Keeping holiday traditions is rather difficult for military families as many of our loved ones are deployed during the holiday season. For many military families when duty calls, regardless of what holiday is near, the military comes first. For many this means that holiday traditions need to be placed on hold – or even rescheduled for another time. Regardless of the time, military families know what is important to their families, and the holiday season is just another time for them to spend with their loved ones.

I asked five readers of the Veteran Journal, what holiday traditions they hold close to their hearts, and below they share their traditions with us. Happy Holiday’s!

It’s not a yearly tradition, but last year when my husband Chris was deployed, he got on Skype so he could see the kids open their gifts and they could see and talk to him. It wasn’t the same as him being here but it made it easier and nicer for us all.

 ~Sarah Yoder U.S. Army National Guard Spouse

As a family since I could remember we always put up and took down the ornaments on the tree. Last year my husband deployed before we were able to take down our tree (we have a fake one). So the tree stayed up until he came home. We also decided if he wouldn’t be here to decorate the tree, we would set it up together no matter what time of year it is because his family always has a tree for Christmas. We also give an ornament each year as a stocking stuffer, something with a meaning in which has passed in the last year.

~Desiree Dumm U.S. Air Force Spouse

Since I was little my family traveled around a lot and we hardly ever spent time during Christmas together. We always try to spend it with our family by locking ourselves up from the 23rd to the 26th. We play games and have activities at home; it’s a great way to bond. Now that I have a family of my own we are going to keep this tradition alive.

~Cindy Sheu U.S. Marine Spouse

We always write down our blessing and what we like about each other in the family, usually asking 5 things from each member, then read them out loud at Thanksgiving. We even made a “turkey pot” for this. It’s a ceramic pot made to look like a turkey, it’s a really nice time and usually makes everyone chuckle, feel special, and remind us of our blessings. At Christmas we also sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

~Amy Wilson U.S. Army Spouse

My family is usually hunting around for someone to bless, whether it be a spouse of a deployed soldier, or just someone around here who doesn’t have family or love around them. It’s someone who won’t come out and say “I need such and such.” We like to help “The least of these,” as Jesus put it. Other than that, we have a tree, we eat enough to gain weight, save left overs and have people over, and like Amy’s family, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. We also read about His birth to one another from the Bible while we open presents. John 15:13 is one of our favorite verses. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

~Nicole Vandeventer U.S. Marine Spouse

Its a really nice time though, usually makes everyone chuckle, feel special, and remind us of our blessings. At Christmas we sing Happy Birthday to Je

For more on Angela Caban, visit her website at www.angelacaban.com.

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