And The Tradition Continues......

Have I mentioned that we are a family that LOVES traditions??!!  Well, if not…we are!

Here are a few more of our Christmas favorites….

*Nativity scenes….LOVE them!  I especially love collecting them from different places we have traveled to.  The one below was given to us when we married 20 years ago!  It had more animals once upon a time, but even being short a few from the herd, I think it is beautiful.

 

Obviously these two were some that we collected during our travels.  I love how they each show the nativity in relation to that locations culture.

 

 

*Next would be Christmas cards!  We love to receive Christmas cards and we keep them every year.  I have a basket full of cards from the past 10 years and each year we enjoy looking through them.

Some are picture cards from our friends and family and those are really fun to look at how everyone has changed.  Sometimes there are cards from people who no longer will spend Christmas on this earth and those can be kind of sad, yet also neat because they always get us started sharing memories of that person!

This year we are doing something a bit different in sending out our cards.  We are slowly going through out list and making a couple of cards a day.  We are spending time praying for that family and trying to put some time into each one before we send it out.  That has been really fun!

 *Now we have our puzzles!!  We buy a new Christmas puzzle each year, put out a puzzle table, and get busy solving it!!  The girls are really good at the puzzles and we are already on a second puzzle this year!

 

*Books!  Every year we purchase a new Christmas book to put under the tree.  It is fun to look at the changes our books have gone through.  We started with board books, then to picture books and now novels that we read together over the holiday season.

 

*RACK….this is our newest tradition….Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  We plan out an act of kindness to do each day during the Advent season.  These have ranged from taping quarters to gumball machines, to spending an evening praying for friends, and even handing out hundred dollar bills to random people.  We have learned to step out of our bubble and make an effort to become more involved in the lives of others through this activity. 

This year we decided to recycle our Thankful Tree and turn it into our RACKed Advent tree! 

 

Click HERE to read about how we displayed our RACK Advent last year!

The neat thing about this tradition is that the Lord changes it each year!  This year we have been doing something a bit different, but I will share that with you tomorrow!

Traditions are a great way to make life comfortable, peaceful and joyful, but remember that sometimes traditions become stumbling blocks and keep our focus off of what it should be on.  It is always fun to look at new traditions and try some, but every family is different and what is fun for us might be a burden for you! 

Thank the Lord we are all so different because this would be a pretty boring world if we were not!

Cinnamon Ornaments

In our chat yesterday about Bumpkin Farm's Christmas tree traditions, I told you that I would give you more info today on how to make cinnamon ornaments.  Being that I am a farm-ess of my word, here ya go!!! 


First you start with 3 cups of cinnamon and 3 cups of applesauce.  I was able to get my cinnamon at Dollar Tree!!  Whew!!  That could have been expensive!

Then you mix it up! 

I started with a spoon and eventually went to using my hands because the dough became to thick. 

Oh, you should also know that the batch in the pictures is a double batch so you won't have as much dough.

Then you grab some cute helpers and some cookie cutters!!

Sprinkle a little cinnamon on the surface you plan on using just like you do when you make biscuits. 

Then you plop the dough down and start rolling it with either a rolling pin or your hands!  I prefer the rolling pin, but....there is a girly that lives in my house (otherwise known as my daughter) and she likes to use her hands!

You flatten it out at whatever thickness you want your ornaments to be, but remember, the thicker the ornament the longer it takes to dry.  Then you get cutting!! 

Be sure that you keep some extra cinnamon around to use when things get sticky!!

Then beautiful cinnamon ornaments begin to appear in your kitchen!!

After cutting them out, make sure you use a toothpick and make a little hole at the top for the string, ribbon or hanger!  We forgot this one year....Oops!

Stick them on a cookie sheet once they are cut for about an hour to allow them to harden up just a bit.

 

 

 

You will notice that about this time your house starts to smell REALLY yummy!!  Our dogs started to think there might be something good for them in the kitchen.  They are not allowed into the kitchen so they were both sitting at the entrance just hoping someone would share!

Tank really, REALLY wanted to help!!  He thought they smelled REALLY good!!!!

So after an hour on the cookie sheet, move them to drying racks where they dry for a few days.  It was funny because I had these racks in the corner of my kitchen during Thanksgiving and because of the yummy smell, everyone tried to grab the cinnamon "cookies" during our celebration!  They taste GROSS...trust me ;)

After they are dry you string your hanger of choice in the hole.  We use twine, but ribbon is really pretty too!! 

