Our Family Circus

Repost from 2008-you can check out other ideas there as well. Another fun way to keep Christ the JOY of Christmas. Shepherds Point of View Here is another option to allow your children the THRILL OF CHRIST in Christmas! Last year, after opening presents, we read the Christmas story in Luke 2. We listened how the shepherds were told about Jesus birth and went to find Him. Here is what to do: Place angels in different rooms of your home like a scavenger hunt. I referred to the children as Shepherd Dolly (age 3) and Shepherd Billy (age 6) and we went on the hunt for Baby Jesus. The angels should be visible from one room to the other so they can spot them. Ours were more like a straight path with angels along the way to reinforce them. The end of the hunt lead us to our unfinished basement-damp and cold, probably like a stable. There, hanging from the ceiling, would be the final angel and under it was the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. That year, behind the figures, we chose to cover and re...

A few years ago, My Dear and I along with Billy were gifted an amazing gift-a trip to Israel. While on the trip we were able to see so much and learn even more! We of course went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Interesting enough, any place thought to be holy has a church built on top of it. This was the believed birth place of Christ. It was heavily decorated and it was impossible to visualize it as a stable with all of the candles, paintings, and fancy lighting which was needed since we were in a basement. Yep, that is it in the picture above. The location was crowded and people were packed in for a Christmas carol and then lead out like an elementary field trip. Our guide then took us next door. It was not crowded at all, actually our group was the only one there. It looked far more like a stable of that time would appear, stone and cave like. The guide then shared that most groups did not go there but he wanted us to see it. The place where we were was where the Inn wou...

I hope to repost a few of my favorite Christmas activities that we have done over the past 10 years with our children. Billy and Dolly loved this one as preschoolers and now they are the ones helping Miss B. to enjoy it! I use this one every Christmas with the preschoolers I work with at church as well. They LOVE it!! Hope your little people do too! In Mexico, it is tradition for children to march through the town carrying the figures of Mary and Joseph. They knock on doors and ask if anyone has rooms for the figures. They, of course do not. We did this with our children as well. I walked down the hallway with the children while Billy carried Joseph and Dolly carried Mary. They knocked on each door in the hallway. Their quick daddy jumped behind each door to answer their knocks. He changed his approach and character with each knock. They asked if there was room for them to stay the night and each time, My Dear shared that no there was not. When they got close to the last door, My Dear ...

I am sure I have shared this a zillion times but can't help but share it again just incase someone might have missed it! Last year at the end of the season, the children and I wrapped 25 Christmas books including a Bible. As of December 1st, we began to unwrap a book a day to read in preparation for Christmas. I know that sounds like a lot of books but you would be amazed how quickly they accumulate. Because the older kids realized last year that these are the same books, they are on the hunt for their favorites. Miss B. wants the Little Critter book. Dolly is watching out for the Legend of the Candy Cane. Billy enjoys The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (which is also one of my favorites.) I know there will be a day when they no longer have time for this silly tradition but as of now-it is a gift everyday-for them and for me!

Today we went to Bass Pro Shop to get a specific item. We chose that store because there is so much for the kids to see! Well, apparently they have started the Christmas season. Parents and children were lined up through the store to see the Jolly Ole Elf! The line was L O N G! Santa had extra elves on duty just for this purpose. I questioned our sanity even going in! As I walked past, I noticed the children were dressed up for the very important meeting and of course photo! The children seemed to be waiting patiently probably due to the "better not pout" lecture even though the line was way longer than the words to the song. The line seemed to be parent "driven" so to speak, but I am sure none of the children complained! Those folks were willing to wait. We had to fight our way by them again to leave and this time I had a less than happy preschooler. Here are the conclusions that I came to: 1. That would NOT be me waiting in a line that long with children! 2. One w...

When my parents moved south leaving my brother the blessing of their "stuff." I asked about the nativity my mother set up when we were children. No one knew exactly where it was, but had their ideas. This summer, I ventured into my brother's attic to find Barbie, Little People, and Strawberry Shortcake that my mother had saved for her grandchildren. But among the rubble, I saw the old nativity. It was so beautiful to me as a child and was always placed higher then our little hands could reach. My mom was there, so I immediately asked if I could have it. The nativity is not expensive. It is not exactly Biblically accurate, but I love that I only found 2 magi because we know of 3 gifts does not mean that there were 3 men. The men are not in this picture because they did not see the baby at the birth spot but at his home. I enjoyed setting up the nativity. I looked at each piece noting the price tags of simple amounts on the figures and displaying it as accurate...

I am less then eager to take the nativities and Christmas tree down this year. I love hearing 2 year old Blake yell, "there Dezus(Jesus)" or "more Dezus" when she sees a nativity. When praying at night she will pray for "More Dezus" as if that is His name, but what a great prayer....praying for more Jesus and less us, in our lives. My friend read in Home Life magazine last year a cool idea she suggested I share with you. Instead of throwing Christmas cards away or taking them to the recycling center, put the cards in a basket and pull a card out each week to pray for that sender(s.) What a great idea!! If you sent us a card or put a card on a gift.....we will be praying for you this year! If we don't have enough cards to get through the year, we will repeat so you might get 2 weeks of prayer out of us! Hey, if you are glad Michele shared this idea-post a shout out to her! When we draw out a card, we will be praying that the sender knows Jesus as their ...

