The holiday season is almost here. Can you believe it?
The holiday season is a time for traditions and togetherness with our loved ones. For us, not having any extended family in the same country means that over the years we've come up with our very own holiday traditions. Traditions that bring us together as a family. Some of these traditions come from my own childhood, such as baking honey biscuits (a family take on gingerbread cookies), building a gingerbread house and checking out the Christmas lights in the neighborhood, while others are new-to-us traditions like the Elf on the Shelf, cutting down our tree at a Christmas tree farm and ice skating outdoors.
To be honest, our first few holiday seasons here in California felt a little odd. While there were so many reasons to celebrate, there were other factors that made the holidays hard. Little things like not being able to find the Christmas foods that we grew up with in stores, and missing my family's annual backyard cricket match, only made the big things like not having our loved ones here to celebrate with that little bit harder. Of course, there were some things that were easier, like not having to spread ourselves thin running across town from one family Christmas event to another! There's a bright side to everything, right?
One of our Christmas traditions that was born out of being so far away from family is travel. With no family obligations keeping us in one place over the holidays we decided to make use of the kids' Winter break and hit the road. Travel has always been very important to me and being able to share it with my family at such a special time has been wonderful. We've been able to see some amazing places and experience new things, like our first ever white Christmas last year in Utah, but the most important part of our holiday travel is that we're together. We're experiencing new places, new foods, and new activities together as a family.
While we're on the road over the Winter break many of our other holiday traditions come along with us. The Elf on the Shelf always manages to sneak into someone's suitcase and get up to shenanigans in our hotel room. The honey biscuits that we bake earlier in the season come along with us as festive snacks, and as a treat to leave out for Santa. The Christmas pajamas, books and movies are all packed ready for Christmas Eve. We may not be at home, but we're together and by continuing with the traditions that we've established over the years, no matter where we are, it feels like home.
For families with sick children in hospital, spending the holidays away on vacation may not be possible, but thanks to Ronald McDonald House Charities, spending the holidays together as a family is.
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides families with a place to call home during their toughest time. When a child is hospitalized, having their family close is so important. Being in hospital alone is scary, bu knowing that Mom and Dad are there can make the world of difference to a sick child. But what if the family lives far from the hospital? What if staying in a hotel nearby is out of their reach? What if they have other children that need their parents too. This is where Ronald McDonald House Charities steps in. By providing housing close to hospitals at little, or sometimes even no charge families can stay as close together as possible. Home cooked meals, private bedrooms and playrooms provide families a feeling of normalcy for families going through a tough time. Some Houses provide further services including educational programs, recreational activities and sibling support.
Keeping families together at any time is so important, but during the holidays it feels so much more special. By being together families at Ronald McDonald Houses can keep that holiday spirit alive with their own family traditions, just like we do when we travel over the holidays. Togetherness is the best tradition of all.
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides such an essential service for so many families, and it all comes thanks to generous volunteers and donors. The asked donation varies from House to House. No family is ever turned away.
Our family has created many of our very own holiday traditions, and this year I'm starting a new one. This holiday season I'm donating to Ronald McDonald House Charities to ensure that more families can stay together during this special time, and I'm hoping that you will consider giving this special gift too. You can learn more about the important work that Ronald McDonald House Charities does for families in need by clicking here. Donations can be made by clicking here.