Then you can either paint them or leave them the way they are.  We usually do a little of both!

I think they look lovely on the tree and they make the house smell yummy all season!  And, when you go to open your Christmas boxes next year the smell of cinnamon instantly gets you in the Christmas mood!!

This is a really simple project to do, yet yields a great return!!  Super fun, beautiful in a simple way, and a fun tradition to have.

Blessings my blogger friends!!

Christmas Trees on Bumpkin Farm: Christmas Traditions

After Advent, I would say that my next favorite family Christmas tradition is the cutting and decorating of our tree.

The day after Thanksgiving we head out to find the "perfect" family tree!  Now, perfect is relative cuz I could tell you some crazy stories about trees past!

Unfortunately, where we live there is no place to just head out in the woods and find a Christmas tree, so we head to a tree farm to find it!

We usually walk around for a couple of hours going from tree to tree declaring each tree's perfection until we see the next one.  Then about two hours into it my back hurts and everyone is getting a little dizzy from all of the trees so we just pick one and begin cutting!

Christmas tree cutting this year!! 2013

Tree cutting from 2011!!

Tree cutting 2010!!

We load it up and carry it home, set it up in the living room and allow a day for all of the branches to settle, or all the insects to wake up from their slumber!

Then the following day is probably one of my top five most favoritest days of the year....tree decorating!!  The Friday night before we decorate the tree, we spend time decorating the house and Farmer Willie puts the lights on the tree so then once Saturday comes....BAM, we decorate!!

It is a decorating party!!  We have a spread of finger foods, always have some chips and queso, red and green M&M's and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.  There is usually some fruit and raw veggies with dip thrown in there too.  And finally......Christmas punch!!!

After we spend time eating and visiting we begin decorating!!  We usually put up three trees.  The main on in our living room we cover with ornaments that we make.  This year it is mostly cinnamon ornaments and boy does our living room smell good!  (I will show you how to make them tomorrow!)

The other tree, usually in the dining room, we hang our yearly ornaments.  Each year one of the girls and I will go and pick out a special ornament for each person.  Sometimes we have a theme and other years we get ornaments based on things that each person was interested in throughout the year.  We label them with the year and the name.  We started this about ten years ago and the plan is that when the girls leave home they will be able to take their special ornaments with them to hang on their trees!!

We also hang our travel ornaments on this tree as well.  Each time we travel to a new destination we try and pick up a Christmas ornament as a souvenir!!

You can imagine how much fun this tree is to decorate!!  It brings back tons of memories and fun stories!!!

The final tree is really just there because we love Christmas trees!  This year it is decorated in red and white and is in our library.

You will note the cat at the bottom, Aslan, thinks he is the best gift of all!

We keep the lights on the trees going as long as we are awake!  I love the mood that it sets in the house!! 

We don't really do presents, so under the main tree we have our Christmas books, under the red and white tree we have some homemade gifts for each other and  we don't put anything under the memory/travel tree.

So....what traditions do you have with your Christmas trees??!!

Advent on Bumpkin Farm - Christmas Traditions

Christmas is coming! 

I know, hard to believe isn't it?  This year has flown by!!

Our family is one that loves tradition!  Probably a little too much :)  But during this time of year our traditions abound and frankly, we like it that way!!

One of our favorite traditions is observing Advent. 

What is advent?  It is traditionally a time of expectation and waiting for the celebration of Christ's birth.  It is a time to focus your attention, thoughts and actions on things that are everlasting as opposed to short-lasting.

In order to do this, we have nightly Advent readings that include the lighting of the Advent candles, a short lesson, reading of scripture, singing, and prayer.

Our advent wreath is simple greenery with four candles in the middle, three being purple and one pink.  The purple candles are the color representing royalty and penance and the pink, being that Advent is partially patterned after Lent, represents joy . 

Week 1 stands for Hope, and week 2 Love. Week 3 stands for joy and week 4 peace. In the center of those candles is a short white candle that is lit on Christmas morning representing Christ!

Different churches and different denominations observe Advent differently so we have just picked what makes sense to us and gone with it!! 

I remember when growing up, the Baptist church we attended observed advent and each Sunday we sang the following song:

Light One Candle

1. Light one candle for hope One bright candle for hope He brings hope to every heart He comes! He comes!

2. Light one candle for love One bright candle for love He brings love to every heart He comes! He comes!

3. Light one candle for joy One bright candle for joy He brings joy to every heart He comes! He comes!

4. Light one candle for peace One bright candle for peace He brings peace to every heart He comes!

He comes!

 Because this song has a lot of memories and meaning to me, it is one of the songs we sing each Sunday when we light that week's candle.

Do I think you have to observe Advent?  Nope! 

But for our family, it is a way that we can come together each evening and bring our busy, excited thoughts all back to the reason we are rejoicing and celebrating in the first place.  That God...GOD, chose to become a human and come to earth and live just to sacrifice himself for ME so that not only we can spend eternity together, but so that we can have a relationship now!!

Want to read more blogs about homesteading? 

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What Is It Really About? - In The Family

***Farm Hunting Update:  Well, we spoke with the mortgage company yesterday and everything is good to go except for the appraisal.  Since we are getting a VA loan we don't have a lot of control over that.  We should hear something within the next week.  Once that is done we are heading to closing!!***

What Is It Really About? - In The Family

Today brings a close to our series on determining and applying your family's purpose for Christmas.  We have looked at how to apply it in your home, and in your community, and we conclude by looking at how to apply it within our family.

Applying our purpose within the family is often left in the dust during the holiday season.  We get caught up in doing things with our family, but we forget to do things for our family besides buying gifts.  And while gifts are definitely a way to give, there are so many other ways and opportunities that, to just stop at gift giving is a waste.

How you apply this principle will be very different for each family because each family member has different needs and desires.  But the goal is to make yourself more aware of opportunities that come up.

One thing William and I try to do is watch closely for any child needing extra attention.  We have a belief that if a child feels they need more attention, then they do.  It might not make sense to us as maybe we spend all day, every day with them and we feel like we show them tons of attention, but if they think they need it, then they do for one reason or another. 

So we watch the girls for clues that they need more attention.  Some of the clues that I have noticed is that they pull away when someone else is being praised (there are heart issues that cause this as well, but either way it demands more attention).  For kids that are around elementary school age they may try to sit in your lap or cuddle more often, sometimes even seeming to behave in a way that you don't think is appropriate for their age.  Sometimes they just come right out and say it!!

It is easy for us to get caught up in all of the activities, be it good activities, and leave family members feeling left behind.

Make a point each day to show your children and husband that you are thinking about them.  For my family, this usually involves touch, be it a back rub, snuggling on the couch or just talking while I gently touch their shoulder. 

I am not a very touchy person so I have to make an effort to do this since it is not my natural response.  Yet it seems that everyone else in my family is naturally touchy!!

Get enough sleep!!  Nothing ruins a fun time quicker than tired parents or children!!  I know that it is hard to stay on your regular night time schedule, but it is important to try.  Fatigue also causes your immune system to slow down and you want to keep everyone healthy!!

Now, this one is hard for me, but we try and continue eating right.  I know that we throw in some special treats and meals and that is a-okay!!  But don't make it an everyday occurrence as you will end up with a sluggish family and a bunch of tummy aches.

Slow down and notice all of the love letters that the Lord leaves you and your family throughout the day.  If you will just take the time to look for them, you will be amazed at the many ways the He has put in place to remind you of His presence.

My final tip is one we have talked about before, but is sooo important!  Make sure your family maintains individual time with the Lord each day.  If you are too busy for this, then you are too busy!

My family is one of the greatest blessings that the Lord has given me.  I hate to think of them feeling devalued because I become too busy to deal with or bless them.  So begin each day with a song (my favorite way to wake them up!!) and a prayer and end it with a kiss and a prayer because each day with our family is a gift.  And that is one gift that we want to appreciate and treasure daily!!

What Is It Really About? - In The Community (Part 2)

***Farm Hunting Update - Cold Feet!!  That about sums up the last couple of days for me.  Lately when I start thinking about what we are doing, I almost can't breath!  What in the world are we thinking leaving the safety of our little house here?  Leaving our neighbors, friends, doctors, pharmacy, grocery store, dentist??!!

I have found myself thinking "Oh, maybe the appraisal won't go through!!  Then we don't have to move."  Shame on ME!!

God has a plan and with that plan, He provides the strength.  Not only to get through the process (which involves a lot of waiting and unknowns, which I DON'T like!), but He will also provide new doctor's, new grocery stores, and the knowledge we need to raise our family where He leads.

