Today I am so honored to be a part of A Holiday with Heart tour hosted by Jennifer Stagg. If you are stopping by after visiting Sarahmdorseydesigns.blogspot.com welcome!
You may have seen my first Christmas tour of the year, posted yesterday. While I hope you enjoy the photos just as much today, I am hoping you will find yourself inspired in a different way today.
This post is all about traditions, what traditions does your family Have? What do you look forward to each season?
My favorite thing about traditions is there is no right or wrong. It’s about what you do as a family to make each season special. Each family is unique, even my kids each have a different tradition they look forward to each year. For my daughter, she knows the Christmas season has come upon us when I pull out my favorite candle.
Many of our traditions are centered around the kitchen. Whether it’s baking my mother’s plum cake recipe, or making treats to take to the neighbors. Each season we have many recipes that we just have to make or it doesn’t feel like Christmas!
Every Christmas, I am reminded of my Mom everywhere I look. She loved the Holidays. She also had a passion for decorating, she enjoyed helping me find just the right items for our first tree as a married couple. Then later on, when I was ready to add a second tree to our home, she would come up from Texas with huge bins strapped to their vehicle, filled with items to help me decorate my home for the Holidays (my poor dad, between the two of us, he had no choice but to go along).
Six years ago, on the day before Thanksgiving, my mom passed away. Somehow it’s always been fitting that she would return to live with our Father in Heaven, as we are celebrating the Birth of our Savior.
We bought as many poinsettias as we could get our hands on for her funeral. It’s now become a tradition for me to fill my home with poinsettias to remind me of the woman who raised me to be who I am today. The woman who taught me compassion, and kindness, who instilled a love of music in me, and the desire to create beauty. I am grateful to have so many positive memories of her during this season. 
A favorite tradition of mine that my mother started when I was a teenager was reading Annie and Willies prayer to us every Christmas Eve. My siblings and I get together with our kids and read it every year. A few years ago, my sister came across a recording of my mom reading it to all of us, what a gift! She burned each of us a copy so we will always be able to have her read it to us. You can read it [HERE] or you can purchase a copy [Here].
While my decor may change from year to year, I always incorporate the kids “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments on the tree. 
I just finished putting our tree up in the basement. It does have many items that we’ve had for years. I almost didn’t put it up this year, I am so happy I did. I had forgotten how much I loved that tree.
If you’re looking for a new recipe to try for the Holidays, we love Plum cake! It makes your home smell wonderful while it’s baking and it’s delicious!
click on the recipe below if you want to try it.
PlumCake
I’ve also linked a few items from this post. I found some cool bundt pans I’d like to try out! I also linked the lanterns hanging over my island since I always get a lot of requests about where they’re from.
Next up is Julia from Cuckoo4design.com her blog is a must-see!
May you have a beautiful Holiday season!
XoXo
Jen
Again your home is stunning! I love what meaning poinsettias have to you and I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have poinsettias in the house but with my cats I can’t. The plum cake sounds delicious too.
Thank you Julia, this was my favorite tour to do so far. I adore having poinsettias surrounding me during the Holidays, keeping them alive is another story though 😉 and yes, the plum cake is delicious! this is the first yr my kids have really been excited about it. I make it every yr, but they haven’t always seemed too interested. I made it for the first time on Thanksgiving and they ate it all that night! It made me so happy to see that become a firm tradition for them.
What a beautiful flocked tree in a urn. Such a unique idea. Very stunning holiday decor around your house.
Thank you Susan, I appreciate you taking the time to tell me 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Jen,
I love this post about your traditions. I feel like I know you a little bit better after reading this post. I was very moved by your writing about your mother. I’m so glad that decorating has such purpose and meaning for you as it did your mom. This time of year can be hard on many people who have lost loved ones and you seem like you have such a loving support system around you. Have a blessed holiday.
your friend,
Jenn
Hi Jenn, Thank you. I am so happy to know that you were touched by my writings. It can be nerve racking to pour your heart into a post, not knowing how it will be received. I am still learning to put more of “me” into my writing. I forget people don’t actually know me. As far as the Holidays go, I know they can be painful for people who have lost loved ones. But I actually feel much closer to my mom during the Holiday season. Despite all the hustle and bustle, I feel a peace that I don’t feel the rest of the year and I am grateful for it. I’m also grateful to friends like you who come and read my posts and comment. Thank you so much!
Merry Christmas,
Jen
I have enjoyed following your tours this season. I love the tributes to your mom. She was a beautiful, talented lady. You are, too!
Thanks DeLonie, I love posting the tours so I can share with everyone without having to have my entire home cleaned all at once 😉 You of all people know how much she shaped me into who I am today! I miss her every day. But I love having so many good memories of her. Even the bad ones too, because I know I can learn from her trials. Hope we get a chance to see you soon! Xoxo
What a beautiful home you have, and beautifully decorated for Christmas. I loved hearing about the things you do to remember your mom – sounds like you have a lot of beautiful memories of her 🙂
Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for your sweet comments! I know if it weren’t for my mom I wouldn’t have the desire or talents to decorate my home the way I do. I look at it as a tribute to her every yr 🙂
Jen, I love your blog! I’m so sorry I haven’t been to visit before now- I’m always just on your instagram, but I LOVE this!! That last picture of you and your son is so special!
Hi Megan! I’m so happy you popped over for a visit! I know it’s hard to keep up with everyones blogs right?? Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I adore that photo too! I’m not ready for my baby to grow up, I’ll have photos like this one to cherish forever 🙂 I bet your little guy can’t wait for your new little one to arrive! So exciting!
I love your Blog… All your Christmas Decorations are Beautiful. Your house is too…
Have A Merry Christmas…
Sandra
Thank you so much Sandra 🙂 Merry Christmas to you!
What a dream your home is during the holidays! I loved hearing about your sweet mother and seeing the shots of you and your cute boy. I can’t thank you enough for sharing such a personal post, here and on instagram. I’m so grateful we’ve become friends. Love you! xx
Thank you so much Jen! I am honored you asked me. It was my favorite post so far this season! I will forever be grateful that I was asked to speak at Haven so we could connect! Grateful for you my friend. Xoxo Jen
You can decorate a Christmas tree like no other!! Seriously, I need to take tree decorating lessons from you! Love how you shared your memories of your mom, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. She would be so proud of you right now!
xoxo,
Shauna
Came over from Christ and Amy’s. What a beautiful home you have, and the love that radiates from it is so apparent. Such a heart warming story about how you are carrying out your sweet mom’s traditions. And, you little assistant is adorable!