Category: Moments and Musings

Posted in Moments and Musings

Passing Down More Than Traditions

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

After we moved back home from Texas, life felt like it was shifting in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. We were planting ourselves again—finding our footing, rebuilding routines, and learning what “home” really meant. It was during that season that I began a few simple Christmas traditions with my girls. At the time, they felt small. Looking back now, I can see how God was using them to build something much bigger.

The first tradition was an ornament each year—one that represented who they were in that season of life. A favorite hobby, an inside joke, a milestone year. The plan was always that one day, when they had homes and families of their own, those ornaments would go with them. A reminder that they were loved, seen, and cherished long before they ever hung a tree of their own.

Scripture tells us to “remember the deeds of the Lord” (Psalm 77:11). Those ornaments became a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness through the years—through moves, changes, growth, and grace.

The second tradition was opening one gift from Santa on Christmas Eve: Christmas “jammies”, or pajamas. Nothing extravagant. Just something new and cozy to sleep in and to wear on Christmas morning while we gathered around the tree. It was about creating a sense of anticipation and togetherness—a quiet, holy pause before the celebration.

Christmas Eve always reminds me of waiting. Waiting for morning. Waiting for light. Waiting for the fulfillment of a promise. Much like the world waited for a Savior, we rested in the stillness, knowing joy was coming.

The third tradition was socks in the stocking. Honestly, we thought it was funny—and it stuck. But even that small, practical gift carries meaning now. God cares about the everyday needs just as much as the big moments. Scripture reminds us that He provides everything we need (Matthew 6:32), sometimes in the simplest ways.

Today, those traditions are being passed down to my granddaughter.

I bought her her very first Christmas ornament—tiny and perfect, marking the beginning of her story. Santa delivered her Christmas jammies early this year. And of course, I found the tiniest socks to place in her very first Christmas stocking.

As I held those little items in my hands, I was reminded that legacy isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s built in consistency. In showing up. In creating spaces where love, faith, and joy are felt year after year.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 tells us to impress God’s commands on our children—to talk about them at home, along the way, in the coming and the going. Sometimes, that looks like Bible study and prayer. And sometimes, it looks like ornaments, pajamas, and socks—quiet traditions that whisper, This is who we are. This is where we belong. This is how God has loved us.

Some traditions are worth carrying forward—not because they’re perfect, but because they point to a faithful God who never changes, from generation to generation.

Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash
Posted in Moments and Musings

Top Five Favorite Christmas Movies

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Christmas movies are my absolute favorite. They’re filled with hope, redemption, love, comfort, and joy—everything that makes this season feel magical. There’s nothing I treasure more than curling up with a crochet project, a mug of hot chocolate, my warmest blanket, and my dog by my side, getting completely lost in the nostalgia of childhood Christmases.

And yes… I’m a Hallmark movie junkie to my very core.

So today, I wanted to share my top favorite Christmas movies—the ones I return to year after year, the ones that make the season feel whole, and the ones that never fail to bring a smile (or a few happy tears).

1.      A Christmas Carol – The theme of redemption runs strong through this story. I’ve always loved both the book and the movie. There’s something powerful about watching the buildup—seeing all the moments that shaped Scrooge into who he is. I love how the story forces us to confront the future and consider how different things could be if we made positive changes in our own lives (I think many of us could use a dose of that!). But my favorite part will always be the transformation itself—watching Scrooge rediscover joy and seeing how that joy spreads to everyone around him.

By the way, I love the Reginald Owen version, the Patrick Stewart version and the Disney version.

2.      The Man Who Invented Christmas – This film tells the story of Charles Dickens during the creation of A Christmas Carol. As a writer, I love watching how he absorbs everything around him—every interaction, every emotion—and transforms it into such a timeless masterpiece. One of the most powerful moments is his reunion with his deeply flawed father, which helps him confront and accept his own imperfections. This movie has become an annual must-watch for me.

3.      The Christmas Candle – This movie, based on Max Lucado’s story, is pure magic for me. It follows a preacher who is asked to serve as minister in the small town of Gladbury, a town with a unique tradition: every 25 years, an angel is believed to visit the town’s candlemaker and bless a single candle. Whoever receives this candle will be granted a miracle in the form of answered prayer. Faith is the central theme, as we watch the minister struggle to reconcile his skepticism with this cherished town fable. As the story unfolds, God’s faithfulness becomes evident through the answered prayers, ultimately restoring the minister’s faith in both God and humanity. This heartwarming tale is sure to leave you with happy tears. Adding to the magic, there’s a recurring song throughout the movie, beautifully performed by Susan Boyle.

4.      It’s a Wonderful Life – No holiday movie list would be complete without this classic. I have fond memories of watching it with my mom, and the final scenes never fail to bring tears as George Bailey is recognized as the “richest man in town” because of his friends. I love the theme of selflessness embodied in George—he gives everything he has to others, often at the expense of his own dreams, so that those around him can succeed. Yet, in his moment of greatest need, the very people he helped rally around him, providing support and care beyond his expectations. It’s a beautiful reminder that giving to others often comes back to us in the most meaningful ways.

