Christ-Centered Christmas

I got this book for Christmas two years ago. Last year I read it to myself. This year I did Christ-Centered Christmas traditions with my family and loved every minute of it!! For me, this goes back to the heart of being intentional. Most people that I know INTEND to make Christ the reason for the season and all that jazz, but time flies by when we are having fun and life gets in the way and suddenly it is Christmas Eve...again. Preparing these traditions ensured that we took the time to do them. I blocked out nights on the calendar to make sure we got them in. They turned out to be some of my favorite Christmas moments this year. I couldn't recommend doing this, or something like this, more highly.   

The first figure in the nativity set is Mary.

We made gingerbread cookies, which is a cherished tradition anyway, but made sure to make some of them hearts and to discuss Mary as we made them. 

Then as we ate them we pondered as a family what it would have been like to be Mary (or Joseph). What were they thinking and feeling? It was a cool discussion that I can only assume will get cooler as the kids grow older. Natalie brought up the song she would be singing with the primary called "Could I Hold the Baby", and Jenna said she would have shared Baby Jesus with the shepherds who came to see Him. It was a special night!

Joseph is the next person in the nativity. His symbol is a bell, like Mary's is a heart. Joseph is supposed to remind us that we have to listen carefully and follow the Spirit so that we can bless the lives of others. For this night (okay so it actually took ALL DAY) we decided on a family who could use some Christmas cheer, got presents and wrapped them, and then in the cover of darkness left bags of food and gifts on their porch. This is also a cherished tradition of ours, but again by sifting the focus we made it about the true Christmas story instead of 'Sub-for-Santa'. While we were picking the gifts and treats I tried to help the kids really think about each person in the family and what they would enjoy the most. And it was so exhilarating for Natalie, Caleb, and I to run up to the porch and then as fast as we could back out to the car where everyone else was waiting to drive away. A scene from a nativity story movie flashed into my mind of Joseph running from door to door asking for help and to find somewhere to shelter them while Mary labored with the baby. 

This tradition also has a special place in my heart because I honestly can't think of a Christmas growing up when someone didn't anonymously bless our family with gifts of some kind. Those people were listening to the Spirit and saw ways to make a real difference for us so often. How can I not pay that forward?

The next figure is the Angel. The tradition for this night is to go caroling, to sing praises and spread good cheer! We practiced some songs and made cookies to take to our neighbors and to our babysitter Abby and her family. You guys, Seth was so adorable singing every word of Picture a Christmas in his little voice complete with hand motions. Jenna was super cute too and luckily Caleb and Natalie will still happily participate. And Kent is oh so dutiful too. The man is an angel in real life for going along with all these traditions!  

Neither of these pictures are great quality, but the memory in them is sweet to me. 

After that is the Shepherd. Of course the symbol is the staff, but in the book it is also a candle. We lit candles and sat around the table, each with a real striped candy cane. We talked about how the shepherds came to see Jesus as soon as the angels told them about Him. The tradition for this night is to recall and discuss times during the year that we recognized Christ leading us along in our lives, and how we can acknowledge Him by telling others about how His light has blessed us. The sharing I remember most were from Caleb and Kent. Caleb told us about a time right before we moved from California when he felt the Spirit telling him to invite our neighbor to church. Even though he was nervous and we were all getting into the car to leave, he walked over into our neighbor's yard and asked him to come with us. It was so sweet to see that he realized that was the kind of spiritual experience we were supposed to share- being lead to do something and to shine the light of Christ. Kent talked about being lead to this job switch, and to finding this house for us to live in, and what a blessing it has been for us to get to be together more during the day. He said it was all the simple things like eating breakfast together and seeing school projects and just being part of the flow of the family that he didn't know he was missing out on by having to be away from home so much before. The Spirit was so strong in that soft light from the candles that smelled of cinnamon, and with the taste of peppermint from the candy canes...it was magical!

Then afterwards of course Kent taught the kids how to lick their candy canes into deadly weapons. =o]

Then come the Wise Men. Their symbol is the star. On this night you are supposed to go to see Christmas lights, but we ended up going to see the lights at Thanksgiving point with Kent's parents while they were here so I didn't want to go again. I thought of doing an astronomy night, but the forecast was too cloudy. Then I had the idea of going on a Christmas walk- a journey like the Wise Men who followed the star and then went home another way after seeing Jesus. He has that affect on people. We change course after meeting Him, and have to keep course correcting with each encounter that follows. 

The Christmas walk was a hit! We got all bundled up and tried to find snow that no one had walked on yet. We got to see ONE star. =o] We had a great time in the crisp clean cool evening air just laughing and playing and being together!

Jenna got stuck and Kent had to rescue her and dig out her boot. Classic!

Just my set of footprints in the snow, walking back home a different way than we came.

