“Traditions are the things that anchor us to our loved ones, add color and joy to our existence. Through traditions, we enrich our lives.”

                                                                                        -Angela Daugherty

The practice of traditions within a family adds a level of continuity and comfort. To know that certain things are going to happen at certain times is very reassuring.

One of our favorite traditions is one that spans a six month period and involves many members of our family. Every spring, my children and I dig out three large seed trays, several bags of Jiffy Peat Pellets and many packets of pumpkin seeds. We always get lots of different types of seed: Dill’s Atlantic Giant, Baby Boo, Lumina, Jack Be Little, Small Sugar, Baby Bear, Spirit and Wee Be Little. We plant three trays of seeds. And then we wait.

Once the plants are ready for the garden, we turn them over to my mother and stepfather. They will plant them out at their farm. Throughout the summer, we will visit the pumpkin to check on their progress.

In October, there will be a Halloween celebration out at the farm. The pumpkin patch will be full of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Teeny tiny ones that fit into your hand, milky white ones, humongous pumpkins so big you can barely lift them and perfectly round ten ponders-just the right size and shape for jack o’lanterns.

The entire family, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents will gather together. There will be hayrides, pumpkin painting contests and more.

The party will continue into the evening until the kids are beginning to drop off. With heavy lidded eyes, we will bundle them up and pack them into our cars and drive home, cradling pumpkins in their laps.

This is one of my favorite traditions. With a hand full of seeds and lots of faith, our entire family is anchored together.