A Fun, Meaningful New Years Tradition

For the 1st time in history, tonight at 12:01am, hindsight will truly be 2020!

New Year’s Eve for us has always typically been a huge celebration with all sorts of dear friends. One of my best friends (who had been my Matron of Honor), would often host these events and the night would be filled with karaoke, games, endless laughter and usually end in fireworks, but there were always a few serious and meaningful moments mixed in.

Laurie Crites has always been extremely good at connection, leadership and mindset to name a few things and I wanted her to share with you one of my favorite traditions that we do on this night with a few picture examples.

Laurie’s words:

One of the most beautiful aspects of starting a family is the ability to create new Family Traditions. Seven years ago, we began the Family Tradition of making memorial stones. I wanted something tangible to remind us of the goodness of God each year.

In the Bible, (Joshua 4), Joshua asked the Israelites to go back into the Jordan River and find 12 stones and set them on the side of the Jordan. In the future, when their children ask what the stones are for, they can tell their children the story of the miracle of God when He stopped the waters of the Jordan so the Children of Israel could walk through on dry land.

On New Years Eve each year, our family finds 1 stone from our yard that is big enough to write on, but small enough to carry. Before we ring in the New Year, we sit down as a family and recount the many blessings from the past year. I’ve found that this exercise is even more important in years like 2020, when it feels like we’ve walked through one difficulty after another. As I pray and think about this year, I can clearly see God’s fingerprints touching every difficult circumstance we have faced.

I pray, as you read these words, that you and your family are well, resting under the protection of God (Psalms 91). As you remember the past year, consider engaging in this beautiful Family Tradition. In what way has God created, rescued, redeemed, renewed, or blessed you in 2020? Why not make them a permanent part of your history by writing them (with permanent marker) on a Memorial Stone this year? Let's glorify Him for what He has done in 2020!

Joshua 4:7

then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

Thank you, Laurie for sharing this with us!!! You can find her on nearly every social media platform and follow her for more creative ideas and encouragement! I hope it blesses all of you.

It has been such a good thing for my family to create a culture and mindset of gratefulness, which only leads to more good things. It also reminds us all of great lessons we have learned along the way and people that have touched our lives. There is ALWAYS goodness to be found! It’s a good reminder to make sure we stay focused on those types of thoughts and if we got off track, time to realign!

Blessings to you as you enter 2021!!