This was lovely to read, mosaic. I love the idea of focusing on wonderful new traditions rather than on what's no longer there. Your special treats and experiences sound wonderful.

The year my sister died, I didn't want to put up a tree anymore, especially since all the ornaments were from our childhood. All the rest of my family was no longer alive, and it all just made me too sad. The man who is now my husband came over with a tree and lights, which we put up in the living room. We watched A Christmas Story, which I'd never seen but was one of his traditions. It made me laugh. Now each year we get a couple more special ornaments just for the two of us. Sure makes the tree easy to decorate!

This year we're having Christmas Eve appetizers and desserts here at our house (I live somewhere different now). We live here because it's close to his parents and brothers and sisters, who all live within 5 miles. It's a close, loving family, such a joy to be with.

I'm making crispy sweet potato nachos with black beans, avocado and 2 kinds of cheese, dairy and nondairy. I'm also making salad, veggies and lemon dill hummus, and deviled eggs. That covers all the gluten free, sugar free and vegetarian people!

So the new Christmas traditions are wonderful too. I've learned that what I call God will send me love from all kinds of people and situations if I keep my hands and heart open. And I thank God and Kathleen for this program that helps me do that.

JoEllen

Today I completed a table decoration
: for Christmas day dinner that has
: taken a couple of weeks to make. I
: showed my daughter and she loved
: it. Looks like I have a new
: tradition. Something to bring out
: every year

: There are some traditions I have said
: goodbye to quite a long time ago,
: and I don't feel a bit sad,
: because I have laid in new ones.
: They all have to be joy dots don't
: they? So here are a few

: *decaf for me sat quietly while the
: household sleeps
: * spending time choosing just the
: right book to go on kindle
: *lots of fairy lights
: *all the inherited and saved for
: years treasures on the tree
: *sweet potato and walnut and sage
: stuffing which is only at
: Christmas
: *forcemeat stuffing
: *homemade pigs in blankets with
: nutmeg and mace and leeks
: *tea on the sofa in front of the
: telly which is only allowed Dec 25
: *with always garlic prawns, brie,
: hummous, satay chicken sticks
: *some very nice Stilton just for me,
: but I might have to go in the
: other room for it as it is
: too stinky for them
: *whole walnuts
: *Kalamata olives with feta, and big
: fat green olives with chilli
: *semi-frozen greek yogurt

: hope you have some nice new ones too
: