Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas day and hope you and your family did as well!

Christmas Eve traditions

Growing up we always had the same Christmas Eve traditions. We went to see a movie in the theater, out to dinner at Steak N Ale, looked at Christmas lights and then to church at the 11 PM candlelight service. Now that we have kids, we are making our own traditions. For the past two years, we have gone to the kids' Christmas Eve church service, then out to dinner. This year we came home and left reindeer food out in our yard for Santa's reindeer and then left a note and cookies for Santa.Brewer leaving the reindeer food out in the grass for Santa's reindeer.

Family Time

Christmas time should be spent with family. Tonight was as my mom prepared a meal for us at her home. We decorated Christmas cookies (these are some of the ones we'll be leaving out for Santa). And we sat around the Christmas tree and enjoyed one another.

Baking & Christmas movies

Probably a tradition most of you have in December...baking holiday goodies and watching Christmas movies-- Even though you might not do them together like we are today. It is a chilly, chilly day and while it's beautiful outside, it is too cold to play. So we're spending the afternoon baking brownies and watching The Happy Elf. (We love this cute movie!) We also are going to make some Jello and then tonight (once the Jello has done its thing), we will use Christmas cookie cutters to cut shapes out of our Jello.

Off to finish cleaning the brownie mess...

Advent Wreath

The advent wreath is a tradition my church did as well as my family when I was growing up. As a teenager, we often made fun of the advent wreath at church because of the silly lines they would have the kids say each week about the wreath. Like, "Why do we light the third candle?" But secretively, I always loved the advent wreath.

In my nine years of marriage, I have always tried to have an advent wreath in our home. However, I must say that I am unsuccessful most years. I just can't seem to find an advent wreath that isn't "flimsy". I am always scared that our house will catch on fire due to the advent wreath. And since we've had children, there is no way I'd light candles right now...especially with the activity that can be produced by two boys. Yet, I hope there comes a time in our future when we can have an advent wreath; one that we can light each night as we sit and have dinner together. I picture us discussing the coming (that's the meaning of advent, coming) of Christmas and all that it means.

Today's post ends up being of a tradition I had in my past, and one I long to have in my future. However, for now, we do not have an advent wreath in our home.

Parties

I wasn't sure I'd be able to post this many traditions when I first started this journey of blogging our December traditions. But here we are on day 20 and here goes our 20th December tradition. PARTIES!

I think it is safe to say that everyone is invited to at least one holiday party...whether it is for church, school, work, social, groups, clubs...everyone has a party to go to. I tried something little differently this year. Yesterday, I saw on a friend's Facebook update, "4 parties down, 4 to go." I thought to myself...she needs to take on my 2008 party decision.

Most Decembers we go to several parties; in fact, I usually help host 3 parties at Christmas time. But this year, I decided we weren't going to let our December be ruled by parties. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good party. And I am usually game for a party. Maybe it is because this is the first Christmas I've had two children, maybe it is because I feel behind in my housework all the time, maybe it is because I know I need to learn to say 'no' more, I am not certain...but whatever the reason, this December I decided we wouldn't be ruled by a party schedule, we wouldn't get frantic looking for that babysitter, we wouldn't stress because our nightly calendar was filled, we wouldn't fret over the perfect outfit, we just WOULDN'T.

So for two of the three parties that I usually help host, I gracefully bowed out of them. I continued this year with the Kids' Christmas Party. Partly because I do it for my own children, partly because I love doing it, and partly because I feel it works somewhat as a ministry. Also, I attended my Bible study Christmas party...but I usually host this party (not this year though). And that was it!!! I didn't attend any brunches, I didn't attend any Christmas school parties (of course, if Brewer's class needed another volunteer I would have been there), I didn't attend any work Christmas parties with Lou, I didn't attend any cookie exchanges, I just didn't. And you know what, my Christmas will be joyful this year with or without those parties. Jesus is the reason for this time in our life, and I find it easier to celebrate in this time when I am not stressed by a calendar. So for me, in 2008, I was selective on the parties I attended. It's something you might try in the future...or at least give some thoughts to ways you can help your December slow down. And to my friend from Facebook with the 8 parties -- I do hope you are enjoying these parties. I am tired even thinking about YOUR eight parties! LOL!

On a side note: PLEASE keep inviting us...because in December 2009 I may feel differently AND I certainly would feel left out if we weren't invited!!! (giggles)

The Nativity

Brewer has started a little tradition with us where we play a game while driving. The objective of the game is to see who can find the most nativity scenes. It is pretty funny to play this game with a three-year-old. I am certainly joyful that he associates the nativity with Christmas. After all, this IS the meaning of CHRISTmas!

I hope you take some time and reflect; make sure your focus this holiday season is on the right reasons!