HOUSE OF ROBERTS BLOG

One of the things God gave us such a desire to do with our family was to start traditions. Traditions are powerful to the family rhythm and the unity of your home. They are sweet intentional injections into the week and year that aren’t common enough to be taken for granted. They become time together that the family can look forward to, where technology and normal pace are cleared out and bonding and memories are made. 

Some of my sweetest memories as a kid were the traditions we had as a family. Family Vacations every year in South Carolina, Christmas Eve always spent with cousins having a big meal, baking non stop the moment fall hit to the moment Christmas came, harvest party at church every year (because we weren’t allowed to trick or treat haha), Pancakes every Sunday after church, Sauce every other Sunday. However big or small the tradition was, they all stand out in my heart even to this day and have had an impact on creating my own with my family. 

Traditions are sometimes just naturally born but it always takes intentionality to keep them! Mike and I at the top every year have a moment of prayer and fasting to dedicate this next year to the Lord. We always ask the Lord to help us plan our year and set our goals. It’s always at this time when we have conversations about what we want to start and stop in the house and what we want to accomplish with the kids this next year. We have learned if we don’t plan and purpose in our hearts to do something it doesn’t just naturally happen in full family life. The bible says “Man makes plans but God orders the steps.” Mike and I do our best to make plans and be intentional with our traditions as a family but always keep a loose grip and open heart to the things God wants to bring into our home in a year.

Some traditions are weekly and some traditions are yearly. Our weekly ones have adjusted over the years but some of the special ones are “Pasta Sundays” where Mike and I make sauce every week for us to enjoy an Ode’ to our Italian heritage. Then there is “Homemade Pizza Fridays” where we make our pizzas and watch a movie all together. Pancake Saturdays when Michael makes his PERFECT pancakes. We have done this one ever since Ford was able to eat real food. Oh shoot I am just realizing our weekly traditions are all built around FOOD haha! We do love our food! Some of our yearly traditions have been, A trip to Palm Desert every year before school starts, hosting Thanksgiving at our house, not watching Christmas movies till Thanksgiving day, doing all the items on our Christmas Checklists, ….My kids look forward to each of these moments, they anticipate and actively participate in these times. There have been funny, sweet, chaotic, imperfect, tearful, and blissful moments in each of these traditions. Traditions are not always perfect but they don’t have to be—the point is time spent, intentionality, and anticipatory moments injected into your family rhythm that bring surprise, fears conquered, laughter, and ultimately a stronger bond between us all. 

Some of you may be the first ones in your family to start these moments for your house but you can do it! Pray ask God for inspiration for something that fits and would bless your family's passions and style. Choose one thing to start and stick to it no matter what! Make it a part of your yearly discipline to schedule and plan it out at the top of the year. If you have older kids get them in on it, get their ideas, and cast a vote! Make it fun! It’s not too late, you can be the first one to do this. Pray, make a plan, and commit to it!

Praying for you guys as you pray and consider what traditions to add to your family!