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Did I tell you yet how much fun this is? I love A Canvas A Day!!!
I think today's is so insightful :)
And thanks for sharing the scrapbook pages from your Christmas with you sister and her little ones...I could just feel the love you were all giving Laura during her difficult time.
Okay...I can't close without pointing out that you just made casual mention of the snow in your story...SNOW on CHRISTMAS EVE!?!?!?
Oh, this is a big thing for me. I could die happy if that ever happened here:)
Candace
:)
PS-Give Riley a big hug from Tini and I!
While we were growing up our church group would go caroling the Wednesday night before Christmas to anyone unable to leave their house : ) One of the stops was always at my grandpa's and grandma's house. Only this one year, he was in intensive care in the hospital. Our pastor, knowing how much it would mean to grandpa, got permission for us to carol through the halls of the hospital so that grandpa wouldn't be left out. The only thing we brought was our voices, our scriptures and prayers, but the way it reflected in the eyes of the recipients I could tell it brought CHRISTmas.
Now for the boys I am still figuring this out! I hope for some good suggestions through your comments! Thanks for letting me share : )
Oh, almost forgot, my most favorite thing that keeps us all focused on Christ throughout the season is the Christmas music. We listen to our favorites and all the rich music focused on Christ's birth from Christian artists. Our favorite this year is the Casting Crowns new album.
...When the kids were younger, we used to make cocoa, pile them in the car (and I mean PILE - we outgrew a regular van years and years ago, so we either had to take two cars or break the law and put younger ones, on older ones laps) and drive around town to look at all the Christmas lights and decorations.
We would also pick a family from our church, who we knew were somewhat "down on their luck". We would buy small gifts for each family member, and buy groceries and candy for them. We would all get together and wrap the gifts. We would put everything into a laundry basket, and put a big bow on it. We would drive to their neighborhood, and stop about 2 or 3houses down from their house. Dear husband would turn off the car lights. Our oldest son, would get the basket and quietly creep up to the front door. He would ring the bell and then run like crazy to the side of the house closest to our car. We would all hold our breath until someone answered the door. Once he had to ring the bell three times before they looked down and discovered the basket. As soon as they went inside, the car lights would come back on, so that our boy would know that it was safe to come out from his hiding place.
The kids loved doing this, and I don't think that any of them every let the "secret out of the bag".
In retrospect, it was a miracle that we never got stopped by the cops! Now days, I don' know if I would dare try to pull off a stunt like we did back then...
...but then, just maybe...there might be a laundry basket filled with goodies...in my near future:)
This year, we're also doing three charities: the senior program at the YWCA collects gifts for seniors that have nobody to celebrate the holidays with; Clare House is a food pantry and social service agency run through our local Catholic churches; Brotherhood Tree is and "adopt a family" type program in our community. We've involved the whole family in the shopping process this year, and the two older kids really seem to get it this year. They also "get" the fact that Christmas is about Jesus' birthday. I think this year we'll start a tradition of holding a birthday party for Jesus, like so many commentors do!
What a great idea. I am loving reading all the posts! This is my first time to comment on your blog. I love it!
This year I am doing something completely different with my son. He is 12 and an only child. It is bittersweet to see him growing up so fast but I am loving the young man I see before me. I decided that I want more time with my family. So, each day Trey gets a scroll with a family activity written on it. Then our little family will do that activity together. I love this because it actually makes us slow down and enjoy each other instead of focusing on all the hectic stuff associated with this special time of year. It also reminds us to appreciate each other and to value our time together.
We have baked cookies, gotten hot cocoa and gone Christmas light looking, played board games, watched Christmas movies....you name it. The best part is that it is free! We are creating memories that I hope last a long time.
Thanks for letting me share our family Christmas idea. Merry Christmas Everyone!
:)Lynn
holiday toy drive, and food pantry.
We also try to do special things
for our older neighbors if they need
help during the winter/holiday season. The warmth from doing kind
things goes way beyond any gift.
Besides that, I'm all about Advent. I'm preparing for Christmas, waiting for and expecting Jesus. I do an awesome devotional, and focussing on Advent really helps me to prepare dor Dec. 25. It's really nice. This way it's not just one day, but approximately 3 weeks and it really gets into your brain.
(Fun random fact: in the Netherlands we have First Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day. Weird huh? Same with Easter.)
On a funnier note....when my son got to the age that he did not believe in Santa, I still had a younger daughter who did....my husband kept telling him Santa was too real.
Well, that year, my husband had a deer lease, and I went with him the week before Christmas. I filled "deer droppings" in ziplock bags and on Christmas eve....there were piles of "reindeer Poop" in the yard....as well a hoof prints...but we won't go into that.I am sure my neighbors would have thought I had lost my mind for sure if they had seen me that night!
The next morning wee did not say a word, and let my son discover it on his own.....should have seen his face.....my daughter said.."SEE SANTA WAS HERE!!" He did not respond. That was the last I ever heard that Santa was not real.
