Christmas traditions 2009

~*Christmas traditions 2009 *~

Christmas time is probably the kids favorite Holiday along with Passover. We keep Christ as the center of our Christmas. This year we had all the Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving. Grandma watched the kids while we wrapped gifts & went on a date together. We pulled out the Christmas tree and had it ready for Christmas devotions.

~*We spend the month of December decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies, and singing Christmas hymns. I love meditating on Christ God Himself coming to earth to die for my sins.

~*Our Christmas tree is very simple. We make paper ornaments that we can later add to a scrapbook. Each ornament has a purpose to remind of us of Christ. We read scripture reminding us of the purpose of His birth. In this season of many young lambs this has worked out great for me as mom. I don’t have to worry about ornaments breaking or packing them all up after Christmas not to mention cute keepsakes!

~*The movies we enjoy watching each year is The Nativity, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Seasons of the Heart. Our favorite books are The Legend of the Candy Cane & The Three Trees. The kids enjoy placing the candy canes on the tree and getting to eat them Christmas morning.
Each Sunday we light an Advent candle on our special advent wreath that Grandma purchased for us which is a nativity in a circle. We use the Christ Centered Christmas by Cindy Rushton as our guide.

~*The last week we do the What God wants for Christmas an Interactive Kid-Friendly Nativity by Family Life Publishing. I love when all the kids at the end of each devotion say “What God wants for Christmas? It’s –to you- a surprise. In box number 7 it is disguised. But-no peeking! Be Patient! For this you must wait. It’s what you offer Him, and it’s really great! This year is little Job & Nehemiah’s turn to find out the secret in box seven.
Next year since we are mission minded I would like to start a new tradition each year celebrating Christmas studying how a country celebrates Christmas. This idea was given to me by the Corbin family and it is their Christmas tradition.

~*May Christ bless your Christmas and remember Jesus loves you. He came to earth born in a stable the Holy Lamb of God to be our sacrifice the spotless Passover Lamb to die for our sins.
Merry Christmas!