The second to last figure in the nativity is the Lamb. I changed the tradition for this night from the one suggested in the book. You are supposed to make a Tender Mercy Tree with little scrolls, but I thought this would be better for us. Here is what I wrote on fb: My brother Jonathan got to spend the night with us on Friday before heading home for Christmas from college, and he got to participate with us in one of our Christ-Centered Christmas traditions. He is such a tender hearted guy. It was the night of the Lamb figure from the nativity set, so we all took turns saying a tender mercy we have received because we are following Christ while holding this cute lamb stuffed animal my mom gave us. I'm so grateful we got to hear the tender mercy he shared with us. All of the answers were super sweet actually. Then we gathered around the Christmas tree and said a gratitude prayer, mentioning each one of the things that was said at the table. It was such a special night.

There are a few of the tender mercy stories that stand out in my mind. I should have written them all down that night! But Natalie's tender mercy was that she didn't get shingles again. When we asked Seth if he felt a tender mercy recently he solemnly nodded his head and whispered "Baby Jesus". It's like he could feel it was a special time for talking reverently! My tender mercy was that we finished our food storage and home storage before the end of the year, even though we had so many other expenses with the move and putting in the yard. Jonathan said his tender mercy was getting to help a girl who had just gotten in a car accident by giving her a blanket from his apartment because she was cold. The mood was just perfect for feeling the Spirit of Christmas!

The last, and most important person, is the Christ Child. On this night we did the special tradition of the Jesus Stocking. I handed each person their envelope from the stocking, with all the cards in it from past years' gifts to Jesus written on them. Then we handed out new cards and a pencil to each person, and we all wrote something down that we are going to try to give or do. I hope with all my heart I can give my gift to Him this year! 

These traditions are my new favorite part of Christmas! I love remembering and celebrating the Savior in such festive ways! This truly is the season beloved of the year!!

Christmas Service Projects

We were thrilled to get to have the missionaries over for dinner this Christmastime, because I never thought that would happen in Utah! We had a fun dinner with them, and I'm grateful my kids got to be around them. 

We made a lot of treats to share with neighbors and friends! I went to a cookie exchange (we made 6 dozen peppermint patty cookie sandwiches!) and got enough cookies to give plates to all our visiting teaching and home teaching families, and to my visiting teachers, and to our companions! That is nine plates!! Honestly, I don't even know how many cookies we gave out lol!

This dessert making session was for the Neighborhood Night of Sharing. Each of the kids picked out a present to donate and we brought Christmas Brownies to share with everyone. 

They had Santa there! Jenna went right up to him and got on his lap to say hello. 

Natalie and Caleb enjoyed the experience as well! Especially the part where he gave them a candy cane. 

They had a fire with marshmallows to roast. It was a cozy set up! 

Seth wanted nothing to do with the strange bearded man. BUT he wanted a candy cane. So they compromised with a high five. =o]

Inside they had lots of toys and treats and friends and very breakable decorations, but we escaped without incident. 

We got to do our cherished tradition of a doorbell ditch present drop off. I am kind of embarrassed to say that no one in our ward really needed a box of food and gifts to brighten their Christmas. SO we had to think outside the box and our ward boundaries! But it was a special experience nonetheless. The kids loved picking out just the right things for the family, and then lovingly wrapped each one. Seth wanted to help with EVERYTHING so even with the soothing Christmas music it was pretty stressful lol! But overall I think it went well, and the kids definitely enjoyed it! I hope the family felt loved!!

We had a homeschool Christmas party at our house, which I consider a service project lol! Here are the kids setting up our polar express train set in the basement that morning, since that was the theme. 

Kent is doing service this season by coaching Caleb's basketball team! His calling in the primary has definitely enlarged his capacity to deal with groups of five year olds, but he is still pretty exhausted after each practice/game. What a trooper! Caleb LOVES it! So it is worth it to him. 

We had a Christmas pajamas pancake breakfast for all of our home teaching and visiting teaching families at our house. It was AWESOME!!! We really do have the coolest people assigned to us!  

The pancake man! He did such a great job and everyone had fun!

Not pictured is the two different clothing and supplies drives we participated in for families near us who are in need, and also for refugees who are far away. It was good to go through our things and see what we could do without to give to someone who has nothing. 

We loved getting to serve others throughout this special time of year. It makes the season merry and bright!

December- not really Christmas related

We love playing family games! Especially because it gets dark so early these days!

One day when we went to the library it was actually not too cold to stay and play at the park! We miss our park time for sure!

Yes he has no shoes on. Not my choice! You can only put shoes back on a kid so many times!!

One day while making pilaf I really felt so grateful for my mom. I don't make this recipe like she did when I was growing up, but I still think of her each time I make it. 

I'm posting this for two reasons. One is to show that Caleb builds with legos everyday. The other one is to document that he has had to change the way he smiles so that his lips won't crack open and bled. Poor kid. This dry winter is killing us!!

