In December 2018, Miss Utah Jesse Craig wrote a guest blog for Userve.utah.gov.
Read an excerpt below:
Growing up, my favorite tradition around the holiday season was “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” My parents would sit me and my siblings down and we would decide on a few families in need to give small gifts to for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The best part was that it was all done in a “Secret Santa” fashion where my siblings and I would ding-dong ditch the gifts at the door and then run away as fast as we could to the nearest bush to hide. We would dressed up in Halloween masks, three coat layers, and scarves so that we would be unrecognizable. It is one of my favorite memories of the Christmas season.
While the tradition was so much fun and exciting, I loved its underlying principle the most. My parents had wanted to instill a love for serving others in me and my siblings and I’m so grateful they did. Although the Barbies and kitchen sets were fun to receive on Christmas morning, my favorite memories are those spent giving, helping, and spending time with people. Making cookies with my Grandma, playing board games with my extended family on Christmas night, performing Christmas music at rehabilitation and rest centers, taking the time to have conversations with people at different places and events… all of these memories are what make this holiday season so special.
Keep reading HERE.