Have you ever noticed how Christmas comes in stores earlier every year?
Or how people don't seem to stop and think about the true meaning of CHRISTmas anymore.... the most important and signifigant event has been turned into a retail marketing holiday. How sad that is.

We decided to take back some of the meaning this year. To focus on why we have Christmas. Sure we still put up a tree and we will have presents underneath. But we added some new traditions to help us keep focus on what is the true meaning.

Here are some things we are doing, perhaps your families may find them useful or come up with your own creative ways to add to this season.

(1) Before puting the tree up we read about Jesus birth and talked with the children about why we celebrate Christmas. This was especially important for the younger wee ones.  We had purchased a very special cross and placed it in the top center of our tree for all to see. After placing this ornament we read about Jesus death and resurrection.

(2) We are purchasing gifts for several children who are in need, allowing the children to help with this.

(3) The children are donating some/ all of their allowance to a local homeless shelter.

(4) The children are doing extra chores to earn money and purchasing blankets for the homeless and will be donating them the week of Christmas.

(5) We are planning a family activity every other evening. This has included watching special Christmas family shows, reading chapter book, playing board games, putting together puzzles, and even playing the wii. Sometimes even homeschooling families need to take a break from the hustle and bustle, kick back and enjoy one another.

(6) We have a large family so we are doing a family play. We plan to video tape it and make copies. We are going to send copies to people we know are homebound. The play is about thirty minutes long, then we are singing Christmas carols at the end.

(7) We are making some Christmas cards for local hospital ER staff, and patients for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

These are things we've decided to do this year. At our home we have seen major changes in our children's thinking and most importantly their hearts. They have received a gift of having a heart of  compassion and love. As a parent I felt lead to do things differntly, to show my children a differnt way. I think year by year the meaning of this truly special event has been lost and in it less of a celebration. People are depressed during the holidays because they are lost and do not understand the true meaning. This is truly sad.

So we want to encourage other families to do the same.