Christmas has always been special for me as a young kid to now as a husband and father. There is something about celebrating the birth of Christ that just brings the family together. Since deer season is in full swing during the fall and winter months my schedule is hectic leading up to the Christmas holidays. However, I always make sure I have at least a week or two at home to enjoy the Holidays with my wife and kids. My wife, Ashley, is very sentimental about decorating our tree. We have to decorate it together with all the kids and every ornament that our kids have made and we’ve collected over the years.

Decorating our tree is always entertaining as the kids place the ornaments only within a 2 feet wide section smiling ear to ear while singing Rudolph over and over and over again. And as they continue to get older Christmas gets even more exciting for me. Their eyes light up at the mention of Santa Claus and making their lists. They are learning and understating how Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Having them enables me to relive my childhood Christmases.

Its funny how Christmas day has changed over the last 10 years. Rather than my wife and I getting on the road to visit our parents, they all now come to our house to see what Santa has left under the tree. Ham and turkey sandwiches and home cooked pecan pies are the food of choice. I have had this exact same thing on Christmas day as long as I can remember (and I actually cook the pies).

We still do some hunting over the holidays, usually on the same property where I learned to hunt with my Daddy and uncle Morgan. Recently the last several years we have loaded up the family and headed to Alabama for a dove hunt. My oldest son, Mason, begins planning the next trip before January 1st even arrives. This is a great experience for all of us to reconnect with the outdoors after being caught up in the hectic Holidays.

Christmas is a time for Jesus, family and friends. A time to immerse yourself in the Spirit and be thankful for your blessings. Concentrate on giving and not taking. To just reflect. For the Waddell’s Christmas just keeps getting better and better every year.