Every year when Christmas rolls around we find ourselves challenged as to how to approach it. When I was a kid I knew the correct answer was, “Christmas is about Jesus being born”. But, it was only lip service, Christmas was REALLY about WHAT AM I GOING TO GET!!! I used to call my friends up to ask,”what did you GET?” And I would eagerly report the list of what I GOT.
We wanted to foster a spirit of giving and a true focus on Jesus. Gasp if you must, but Santa did not come here. Christmas gifts were not found Christmas morning. Instead, we opened gifts here and there in December, and exchanged some family gifts the weekend we were sick with the stomach bug. 🙂 Yet, there was no sence of deprivation here or any loss of wonder. The Christmas story is truly one of wonder.
We practiced acts of giving over advent time. Alice is still telling people about the joy of leaving quarters for a mystery recipient in the laundry room. It was a BLAST doing these things and truly meaningful.
We made a Christmas morning surprise set-up of a nativity scene and of a birthday party. Decadent cupcakes for breakfast is a VERY memorable way to celebrate our Savior’s birth!
Alice enjoyed Nativity Hide and Seek. I wrapped and hid all the figures from the nativity and she searched for them through the house. This was also a particularly wonderful activitiy for kids if Mothers have a turkey to stuff!
Once we were out of our PJ’s we set out to give goodies to all our neighbors doorknobs, it was great, sneakey, lovey fun! There was much joy it in. 🙂
Top if off with 6 friends and neighbors coiming over for a lovely dinner and abundant spread. It was a lovely Christmas 2013!
Alice just asked me today, “Can we do that celebration again? Can we invite all those people again?” So, it was a memorable Christmas, indeed!
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