"Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."

Our family moves between several different worlds - there is my husband's Judaism, my Catholic past and our loosely neo-pagan traditions that we follow as the seasons turn.

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and so our traditions turn to a God who is decidedly masculine and whom we thank for the "miracles wrought for our forefathers in those days at this season." We try to help our children to feel they are one more link in a long chain that extends back for many years (which is often tricky given that mom isn't technically one of those links, but I dare anyone to cook a better Seder, so who's counting?)

This year we are sharing the first night with a new friend, Leonora from Babbo's books. Watching her help the kids with homework and play the dreidel game, while the cat played with Miss M's pencil and the dog lounged in front of the fire, my heart was filled with gratitude. I am so pleased to have this life and this home and this family to share with friends. We are incredibly blessed.

And so I offer this, the third of the Hanukkah blessings:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season. Amen!

What traditions do you uphold at this time of year?