So I am taking a lot of deep breathes lately!!  And a lot of praying!!***

What Is It Really About? - In The Community (Part 2)

Before I so rudely got sick and had to miss a day, we were looking at how to celebrate our Christmas purpose in the community.  Today I want to show and tell you about our Christmas Kindness Countdown.

I got the idea somewhere in the wild blue yonder of the Internet several years ago.  Some people call it Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. 

My brother teased me last year when I called it that because he said it wasn't so random when I planned it a couple of months in advance!  Gotta love advice from little brothers!!

Anyway, it is an advent calendar of sorts.  Each day we go and pull an activity card.  On the card is listed a way that we can serve the community.  Here is a picture of last year's:

We cut little borders out, glued them on the cute brown bags and put in a card.  The card contained a verse and listed something that we wanted to share with the community that day.  The cards we used last year looked like this:

So every morning, during breakfast, one of the girls would pull the card out for that day, and read the verse and activity.  Then sometime during the day, we would go out together and serve in whatever manner listed.

This year, being that we are in the middle of packing and moving, I needed a countdown that was easy to move.  We talked and thought, thought and talked, looked on the Internet at ideas, and thought and talked again, and this is what we came up with:

We took two 12 X 12 pieces of scrapbooking cardstock paper, attached them with ribbon and the added the small pockets.  The pockets were cut from patterned scrapbooking paper and then the girls and I hand-sewed them onto the brown base.

Our stitches are no-where near perfect, but we had a good time doing it and I know that ever single stitch that went into it was full of love and excitement about serving our community!

The next thing you do is make a list of 24 activities that in some way or another serve your community.  Most of ours cost little to no money, but there are some that we have had to save up for in order to do. 

Some examples of our activities are

1. Drive through your neighborhood and pick 4 houses to stop and pray for.  Then sneak up to their door and tape a Christmas Kindness card and candy cane on it.
2. Write a letter to a US soldier serving overseas.
3. When you are eating out leave an extra, extra large tip along with a Christmas Kindness card.
4. Make a dessert tray for Daddy to bring to work and share.
5. Go to Dollar Tree and tape 5 baggies somewhere in the toy isle.  Each baggie should contain $1 and a Christmas Kindness card.
6. Gather food for a food pantry and deliver.  Call ahead and see if they need any help sorting.
7. Bring a $5 Starbucks gift card to a Salvation Army bell ringer.
8. Collect food and various products for the local animal shelter and drop them off.
9. Write a letter to the local police department thanking them for their work.
10. Buy 10 Starbucks $5 gift cards and hand them out at the mall to random people.

There are many more that you can come up with, the list is endless!  If you have not had the time to save money and can't do some of the more costly ones, keep your activities within your current budget.  There are so many ways to serve that you can always come up with 24 to fit any budget.

This year our cards had to be a bit smaller so they look like this:

We don't have the room to write the verses out, so we will be looking them up!

One tip that I have learned over the years is to really plan which days you want to do each activity before you stick them in the calendar.  If you have plans all afternoon one day, you might want to do one of the activities that takes less time.  If you know you will have a large expenditure that week or need more time to save for some of the more costly activities, schedule ones that cost little to nothing.

I have also started keeping a master list so that I know which activities are coming up!  This helps with the budgeting and time planning too.

Last year we were blessed so greatly by doing these activities.  When we went to the mall to hand out the Starbucks cards and I was amazed at the kindness that a little $5 gift card brought out in others.  After people got over the initial shock of realizing that we wanted to give this to them, expecting nothing in return, they would often share things about their lives with us.  They always went away with a smile and a prayer of blessing.

Another one that was really neat was when we gave the Starbucks card to the Salvation Army bell ringer.  We actually had a lot of trouble finding a bell ringer to give it to.  There was not one at our local grocery store, we drove around the local outdoor mall and could not find anyone.  Finally, driving back home we had to stop at the store.  Then we saw someone there.  She was definitely NOT there 10 minutes before, but we parked, prayed that the Lord would use the gift in the way He saw fit and we took her the card. 



