Fall is here is ya’ll. In Tennessee that means, go outside and check the weather before you pick your outfit for the day. This time last week, I woke up to a snow covered car and yesterday it was sixty one degrees outside. I have even experienced all four seasons in one week. I can’t rely on the weather to be consistent, but family traditions…that holds a special place in my heart.

My family is consistent. And by that I mean…I can tell you on January 1st, when, where, and what time my family will get together for the whole year. Yes…I said that correctly…the whole year. I also know the family dinner for each meal for every holiday. Which family member will bring what side dish or dessert. We will gather at different tables to eat because there will be 25 -30 of us eating at any given holiday. I know who sits with who and what they will talk about. My family is consistent!

When I talk about “my family” that doesn’t just mean my parents, brothers, their wives and kids. “My family” is my grandparents, their 3 kids, their 3 kids, kids, and their 3 kids, kids, kids. That’s totally confusing but funny! Let me be clear. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews. Some times we bring extra friends, a boyfriend, neighbors, or more extended family will show up.

Our holidays aren’t just about eating either. Each holiday comes with its own traditions. The meals have a different menu. The locations are held at different houses. Some family members might be elsewhere, and the games we play could vary depending on the weather outside.

First, I’ll start with the family rules. 1. We pray before every meal. 2. We eat at set time for dinner. For example, if dinner is at say…5:00pm. At exactly 5:00pm, the host for the meal will gather the family…appointed family member will pray and then we will eat. IF YOU ARE NOT THERE, WE WILL START WITHOUT YOU! It’s a long running joke in the family…we told you what time we were eating, you should have gotten here on time! And that goes for every holiday.

Second, I’ll let you in on the tardiness of my family. NO ONE IS LATE! Like ever. Ok, maybe some are late, but late for my family isn’t late for most families. Late means, you showed at 4:30pm for a 5:00pm meal. Yes, in my family showing up thirty minutes before a meal, starts gossip. Where are they? Are they coming? They are going to be late? Don’t they know we are eating at 5:00pm? If we have a 5:00pm mean, you can bet your money someone is going to show up at 3:00pm. Yes…possibly 2 hours before the meal starts. You may not even be dressed yourself for the event you are hosting at your own house. And your holiday event will be over when…well, when the last one leaves. Duh? That could be up to 4 hours after the dinner is over. Why am I so specific? Well I am usually the last one to leave. Haha!

Lastly, I’ll tell you…I’m not like most people. I don’t dread all the family, the holidays, the travel, the cooking and the stress of making a holiday special. I am single but I do have a dog. I still feel guilty when I have to leave him alone. I can travel up to an hour for an family event depending on where it is. I enjoy driving and I don’t have kids or a mate yelling at me. I don’t do the cooking, but I am bringing a dish this year. I don’t have to host, my place is too small, and that leaves no stress to clean. So maybe I don’t have as much to worry about. But to me, that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about being able to brag about my family. I LOVE my family. I take to heart that I have had the same family traditions for 37 years. It’s being able to grow up with a family that’s consistent.

IT’S 37 YEARS OF CONSTANT LOVE!

What are your family traditions?