Family Traditions

At the pumpkin patch

Traditions are especially fun when they are associated with seasons of the year.  One  of our biggest ones is the yearly late Summer camping trip. This year we had about 13 family members there.  Next Summer we expect even more.

Sometime in December we join Mike, Diane, and David for a trek down to Kellogg, Minnesota, to visit a family owned toy store with lots of homemade toys and a really nice, old carousel (merry-go round).

David in the corn maze

Today was our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard.  They are independent operations almost across the highway from each other.  It was a great day.  Though this morning there was a heavy fog hanging over the river, the sun was out for our outing.  We walked the corn maze at the pumpkin patch and ate apple brats and hot dogs at the apple orchard.

"Do not look in here"

But the best part is keeping the traditions like peeking into the hole with the sign that says, "Don't look in here," playing out Mike's strategy for negotiating a maze, picking up dropped corn from the ground to feed the goats rather than buying a quarter's worth from the dispenser, browsing the toy section at the pumpkin patch and sharing kettle corn at the apple orchard.  And this year Mike got a neat picture of tiny pumpkins for a wallpaper for his phone.

Charlene and Mike (with kettle corn)

Sometimes churches are criticized for keeping traditions.  But traditions can be fun.  Our little church loves the annual retreat at the county park, and wouldn't give it up for anything.  I guess there can be a problem with traditions if they become confused with God's instructions, but as long as the group recognizes them for what they are, not only are they harmless; they can be fun, enlightening faith and fellowship builders.

What are the traditions of your family, church, or other group?