She started to cry and thank us profusely for the gift.  We then went into the grocery store to pick up what we needed, checked out and headed to our car.  Our entire time in the grocery store was not more than 10 minutes.  When we headed out, she was no where to be seen.  The red bucket was gone along with any trace of the lady.  We joked that the Lord transported the person that He wanted to receive the gift from another location!!  :)

You see, in my experience, I have found people receive in different ways.  Sometimes others receive our service in kindness and thankfulness, like when we handed out the Starbucks cards.  Other times people receive it with hostility, or they refuse to receive it at all. 

But you see, our task is not to make them receive it in one way or another, it is just to give and serve all for His glory.  Our reward is not in the smiles and thankfulness of the people, but in the knowledge of the fact that our Saviour can look down on us and say ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21.

What Is It Really About? - In The Community

***Farm Hunting Update:  2 weeks and 2 days until closing!!! ***

What Is It Really About? - In The Community

Yesterday we looked at what we do in our home to fulfill our purpose of the Christmas celebration, today and tomorrow we are going to look at what we do in the community.

Are you frustrated with the government lately?  Politics in general?  What about the direction that our society is headed?  Wanna change it, but feel like it is too large of a task?  Don't despair....Share!!! 

Do you want to teach your children that it is not "all about them"?  Do you want to teach them to serve others?  Show them how it is done!!!

Sharing what God has done for us with the community is one of our greatest blessings at Christmas time.  It takes so very little from us to make a huge impact on someone's day and even their life.

How do we do it?  Well, today I am going to give you some ideas of things we have done in the past, as a family, to serve in the community.  Tomorrow I will share with you our Christmas Kindness Countdown!!

So, in looking to serve outside of our home, the first thing we saw a need for was to NOTICE PEOPLE.  Let's begin with that one!!

• Notice people!  Slow down and notice all of the people that you walk past.  Make sure you smile at them and say hello.  Though, contrary to popular belief, the suicide rate drops in December, the depression rate increases.  People feel stressed, losses are more profound, and many just feel like they don't matter.  Smiling and acknowledging everyone you pass is such a simple thing, but it can make such a huge difference in someone's day.
• Pack up several Christmas Survival Kits and keep in your car to hand out to people on the street corners asking for help or money.  Some of the items I suggest putting in there are cheese crackers, a blanket, loaf of bread, peanut butter, plastic knife, protein bars, a special Christmas snack, a Christmas card letting them know you will pray for them (and make sure you do :)), dried fruit, and the like.  You need items that do not require refrigeration and can be opened easily.  Some people will not have can openers, so if you include any canned items, you might stick a can opener in there.
• Make a point to look around as you go about your day and find people who might need your help.  This can be opening a door, loading their groceries, reaching a can on the top shelf, or unloading their groceries onto the checkout counter.  You will be surprised at the opportunities that God gives you each day to help people when you actually take the time to slow down and look for them. 
• When you make donations, make them good!  Our family worked at a crisis center in October and we were given the task of sorting through the donated clothing and food.  Boy was that a lesson in how to donate!!  It was GROSS going through some of those bags of clothes that people dropped off.  If it has huge stains on it, you might just think of recycling the material for a project.  No one wants to wear your hubby's old t-shirts with giant yellow stains running down the armpits!! Sorting really convicted me to be a better donor with my clothing and food.  I mean, do you really want someone to eat green beans that expired in 1990??!!
• Tip like you care.  When you go out to eat or to pick up that slushie at Sonic, tip the people more than is customary if you can.  There was one day we went to Sonic during happy hour and all got their half-price sodas and slushies.  My total was around $3 so I paid $8.  The lady that was helping us was so shocked at the $5 tip!  She told us that we would not know how much she appreciated it.  Now, if I had not tipped her that $5, I am sure I would have spent it on various things that don't matter.  How much better to use it and change someone's day??!!

• Wear a smile when you go out!  This is another one of those things that sounds so simple, yet can have a huge impact.  Smile in the car when you are frustrated with the driver in front of you, smile as you wait in long lines at the checkout counter, just smile everywhere you go during your day.  The benefit it two-fold.  First, you seem more approachable to people and a smile can calm a situation down quickly.  Second, you help yourself!!  Remember the saying "Fake it 'till you make it"?  It's true!!!  So put on that beautiful smile of yours and share your joy with others!!
• Pray. Pray for your community and leaders.  Pray for your faith community and leaders.  Praying for someone is the greatest gift you can give!!!
• Participate in sharing/giving programs.  There are many Angel Tree, Adopt-A-Family, Christmas Shoe Box and various programs out there.  Pick one (or even two!!) and participate!!  Go shopping as a family and pick out gifts for the child or family that you chose to sponsor, pray over the gifts and turn them in!

