him she runs as fast as she can upstairs to her room, hops in bed, and closes her eyes! My older kids and I play along and try not to laugh to loud!
Christmas Morning
Tracy Stonecheck – Waumba Land Director, Browns Bridge Campus
This tradition started when my dad was a little boy. I’m not sure how many generations before him did this, but I am keeping it going!
We have a big Christmas Eve “open house” party! We invite everyone we know to drop-in, eat, and visit. When everyone leaves, we clean up and put all the presents under the tree.
Then, in the middle of the night, we wake up the kids (crazy, I know…) and tell them to come downstairs because Santa came! (This becomes a challenge when your older children don’t believe anymore, BUT they love presents so they get out of the bed!).
We open “Santa” presents, take pictures in our MATCHING PJ’S (that’s right – every year!) and then insist that everyone go back to bed for a few hours or play quietly. I have wonderful memories of playing with my toys with my two sisters at 5:00 a.m. while my parents were snoring!
When we get up later that morning, we eat scrambled eggs with ham and cheese and hashbrowns. We eat this EVERY Christmas morning. Don’t even try to change the menu (my sister tried one year!) We spend Christmas afternoon opening presents from each other and watching Christmas movies.
I guess the best thing about this tradition is that I am surrounded by my entire family. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Hi I found this post really useful as it can be challenging to set realistic goals which fall apart by Febuary. I hope you don’t mond if i put this on my blog, i’ll put a link to your awesome site on, thanks and hapy new year.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
sorry i love this post but the last comment should have been for the goal setting article. thanks