5.      A Christmas Story – Another must-watch movie makes the list. Years ago, TNT would run this movie on repeat every Christmas Day. After my mom passed, we cut the cable cord and moved to streaming services. My girls and I then started a new tradition: watching this movie each Christmas morning while enjoying cinnamon rolls and unwrapping gifts. It’s a silly, nostalgic, and hilarious film—definitely worth watching at least once during the season.

I’ve shared my top five Christmas movies…now it’s your turn! 🎄🍿 Spill your favorites in the comments—I need more for my holiday watchlist!

Posted in Moments and Musings

Christmas Gifts Your Kids Will Remember

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

These days, all I have to do is open my phone, and I’m bombarded with gift ideas for children. From toys to electronics, the market is flooded with images of happy kids unwrapping their latest gadget with sheer bliss on their faces.

I hear it everywhere—coworkers and friends lamenting over finding the “perfect” gift, trying to fulfill every item on their child’s wish list. People often go into debt (toys are expensive these days) to give children the latest technology—only to have those same requests resurrected and made even more expensive the following year.

A few years ago, my dad gave me my favorite Christmas gift ever. He took all our family photos—years’ worth that had only existed on projector slides—and put them on a disk. My whole childhood, my family history, and my parents’ story were wrapped up and placed under the tree. Best gift ever!

So here’s my list of the top five gifts for kids they won’t easily forget:

1. Time – I don’t remember many of the gifts I received as a child. But I do remember the time spent with family: huge Christmas Eve gatherings at my aunt’s house with her famous cookies, midnight mass with my mom holding my hand while we sang Silent Night, and the chaos and laughter at my dad and stepmom’s house, often ending with Brandy Alexanders. No gift is more valuable than time together.

2. Handmade gifts – My daughter bakes treats each year to give as gifts. I treasure those, especially paired with a cup of coffee. I’ve made blankets for friends that I still see in their homes today. My sister makes jewelry. Even if it’s a small ornament for a child’s tree, handmade gifts are inexpensive, meaningful, and long-lasting.

3. Tickets to an event – Some of my fondest memories are trips my dad took us on, like seeing the Christmas lights on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I’ve recreated that tradition with my daughters at Zoolights at Brookfield Zoo, and I’ve shared The Nutcracker with Emilie at the local college—just as my dad shared it with me years ago. These experiences become lasting memories.

4. Books – Reading to your children or giving them books is a gift that lasts. A library card costs nothing, and libraries often host free events for kids around the holidays. The memories formed through shared stories are priceless.

5. Hobbies – Sharing your hobbies with a child can be one of the most meaningful gifts. When my older daughter expressed interest in crochet, I got her a crochet hook set with a case. I had started crocheting myself after receiving a set that belonged to my stepmom’s mother. Gifts that foster hobbies create ongoing joy and shared experiences.

The main idea is simple: don’t go broke or go into debt on gifts your kids won’t remember a year from now. Time, experiences, creativity, books, and shared hobbies are gifts that truly last.

Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash
Posted in Moments and Musings

5 Steps to a Prayer Life

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Have you ever struggled with praying? Have you ever thought to yourself, “am I doing this right?”

Trying to pray “the right way” is something I’ve struggled with all my life. I would sit in a room, timer on the table and list in front of me of things I felt obligated to pray for. 

I prayed more for results than relationship. Insert a coin, get a prize. I approached prayer in the same fashion. Insert a prayer, get an answer (maybe). 

Joining a church meant praying in a group. I would break out in hives at the idea of being called upon to pray aloud. I wasn’t good enough, didn’t have the right words to pray and always felt like I didn’t know enough of the Word to pray. I would spend prayer time comparing myself to Sister Sally Sue who got at least 5 rounds of solid “amens” when she prayed. I would pray more to hear a “yes, Jesus” just to prove I wasn’t a bad pray-er. 

And of course, Satan used this over and over, repeatedly telling me, “See, you’re not as good as they are. God loves them more than He loves you.” 

Friends, can I tell you a secret? That’s not a relationship with God. That’s religion. 

Imagine my joy at finding a small group of women at my last church who humanized the idea of prayer for me. They were intimate with God and it made me desire that for my own life. And guess what? When they prayed, it wasn’t perfect. They stumbled over their words, they stopped to gather their thoughts, they laughed and cried and even said the word, “um” once or twice. It dawned on me that their “imperfections” were actually conversations. 

They were having a conversation with God. 

So, I stopped trying to be perfect. I stopped treating God like a gumball machine and I stopped trying to get “likes” when I prayed out loud in a group. Here’s 5 simple steps to get you on the road to a prayer life that produces relationship. 

