Traditions

One of my favorite traditions that we have as a family is going up to my parents' cabin the week after Christmas. We play in the snow;



sledding, snowmobiling and snow shoeing.


When we are too tired or too lazy to go outside we stay inside playing games, watching movies and eating way too much. This year was no different. We played hard, stayed up late and spent time together.

Several years ago, on New Year's Eve, my Mom sat us all down and presented us with these questions: "What did you accomplish in the last year that you are most proud of?" and "What are you going to do in the coming year, no matter what?" Honestly, when she proposed that we go around the room and each answer these questions, the response she got wasn't exactly enthusiastic. Sometimes it's hard to give questions like these serious thought.

But these questions have become a tradition. The answers that are given as we make our way around the circle in the family room are often simple but are a tiny glimpse of a complex back story. The birth of a baby (or two), the completion of a bike race or the organization of a bake sale may be given as accomplishments from the past year. These answers, as simple as they are, speak volumes to us as a family. We know of the weeks in the hospital before and after the births, we know of the triumph of emotionally conquering on that particular race course and we know of the huge influence for good something as simple as a bake sale can have.

This year Kedar was able to say as his turn came, "The accomplishment that I am the most proud of this year is graduating." His response didn't surprise me but still brought tears to my eyes. The journey was the part that was left unspoken. Twelve years of perseverance were represented in his quiet answer. I was so glad that he had a place where he could say it out loud and have what he wasn't saying be understood.