A couple of weeks ago, I described my family’s tree decorating scenario to a friend. Full of whining, disciplining, grumbling, and short tempers, it was a not the memory-making night I had planned, and my friend laughed when she said she knew exactly what I meant. She gave me a rundown of the hectic experience at her house, punctuated with one of her daughter’s shouted remarks to the other: “Stop it! You’re ruining Mom’s memories!”

I’m writing over at Christine Chappell’s blog today about how traditions should serve the purpose of helping us focus on Christ instead of tying us down to rigid memory-making routines that bring no enjoyment to anyone.  Christine is the author of Clean Home, Messy Heart and was gracious enough to lend me her blog while I tried to figure out just how to make traditions and Advent work together for my family. I hope you’ll join me while I tell what went wrong and what I hope to get right in showing my kids how to see Jesus the most during the holidays.  Click here to read!