  1. Read the Word. If prayer is a conversation, then we must know the One we are conversing with. Knowing who God is and what He’s about helps us to understand more of what the conversation will be like. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 
  2. Ask God to help you pray. God’s Word is all we need to get help in every situation, including prayer. John 14:13 encourages us to ask for help. It states, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…” So if you need help knowing how to pray, just speak that verse and relate it to prayer. 
  3. Be yourself. This is probably the most important one. I fell into the comparison trap and lost precious time with God. I tried to copy the prayer style of others. God knows all about you. He wants a relationship with you on a one-on-one level. There’s nothing we can hide from Him. So stop trying to be like others and you do you in your prayer time with God. 
  4. Start simple. You do not need to thee and thou your conversation with God. He knows you! He wants to hear from YOU! If you’re stuck on where to start, just thank Him for who He is and all He’s done for you. The rest will follow, I promise! 
  5. Be honest and real. When my mom died, I went to God and let Him know I didn’t understand Him or His plan in this. I was so upset and in so much pain. I cried out to Him out of complete fear and anger. God was a total gentleman and He said, “Vikki, I hear you. I love you. I won’t leave you. You can either move forward with me, or without me. With me will be so much better but the choice is yours.” (Yes, God is that real with me!)

There are days when I start out in prayer. There are days when I end in prayer. There are also days when I say little prayers all day. Sometimes, I talk to Him as a wife would to a husband and sometimes, I talk with Him as a daughter would to her father. Most often, I talk with Him like the best friend I know Him to be. 

Through all this, I’ve learned this is what it means in the Bible when it says “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, The Message)

So without fear, I encourage you. Find your spot. Get your cup of coffee. Grab your blanket. And talk with Jesus. I guarantee you, friend – Jesus cannot wait to hear from you! 

Let me know in the comments how it goes. I’m praying for you!

Posted in Moments and Musings

Footprints in the Snow

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

One morning after it’d snowed overnight, my older sister and I were getting ready to walk to school. Hats, boots, gloves, scarves…much of which we’d take off once we were out of Mom’s sight because cool kids don’t wear hats and gloves. The snow was deep. Plowing and shoveling hadn’t been done just yet in our neighborhood. My mother commissioned my sister to watch over me as we walked to school. Then she told me to be sure to walk in my sister’s footsteps to help me navigate my way through the snow.

My sister was at that age where lugging her little sister around wasn’t considered cool. Typical sibling relationships. Her answer to my mother’s directive was to make sure those footsteps were as wild as she could make them. She pointed her feet inwards, and she pointed her feet outwards. She took super huge steps and walked in a zigzag. Anything to make it hard for me to follow. Again, typical sibling relationship stuff. I fought hard to keep up with her and she laughed watching me mimic her unusual walking pattern.

We laugh about it now as we’re older and wiser. We share a home where she is my best friend, my fellow prayer warrior and one of my favorite people on this planet. I still think she’s cool.   

Recently, I’ve been marinating on that word “follow” during my morning Bible study. Following Jesus and what all it means. As a natural over-thinker, I’ve wasted a lot of time looking for the perfect answer.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus isn’t about my ability. It’s also not about being perfect. In fact, God keeps telling me to stop focusing on perfection. Just take one step and then the next and the next. When I asked where these steps would lead, He reminded me of this story.

Even though I knew my destination, the snow was falling so heavy I couldn’t really see where I was going. I didn’t know if I was on concrete or grass. I wasn’t sure if I was in the street or on a sidewalk. The only thing that helped me get to school that day were those footprints.

I said to God, “That was crazy! Her feet were all over the place, and I had to step in wherever and however she planted her foot.” God said, “But she knew how to get there, so all you had to do was trust her.”

Trust her? Yes. I did then and I still do.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus doesn’t always feel like it’s a straight shot to our destination. In fact, many times, we’re not sure what the destination is, outside of Heaven. There are times when we have to jump to make it to the next step. Call it a leap of faith, if you will. There are also times when we may need to take steps that don’t make sense to us at all. But God knows where he’s taking us even when we don’t. And all he asks us to do is follow him.

If you’re in a similar season, let me encourage you. We may not see the destination but it’s important to find joy in the journey. That all sounds very Hallmark-y, I know but it’s also true. Every day, God shows me the next step to take. My part is to be obedient. I take a step, then the next and the next and soon, I see the path. Like any path in a forest, you can’t always see where you’re going but that’s not as important as staying on the path. When I think back on that day now, trying to walk in my sister’s footprints was fun!

“So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you’re about to possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33, MSG

Each day we follow Jesus brings us closer and closer to God and He uses each moment for His glory and His honor. Following Jesus can seem hard some days but remember, God’s not interested in perfection. He’s interested in obedience. We don’t have to figure out where to go or how to get there. All we need to do is trust Him, stay on the path and walk in His footprints.