this Christmas

This Christmas we 

            Eve:
. started the day with some exercise then went home for a big breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast
. we baked Christmas cookies
. constructed our German Gingerbread house!
. shared a simple Bethlehem dinner, eating things similar to what Mary and Joseph may have had on their trip to Bethlehem 
. watched a Christmas Eve service online from back home
. received our gift - Christmas jammies - and wore them all day long!

         Christmas:
. big breakfast day 2!
. read the Christmas story together and watched a Christmas movie in the morning
. open our 3 gifts & play all day
. fast during the day - giving up a meal to pray for the poor, hungry, and spiritually lost in the world. 
. enjoyed some more Bethlehem food for lunch
. went to a friend's house and celebrated the birth of Christ with our friends-turned into-family here 

     

-------------------------------------  The 3 gifts:  -------------------------------------------

Narrow down the focus of your gift giving. 

Enjoy Christmas. 

Celebrate the true meaning.

"The year I found a garbage bag full of wrapped presents hidden under a blanket on the washing machine four days after Christmas, I knew. I knew we were going overboard with the gift giving, because the girls hadn't even missed those lost presents. As I looked back on pictures of Christmases past, I realized that the girls were dazed by present-overload, not knowing what to play with first and just sitting there in the midst of the jumble of gifts and wrapping. This was not good." - Amy Wagner, Crosswalk.com

"Our children love this tradition and share with others the special way we do Christmas. Never once have they felt neglected or that it was unfair that they each receive only three gifts. They have become great at tweaking their own lists for Christmas under the "three gifts" guidelines and have made my Christmas shopping much easier and less stressful. "  - same article by Amy Wagner, I LOVE THIS! 

* one “gold” gift, the big item they are longing for; Gold is precious and expensive, so is this gift. It's something that child really truly wants and/or is the most expensive gift on her list.
* one “myrrh” gift, myrrh was one of the ointments used to embalm the dead and was said to have been one of the spices carried by Mary to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. So this gift is for their body, such as clothing, special soaps or lotions, perfume; 
* one “frankincense” gift, for their spiritual growth, is a gift that will draw the recipient closer to God * - 3 gifts for Christmas


-OR-  need, read, want-OR-  Body (clothes), Mind (toy), Soul (devotion)-OR-  Need, Want, From Sibling (so they learn to give gifts to others)

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Starting family traditions

 It may sound strange, but Christmas traditions don't have to be … well … traditional. You can start new activities that bring meaning to your holidays and build a legacy for your family. Perhaps you came from a family of non-believers, and you have never celebrated traditions that were based on Christ. Or perhaps you have found that your current traditions have no meaning for your family. This year, we have compiled 10 ideas for new traditions, some from FamilyLife and some from our readers.

1. What Does God Want for Christmas? The Christmas holiday is really just a part of the gospel story—God came as the man, Jesus, in the flesh to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' birth signifies God's grace and love for His people. FamilyLife has developed an interactive nativity set that not only tells the story of the birth of Christ, but also presents the gospel to children.
This resource, What God Wants for Christmas, can be used in your own family, in Sunday school classes, or as an outreach for neighborhood Christmas parties. 

2. Use decorations to tell about the entire life of Christ. Christmas is a time that usually emphasizes the birth of Jesus, but decorations can also celebrate the remainder of His life on earth. In addition to the basic nativity set, angels, and stars, you may want to include crosses and verses that talk about the life of Jesus. 

3. Fast a meal. In America, Christmas includes a large focus on food. This year, during the week before Christmas, give up a meal and pray during that time for the poor, hungry, and spiritually lost in the world. 

4. Watch a movie that remembers the life of Christ. There are several good films that focus on the birth, death, and life of Christ. We recommend Jesus of Nazareth, the film, Jesus, or for mature audiences, The Passion of the Christ. Or for a change of pace, try Ben Hur, a movie that begins with Jesus' birth and ends with His death, and tells the story of a man who was transformed by His love and forgiveness.
By watching movies that focus on other aspects of the life of Jesus, the Christmas celebration of His birth is put into proper perspective. This can be an excellent opportunity to talk to your children about why Christ had to come in the form of a child. 

5. Share stories about how God has worked in your life. Have you ever told your children the story of your salvation? How about your spouse? While the family is together during the holidays, use the time to share your personal stories about faith, redemption, and life change. Also, reflect on the previous year and talk about how you have grown in your faith individually and as a family.