As you go about your day today, take time to share the Lord and all he has blessed you with throughout your community!!  Tomorrow, I will show you our Christmas Kindness Countdown and give you some ideas on how to make your own!! 

What Is It Really About? - Around The Home

***Farm Hunting Update - Nothing new to report on the farm front!!***

 

 

What Is It Really About? - Around The Home
(You can find this weeks Menu Monday post at the bottom of this one)

 



So we talked yesterday about our family's purpose in celebrating the holiday season. 

1. Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving for God's willingness to come to earth and die a horrible death so that I might have eternal life.  Thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve Him and glorify Him here on earth.  Thanksgiving for the many blessings that He so abundantly bestows upon us.
2. Sharing - We focus on sharing the above mentioned things with others along with love, joy and peace.
3. Focus On Our Family - Embrace the opportunities of the season to spend time pursuing each of our family members and our family unit as a whole.

Now let's look at how our family does this around our home:

• Plan family activities during the season.  We will bake together, watch movies together, read books together, etc.  We usually make a schedule where Monday is baking day, Tuesday is movie day, Wednesday is craft day and so on.  When we bake or make a craft, we try and make enough to share with at least one other person or family. 
• We are very reluctant to commit to activities that don't at least involve 2 family members as our time is precious and focusing on our family is very important to us.
• Observe advent as a family.  This includes a Christmas hymn each night, Bible reading and story.  Get the supplies and make your advent wreath together.
• We usually go and cut our Christmas tree down at a Christmas Tree Farm together the day after Thanksgiving.  What fun!!!  We walk around for a couple of hours until all of the trees look the same and then pick the "perfect" tree!!

• Wrap your Christmas books and put them under the tree!  You can open one each evening beginning Dec. 1st (If you don't have enough books, just rewrap some!  They love hearing them over and over!)
• We go a little crazy in the decorating department!  We do this using what we have or making things together.  Last year we did our living room and tree all in homemade Christmas ornaments and decor from nature!  It was really fun to make it all together and even more fun to look at each day.  This does not have to be expensive at all!  It definitely does not look pretty to everyone, but boy howdy do we love it!!

•  Try to have other families over whenever possible.  It is always a blessing to serve others at our dinner table or even to just sit and visit in the living room.  Take time out to share your life with others and to serve them in your home.
• When you decorate your tree, have a little family party!  This year we had finger foods for dinner and ate in front of a roaring fire in the fire place (or course, we had to turn the A/C down really low to get it cold enough in the house so we did not melt :)).
• Hang on to your Christmas cards!  We have saved our cards for over five years.  It is so fun to go back through them and look at everyone's pictures, read them and pray for the families. 
• Try to have a caroling party!  This is an easy way to share with your neighbors in the Christmas season and involve your family and friends.  Invite a few families over and ask everyone to bring a finger food to share.  Eat and fellowship and then practice singing through about 2 Christmas carols that you all know.  Now head out!!  Ring the bell and start singing!  We have had great reception when we have tried this and a great time!
• On Christmas Eve, we have a Jesus birthday party.  The girls and I bake and decorate a cake, we sing Happy Birthday Jesus and blow out candles.  Then we listen to William read the Christmas story.  Our reasoning behind this is that on Christmas Eve, everyone begins to get really excited about what Christmas morning brings.  This is time to slow it all down again and bring our thoughts and focus back on Christ and the gift that He gave us.
• Take a trip driving around town together and look at Christmas lights.  Pack some hot chocolate in a thermos, some snacks and a little Christmas music and go look in wonder at the beautiful lights!!

• I have told you that we don't do gifts, but we do have a little visit on Christmas Eve from an "elf." He sneaks into the girls' room and leaves them each a new pair of pajamas!! It is a fun tradition that we all look forward to and it makes for nice pictures Christmas morning!
• Once the kids are out of school, plan a pj and movie day!! Go through and watch your favorite Christmas movies all day long!
• Take time to play games together!

