I started to post this yesterday but I ran out of time because it was my husband's birthday.  I took him out for coffee and then we did a little shopping and while we were gone my MIL and the boys decorated the house for his birthday.  They jumped out and yelled "SURPRISE!" when we got home.  My husband was surprised! 


When I was growing up we always read the Christmas story from Luke 2 before opening any presents. It was always agonizing waiting for my dad to get out of bed and join us in the living room.  We had to wait in the kitchen because my mom didn't want us seeing the tree until everyone was there.  As I grew older and got married and finally rededicated my life to Christ I realized the focus wasn't on Christ even though we read the story and had a nativity scene set up.  As a child I focused on the presents and the hurry up and get the story over so I could open presents.  I wanted the focus leading up to the big day to be Jesus and he be the reason why we were doing what we are doing.

So we started celebrating Advent.  We have done many different books over the years but each night we gather around the advent wreath and turn our focus to Christ.  We will be using Jesse Tree this year to focus our hearts on Jesus.  If you not familiar with the Jesse Tree you can find our more information here.  A few times, we have studied the different Christmas symbols and as we put up decorations we discuss what the different symbols mean to us.  You can find out more information here.

This year as I thought about activities to do with the kids I came up with this idea:  I have taken a box and cut a hole in the top, wrapped it with festive paper and placed a bow on the top.  Until Christmas Eve we will be placing our "gifts" to Jesus in this box and on Christmas morning it will be the first present we open.  What are the gifts?  I am glad you asked - the gifts we will be service ideas that we can do throughout the year.  These can be things we will do for each other, our neighbors, church family or anyone for that matter.  Examples: doing someone else's chore without being asked, clean out the van, make a card for someone who is sick, shovel a neighbor's driveway.  The idea is for most of these things to be done  in secret and only the Lord will know that we have done it.  The reason - our lives (time, talent etc.) are the best gift that we can give to each other and others.  Romans 12:1 talks about us giving our bodies as a living sacrifice well we are looking at it as giving our bodies as a gift to the Lord for him to use.  I hope each one of us will pray about what the Lord would have us do this year.  After the gift is open I will have the slips of paper in a prominent location so that we will be reminded to do what we said we were going to do for Jesus.

We try to have candles in the windows and throughout the house during the season to remind us that Christ is the light and we are to be lights to the world.  This year we are using empty tin cans and we will be using nails to make designs like crosses, stars, a manger, tree etc. all around the outside; then place little candles inside and line them up on the front porch for others to see.  It is a fun project but also a great way to let others know the true reason for the season.



Another thing we have done in the past and will be doing this year is make Jesus a birthday cake.  We will also be making a banner and place mats the week before Christmas.  In our former church every year the pastor would have a cake made and during the song "Happy Birthday Jesus" someone would carry the cake down the isle.  It was a great reminder to young and old alike the reason why we were celebrating this special day.

Things we will be making:
gingerbread house and men
the candles mentioned above
Christmas candy
Happy Birthday Jesus banner and place mats as mentioned above
Christmas cookies

We have a huge nail (about 8 inches long) with a red ribbon that is hung on our tree close to the trunk.  It is a secret reminder for our family that Jesus is the reason for the season.  Before we decorate the tree we get out the nail and we take turns thanking Jesus for coming to die on the cross for our sins.  Each year someone different gets to hang the nail on the tree and it is a very special activity for our family. 

Over the years we have done gifts from Samaritan's Purse for needy families in other countries, Voice of the Martyrs for  persecuted Christians and Operation Christmas child.  This year we will probably give money for the persecuted church through Voice of the Martyrs.  We also provide a little extra for the two girls we sponsor so they will get a present also. 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me here at my little spot on the web.  I hope you enjoyed your stay and come back soon.