*reading all the comments this week has really been fun.
One other fun thing that comes to mind is ringing the bell for salvation army...complete with all four of us in santa hats. When she was younger, Emma was a pretty cute, but high pressure bell ringer. We told her that she would make more money if she belted out some christmas songs while ringing. People would just stop and watch her in action and couldn't help but put a little money in the kettle.
One day, when we have our children I want to teaching them the spirit of giving and helping others
Something else that helped was that my parents did not encourage writing a letter to Santa. We would talk about what we would like but we never asked for things because that isn't what Christmas is about.
My grandchildren celebrate Jesus's birthday with a cake and such.
BTW - Just started reading your blog. It's official I love your dog! I would offer to walk him anyday...he looks so playful! x.
We def. don't spend an intense amount of money on the kids. We have a small budget, and do our best to fit a few gifts , of their choice, in.
We also choose gifts that will help others. This year we are doing Solesforsouls as well as a calendar sponsorship at our church that will help children from a 'dump city' in Philippines. (there homes are built in the city dump). Buying a calendar will help one child go to school for one year. we try to get the kids as involved with this as possible.
Christmas morning we have a party for Jesus, then celebrate with brunch at Grandma/Papas. It's a special time of eating, celebrating and enjoying, while still in p.j;s!!
I can hardly wait!!!!
This year, as the homeroom mother for my daughter's class, we're doing a charity project during the class winter party to remind us how we need to help others.
I think my husband's favorite thing is driving around town Christmas Eve, after church, looking at all the Christmas decorations.
Always, always, Christmas Eve we go to the service at church and come home to read the Christmas Story in Luke before the girls went to bed. Now they still want me to read it every year. And during the day on Christmas, I often just pause to thank God for His blessings to me - they are all the gifts I ever need. This year, our younger daughter will not be getting home, because she is in Iraq - but she will be here with the rest of us, in our hearts.
You have a lovely site that is very inspirational!
knj121287 (at)sbcglobal (dot)net
It's such fun reading what all of your blog peeps have to say in response to your questions related to Christmas! I've not commented since I've already had the honor of receiving one of your wonderful canvas creations. That said, I've been very impressed and moved by the great thought that has gone into some of the traditions that have been adopted by many. The one that consistently appears is the three gift theme.
We never had such a tradition, but we have always been blessed to be able to attend Mass together (my side with Mom, Dad, siblings and their families) on Christmas Eve, then gather as a family in a one-room school house. Mom and Dad renovated it a few years ago, not a small task considering this building has served many purposes, one of which was a hog house! It now serves as our gathering room equipped with a wood-burning stove and fireplace as it's only sources of heat.
Mom brings her keyboard down from the house (she played the organ at Masses for years and years), and we all gather around Dad to listen as he reads the story of Christ's birth. Mom took the time about 20 years ago (my, how the time has flown!!) to type up a program which directs Dad to read certain Bible passages with breaks in between where we all sing a Christmas carole which pertains to the verse(s) just read. It's become quite a sacred tradition, and is one that we all cherish deeply. It didn't start out that way, for we "kids" felt that it was silly and "uncool" the first few years that we did it,but Mom (bless her heart) stuck to her guns (one of her favorite phrases) and because of her strength we now enjoy this most blessed moment together each year.
Just had to share that with you. :)
Say, did you happen to get the voicemail message I left for you? Please let me know if you got it, 'k?
Thanks for listening and for the invitation to share!
Blessings, Sara!
Lauratina
It's such fun reading what all of your blog peeps have to say in response to your questions related to Christmas! I've not commented since I've already had the honor of receiving one of your wonderful canvas creations. That said, I've been very impressed and moved by the great thought that has gone into some of the traditions that have been adopted by many. The one that consistently appears is the three gift theme.
We never had such a tradition, but we have always been blessed to be able to attend Mass together (my side with Mom, Dad, siblings and their families) on Christmas Eve, then gather as a family in a one-room school house. Mom and Dad renovated it a few years ago, not a small task considering this building has served many purposes, one of which was a hog house! It now serves as our gathering room equipped with a wood-burning stove and fireplace as it's only sources of heat.
Mom brings her keyboard down from the house (she played the organ at Masses for years and years), and we all gather around Dad to listen as he reads the story of Christ's birth. Mom took the time about 20 years ago (my, how the time has flown!!) to type up a program which directs Dad to read certain Bible passages with breaks in between where we all sing a Christmas carole which pertains to the verse(s) just read. It's become quite a sacred tradition, and is one that we all cherish deeply. It didn't start out that way, for we "kids" felt that it was silly and "uncool" the first few years that we did it,but Mom (bless her heart) stuck to her guns (one of her favorite phrases) and because of her strength we now enjoy this most blessed moment together each year.
Just had to share that with you. :)
Say, did you happen to get the voicemail message I left for you? Please let me know if you got it, 'k?
Thanks for listening and for the invitation to share!
Blessings, Sara!
Lauratina