Last year, I posted several ideas of what our family does to keep Christ the center of Christmas. (Check them out from last December's post.) This was an idea that I had heard about but had never tried. Our older children are 8 and 5 1/2 and they are enjoying creating a bed fit for the newborn King. We cut yellow pieces of paper into strips to represent hay. Each time a child gets caught doing something kind for someone else, a piece of "straw" is placed in a basket to make a fluffy bed for Baby Jesus. The children have nominated one another and have told me what the other child did for them. I write that deed on a piece of the "straw" and deposit it. We have just started so here is what the bed looks like as of right now. Clay helped me make my bed today so I put a piece in for him. Lydia complimented Clay's good work at school, so he put a piece in for her. Our hope is that the manger bed will be full of fluffy straw when we lay Baby Jesus on it ...

If you read any of my Christmas suggestions you may remember that we were planning our own 1/2 Christmas Celebration for June 25th. You know what I learned about June 25th? It is just as busy as December 25th! Nana sent the kids Christmas crafts to do which are still undone. One thing that we did do was to raid the library for Christmas books. They are readily available in June! June 25th hit while we were in the last week of baseball, training camp, and the parents in for a visit. It was one of those weeks where we were supposed to be in 2 places at one time, so much for our Christmas Celebration. Although we did enjoy the books! I bet somewhere within that week, B. was forced to wear a Christmas bib because all the others were piled into the mounds of neglected laundry. It was a thought.....

Here are a couple of ideas that I have read about and wanted to share with you before packing Christmas decorations away. 1. Read about this in Family Fun magazine and Dollar General had Christmas journals for $1, the kids got them for Christmas and they will write something about themselves from this past year. We will store it with the decorations and surprise ourselves when reading it next Dec. It will also be a good record of their progress in handwriting and writing in itself. Not to mention , those journals will warm their mama's heart. We will trace Blake's hand and record each of their favorite gifts for that year. 2. We are going to wrap our Christmas books in gift wrap and store them away! Then when December comes, we will pull them out and read one a day until Christmas. It was suggested on FlyLady .com that you rewrap your favorites to create 24 books. I am pretty sure we are at least 1/2 way there and my girlfriend, who had no idea I wanted to do this, blessed us...

Here is another option to allow your children the THRILL OF CHRIST in Christmas! Last year, after opening presents, we read the Christmas story in Luke 2. We listened how the shepherds were told about Jesus birth and went to find Him. Here is what to do: Place angels in different rooms of your home like a scavenger hunt. I referred to the children as Shepherd Lydia (age 3) and Shepherd Clay (age 6) and we went on the hunt for Baby Jesus. The angels should be visible from one room to the other so they can spot them. Ours were more like a straight path with angels along the way to reinforce them. The end of the hunt lead us to our unfinished basement-damp and cold, probably like a stable. There, hanging from the ceiling, would be the final angel and under it was the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Behind the figures, we chose to cover and reveal an additional gift for each of the children. Give it a try and add your own touches! Have fun as you teach the true meaning of Christmas!

Our 4 year old, Lydia found an unused container, which is amazing in itself! She went to work and this is what she laid under the Christmas tree. I think this little one just started a tradition for this family.

We enjoy going to large nativities and if there is a live one, I suggest going! Took the kids to this one and watched their reactions (with my camera that is.) How precious that our little man, took his glove off to touch the newborn King. Come let us adore Him!

Our children love presents! I am not even sure if it is getting new things or the thrill of opening them! When Lydia was a baby and only Clay opened gifts, we set up the nativity not including Baby Jesus. After we finished opening all of our gifts on Christmas, there was one box left. It was the prettiest wrapping of all the gifts. It was addressed to all of us by name. We asked Clay if he wanted to open it. When he opened the package he found the baby for the nativity and a note. It simply said, "I am the greatest gift the world has ever known." And continued, I love you with each of our names listed and signed Jesus. Clay then was able to place the baby in the manger as we thanked God for the very special gift He gave us.

In Mexico, it is tradition for children to march through the town carrying the figures of Mary and Joseph. They knock on doors and ask if anyone has rooms for the figures. They, of course do not. We did this with our children as well. I walked down the hallway with the children while Clay (5) carried Joseph and Lydia (2) carried Mary. They knocked on each door in the hallway. Their quick daddy jumped behind each door to answer their knocks. He changed his approach and character with each knock. They asked if there was room for them to stay the night and each time, Mark shared that no there was not. When they got close to the last door, Mark said he did not have room but suggested they use the broom/linen closet. We made room for the figures in the closet and talked about how it was not as nice as the bedrooms but it would have to do, just like the stable so many years ago. As we were about to set the figures on the floor, Clay reached up and pulled a blanket down then sat the figures o...