• We usually give up gifts in lieu of taking a trip. Our girls know that we take a trip, but they don't know where we go each year. The first year we did this we found a cabin a few hours north of us. We had seen pictures and knew that when you drove up, there was a large fire pit surrounded by totem poles. In August, William began telling the girls a story at bedtime, once a week, about a group of sisters who went on an adventure. Each time he told the story, he would describe one aspect about the house. It was such a treat for them to drive up and see the house that they had heard about for months in his story!! (we could only do this that one year, after that, they were on to us!!)

• One night, usually the week before Christmas, we have my brother, and Mimi and Grampy over for a gingerbread house decorating contest. We call it gingerbread houses, but it is really graham crackers, some really, really stiff icing and tons of candy! We usually have 60 minutes to construct and decorate using what supplies are provided and then we vote for the top one. This is really fun and we always get a chuckle out of looking at what we all come up with.

• Don't try to make everything perfect.  It is not worth it and probably won't happen!  Just enjoy your family and soak in the blessings that God has given you.
• Never, ever, EVER get too busy to spend time with the Lord each day.  If you find that you are running out of time, or are too tired, or whatever your excuse might be, change your schedule.  There is no way to have a heart full of thanksgiving, love, joy and peace and be ready to share it with the world if you are not spending time with the one who fills your heart with those things. 

Several people have asked if we do "Santa" and if so, how do we explain that to the girls. We do Santa, but instead of gifts he fills the stockings that they get on Christmas morning. When we first had children, a concern of ours was how to deal with Santa. It was a fun part of AcCOWntant Willie's and my childhood, but we had heard stories of children questioning the existence of God when they found out that Santa was not real. 

What we decided to do has worked well for us!  We tell the girls that Santa stuffs their stocking, but usually around age 5 (earlier for some), they ask if Santa is real.  When they ask that, we ask them if they really want to know the truth.  Two of the girls said nope! And we went on until the next year when they would ask again. 

Once they say that they want to know the truth, we tell them.  It is funny, because knowing the truth never affected their excitement or the fun they have seeing their stockings.  In fact, DD #2 sighed a huge sigh of relief and said that she was so happy to find that out!  Apparently it had always scared her to think that some man came down our chimney and into the house while we were sleeping!!

This is a very personal decision that each family needs to make, but that is how we handled it. 

So, if you don't have one already, how about sitting down and making a schedule of family activities!!  If you work and don't have time to do elaborate things during the week, don't fret!  Just plan things like having dinner as a picnic sitting in front of your Christmas tree, or perhaps learn a new Christmas song together.  Make a plan so that you can capture special moments while focusing on your family!!  How do you bring Christmas into your home?

Tomorrow we will begin our two day talk on how our family brings the purpose of our Christmas season to the community.  See y'all then!!

Menu Monday

Monday Breakfast - Whole Wheat Banana Muffins/Eggs/Melons
Monday Lunch - We usually meet my mom for lunch on this day!
Monday Dinner - Sandwiches/Fruit (We have deep cleaning as a family after dinner on Mondays. We have found that if we all work together, we can get it done in about 1 1/2 hours and then we have a special "clean house" dessert!!)
Monday Snack - Mix of nuts, seeds and chocolate chips

Tuesday Breakfast - Eggs/Whole Wheat Biscuits/Hash Browns with Peppers/Citrus Fruit
Tuesday Lunch - Baked Potatoes/Steamed Broccoli/Cheese
Tuesday Dinner - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (set aside extra ground turkey or beef for tacos tomorrow and extra sauce for Friday's dinner)/Green Peas/Salad/Garlic Bread
Tuesday Snack - Sonic Happy Hour Run for Slushies

Wednesday Breakfast - Whole Wheat Waffles/Peanut Butter/Strawberries
Wednesday Lunch - Soft Tacos (made with meat from last night)/Tortilla Chips/Salsa
Wednesday Dinner - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup/Homemade Bread
Wednesday Snack - Peanut Butter Balls

Thursday Breakfast - Cinnamon Bread/Cream Cheese/Strawberries
Thursday Lunch - Sandwiches/Fruit
Thursday Dinner - Crockpot BBQ Chicken/Steamed Asparagus/Corn on the Cob
Thursday Snack - Peanut Butter Balls

Friday Breakfast - Yogurt/Granola/Fruit/Nuts
Friday Lunch -Pizza Wraps/Red Pepper Strips/Salad/Organic Chocolate Bar
Friday Dinner - Boil In A Bag Omelets/Fruit Salad/Toast
Friday Snack- Popcorn with Fresh Mozzarella