a christmas blog tag: winter wonders

hey, friends!

it’s been a while since i’ve done a blog tag but lily from by lily johanna tagged me and i thought why not?! i’m sitting in my living room with a cup of vanilla tea, there’s nearly a foot of snow on the ground outside and more is falling, and our christmas tree is lit up. we had family over for the afternoon and we made ornaments, ate soup & cookies, and talked & laughed a whole lot. i’m feeling so christmas-y, which makes it the perfect time to write this post!

the rules

1. mention who tagged you
2. answer the questions
3. tag friends & notify them
4. have fun

the questions

1. what are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? and what’s something new that you want to try this month?
2. what’s your favorite christmas recipe, food, or drink?
3. every christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. but if you could have the perfect christmas, what would the day look like for you?
4. what are some of your favorite winter activities? (e.g. caroling, sledding, drinking hot cocoa)
5. do you decorate? how?
6. what is your favorite christmas song or hymn? why is it your favorite?
7. what’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this christmas? and what’s your favorite gift to give others?
8. describe some of your favorite christmas memories.
9. what is your favorite christmas-y book? movie?
10. list ten words to that encapsulate the feel of christmas for you.
11. in your own words, what is the meaning of christmas?

1. what are some traditions that you and your family have leading up to the holidays? and what’s something new that you want to try this month?

i have so many favorite traditions. my siblings and i do a gift exchange where from december first until christmas, we put little gifts into each others stockings every day. it’s supposed to be a secret (it doesn’t always work out that way haha), and on christmas, we reveal who had each other and give a bigger gift. it’s so much fun! our family also does a bible study called 25 days of Christ where we study the life of Jesus and hang an ornament every day which i love doing.

2. what’s your favorite christmas recipe, food, or drink?

christmas cookies! specifically, sugar cookies and chocolate heads. i also really like cranberry orange bread.

3. every christmas is different, and some years come with unexpected twists. but if you could have the perfect christmas, what would the day look like for you?

on christmas, my grandparents come over early and we do gifts together and christmas breakfast (always cinnamon rolls & egg dish). after we spend the day playing board games and cards, watching christmas movies, and eating lots of snack food (veggie pizza, taco dip, etc). last year, my mom and i went for a run which was amazing. i love spending christmas this way and there’s nothing i would change about it!!

4. what are some of your favorite winter activities?

skiing, sledding & ranger rides, walking through our town’s light display, ugly sweater run, going caroling with our church, and cozy nights baking & watching movies.

5. do you decorate? how?

my family decorates for every season, and we go all out for christmas. our whole house and the trees around it are decked out in christmas lights (we aren’t those people who do weird inflatables though 😂) and every space inside the house is decorated (i’m talking garlands on every window, christmas pillows, bows on our kitchen cabinets, all of it). it’s always so cozy, and decorating is another one of my favorite traditions.

6. what is your favorite christmas song or hymn? why is it your favorite?

i love so many christmas songs & hymns. my favorite hymn so far this year is one small child and song is a tie between there came a light / o holy night by chris renzema or who would have dreamed by sovereign grace. a few of my other favorites are christmas in the midwest by chris renzema (he just released a whole christmas album and you should listen to it!), lowest of lows by josiah queen, and light of the world by lauren daigle.

7. what’s a gift or experience you’re really wishing for this christmas? and what’s your favorite gift to give others?

since i was eight, my parents have always bought us season ski passes & taken us on one big ski trip up to lutsen as our main christmas present from them. i don’t know if that counts since i’m not wishing for it but it’s such a good experience and my favorite gift! as for giving to others, i love making things and i have so many projects in the works. also baked goods are another one of my favorites to give since everyone loves those.

8. describe some of your favorite christmas memories.

last year on christmas eve (it’s one of my favorite days of the whole year) was one of my best christmas memories. we spent the day at my grandparents house opening stockings & eating our christmas feast. our church has a candlelight service which i love so much. afterward, we came home and watched the greatest christmas pageant ever (really good movie!!) while drinking peppermint tea & hot chocolate. my mom and i worked on making cinnamon rolls for breakfast in the morning during the movie, and it was so perfect.

9. what is your favorite christmas-y book? movie?

last week, i read christmas at sugar plum manor by roseanna m. white and that’s my new favorite! (not a surprise since everyone knows i’m a huge fan of her). i want to do a whole post on books i’ve read this holiday season soon. as for movies, the christmas project and the christmas project reunion have been my favorites for years.

10. list ten words to that encapsulate the feel of christmas for you.

Jesus, family, advent, peppermint candles, movies, baking, laughter, snow, pine trees, ornaments, merry & bright. (more than 10 words but it’s my blog so i can do what i want 😉)

11. in your own words, what is the meaning of christmas?

for me, christmas is all about celebrating Jesus and the gift of salvation. i’ve been studying john 1 for church and it’s been so good to read that while preparing for christmas. we were – and are – nothing without Jesus, and what a miracle it is that we can know Him. i’m so grateful to know & experience the love of Jesus every day, not just at christmas. 🤍

 for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace. ~ isaiah 9:6

tags:
kate @sunshine & kate
anna @ anna kate writes
you @ wherever! if you’re a blogger or even if you’re not and want to do this, consider yourself tagged! (:

now, it’s your turn!

i’d love to hear your answer from one (or all!) of the questions in the comments.

thank you so much for reading!
pearl 🤍