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December 21, 2007
Christmas at our house
Someone asked last year at this time what our Christmas Traditions were. This post today has some of that post from last year and a few new tidbits.
First, we usually put up our tree on December 1st (or the first Saturday in December). We have had this miniature tree for going on 20 years with its miniature toys and gifts on it. (see center of mantel for our miniature tree)
As you can see in this picture, we have those little golden, engraved ornaments for our children for each year that they have had a Christmas. We have them on a ribbon for easy display. They get a new ornament each year. We gave the oldest son his ribbon of ornaments for his first Christmas with his wife. This year they are celebrating in their first home (non-apartment) together. We wish them blessed happiness.
We also have a golden ornament for each of the children we have had that went directly to Jesus' waiting arms instead of ours. There are five of these blessings in Heaven. We have a golden, engraved ornament for our foster daughter, too…wherever she may be now. "Lord bless her and keep her safe."
We don't have a Christmas tree anymore, we have a "Nativity Tree".
DH has constructed us a corner shelf (where the shelves remove and the sides fold for easy storage) that we can display all of our Nativity sets on. This year we have 12. The bottom shelf sits 18 inches off of the floor so that we can nestle the gifts under the Nativity Tree. As you can also see in this picture, we wrap all our gifts in brown paper and tied with a piece of colorful material or twine. Trying to keep the focus off of the gifts and onto the Giver.
During our evening family devotions in December we read part of a Christmas novel out loud. One chapter each evening or however it will work out to last 24 days. We always pre-read the book before reading it out loud. This year we reading "A Midnight Clear - Family Christmas Stories" by Katherine Paterson.
We traditionally have homemade tamales for Christmas Eve supper. This tradition started in Honduras as well. A very yummy tradition. When Christmas morning arrives, we read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and open the gifts all by the light of the fireplace or candles/kerosene lanterns. Also a Honduran tradition since we rarely had electricity there.
That about does it for Christmas traditions. We don't do stockings or Santa (never had…even before we were Christians.) We don't do lists or ask what the child wants for Christmas either. And since we don't watch TV (haven't since 1995) they are not covetous of all the commercialism out there. They are very happy with whatever we have given to them. May the Lord bless you and your family this wonderful Christmas time.
Merry Christmas to you all!
~Betsy
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December 21, 2007 - Great pics!
We have the Lego nativity too. I love the tree of nativity idea.
Have a Merry Christmas