Changing Traditions

As much as I love Christmas and am looking forward to Jarrod and I's first Christmas as husband and wife, my heart sinks when I think about the upcoming holidays.  For as long as I can remember, the Sliva family has spent Christmas Eve either at Grandma Sliva's or at my aunt and uncle's on the lake in Columbus.  I think back to Christmas Eve over the years and remember so many special moments that I will always remember...  Uncle Bernie giving me a hammer or screw driver and pouting until he gave me my real gift.  Putting on my new tutu and Lacey decorating me with bows and ribbon.  Ice skating with my very own skates my aunt and uncle bought me under the Christmas Eve stars.  Christmas caroling around the lake.  Driving around looking at the lights on the lake.  Watching everyone play Sheep Head.  Playing pool and ping pong downstairs with all the cousins.  Watching our family grow year after year.  The smorgasbord of everything from wings, clam chowder, turkey, and of course the infamous Sliva Blood Soup.  Midnight Mass in Tarnov.  Santa (Uncle Bernie) and his Elf (Denny) handing out the gifts.  Listening to the little cousins sing Christmas songs to Grandma Sliva.  Christmas music playing on the radio in the laundry room where everyone kept their coolers.  It was all these little things that made Christmas Eve so special to me...Last year was the first year that we changed our Christmas get-together to Thanksgiving weekend.   Even though it wasn't on Christmas Eve, it was still everyone together, and that is what Christmas is about.  Being with family.  I wish I had the appreciation for Christmas when I was young like I do now.  This year, there will be no Sliva Christmas.  My heart drops when I say that, not because of me missing it so much, but because I know how much Grandma and Uncle Tom loved Christmas Eve with the family.  These two special people in our family passed away this year.  It breaks my heart to know how hard Christmas will be this year for my Dad and Tom's family.  I just pray that God gives everyone in our family the strength to get through the holiday's and remember all the special moments with Grandma and Tom.  Another Christmas memory I have that I didn't know would be so special to me until this year, was Tom telling me about his favorite Christmas Eve memory... A long time ago, when Uncle Jim still lived in Tarnov, they all just got out of Midnight Mass in Tarnov and as they were walking out it started snowing the most beautiful snow he ever saw.  From there, everyone went down to Jim's for a late night breakfast.  That memory meant so much to him, he would tell everyone that story over, and over again.  With everyone getting together for Grandma's funeral, Tom's funeral, our wedding, Tom's golf benefit, and the reunion, everyone decided to put Christmas on hold until next year.  It makes me sad, but it's just the way it's going to be.  I am very thankful to at least still be having the Krings Christmas this year.  As much as we all hate change, it is inevitable.  But as traditions change, it opens a door for new traditions.  As my family is getting older, and bigger it gives us the opportunity to start our own family traditions within my immediate family.  This year I'm going to be sure to be thankful for every moment spent with family, you just never know what changes will come in the new year.  Remember the reason for the season, and give thanks to God!  Jenna xoxo