I am studying Preach My Gospel for my scripture study curriculum now, and I LOVE it! It is so well written and organized in such a helpful way. 

Caleb was so proud of doing this puzzle on his own. They are all loving Star Wars anything lately!

Caleb is doing basketball for the first time and LOVING it!! 

Jenna and Seth can't handle the games though, so I'm not sure how many I will be able to watch. 

Now I understand why people pay so much money to live in southern California. Shoveling snow is hard work!! This first major snow storm was more snow then they got all last winter combined!

I sent the kids out to knock the snow off the trees because they were all bending over with the weight.

The was a huge hill in the field next door because of the construction and the kids had the best time sledding down it for hours!!

Natalie loves the snow. It is so funny because she keeps trying to convince me that it is fun to live in the snow. This night when I put her to bed she asked me to just watch it come down for a minute because it was so beautiful. 

This was the same night that she told me that just like bears hibernate, the school part of her felt like hibernating now that it was snowing. Silly girl!

She took this picture.

The next day we took a snow day! Seth had never really played in the snow, and it was so sunny and inviting that we just couldn't resist!

We really did have such a great time!! I love playing in the snow, it is just living in such a cold place that I am struggling with.

Watch out for killer icicles!!

One of Caleb's friends asked if Caleb wanted to come play, and Caleb invited him over to our house instead because he had some lego things he had to show him. Lol!!

Such a happy day!!! I am pleased to announce that we have officially completed our home storage! It is a miracle. We have been so blessed!! Now it is time to refine our plans and start our rotation system!

Cal and Kathy came out for a visit. Caleb wanted to do nothing but play games!

We went to the winter gardens at Thanksgiving Point with them. 

And then out to dinner at the cafe there, which we had never tried but turned out to be good!

It was cold outside!

We also went out to dinner for Kathy's birthday while they were visiting. She loved the present that we got for her- a Mickey Mouse snow globe from 2012 that she was missing from her collection! She was surprised and thrilled to say the least! Notice also that we have become those parents that allow their children to be sucked into the screen at restaurants so that we can actually eat. 

Jonathan got to spend the night with us before heading home from school. The kids always love to get to play with him any chance we get!

We are super grateful to him because he watched the kids after we put everyone to bed so that we could go see the new Star Wars movie!!

We decided to splurge and get this commemorative popcorn tin, because we thought the kids would like it.

It was so cute to see Kent so excited! We thought we weren't going to be able to see it until January! That morning we didn't have tickets or a sitter, but here we are! It was a miracle! =o]

We were right, they loved it! Caleb did too, he was just at his bball game when I took this picture. 

Since there has been an emphasis lately on the Sabbath Day, I have been studying it, and plan to incorporate/solidify some traditions in our family to make it a more holy day.

For our anniversary, I got Kent new garments. MUCH NEEDED! lol! And he TOTALLY surprised me with these paintings! One of his love languages is definitely giving gifts. He is so good at it and it makes him so happy! This painting has been one of my favorites since I first saw it in college, but I never thought I would actually get to have it on my wall!

We hung them both up that same day and everything. He gave me the Iron Rod one first, and I was floored, but then after lunch he busted this one out too and swept me off my feet! =o] 

We got to go hang out with the Murrays and had a great time, even if it was rough driving there through a storm. The kids played so well we didn't even do the craft we had planned. Rebecca and I just talked the day away. I love her. She is such an awesome person! I am so grateful to have her as my sister!! I think Heavenly Father knew that I would need her steady example throughout my life.

I know this is supposed to be non-Christmas related, but can I just say that Kent is at his best at Christmastime? Here he is eating lunch and reading and talking with Natalie like there is nothing more important for him to be doing. I know he has to work to provide for our family, and that he can't just be on vacation all the time and that we are so blessed to be able to see him as much as we get to now, but I sure do appreciate when he makes time to build his relationship with the kids in a thoughtful way like this. 

Kent got called to be a primary teacher in our ward pretty much right after we moved here. He and another guy team teach Caleb's class. I have loved watching Kent grow in this calling! I got to substitute in his class because his co-teacher's wife had her baby. I'm so glad I got to see him at it one last time! They moved him up to senior primary now. =o] 

This is from the last Sunday that Jenna and Seth went to nursery together. Jenna was so excited to become a Sunbeam, but also sad to be leaving her "Sethie" behind. 

They were the dynamic duo apparently! But she kept reassuring him that everything would be fine and he would still have fun even if she wasn't there with him. So sweet!

I hate it when blogspot flips my pictures because they don't have a way to rotate it back! GAH! Anyway, I discovered the phrase "law of love" under the entry for miracles in the Bible Dictionary and it has totally changed my perspective of so many scripture stories and doctrines! As I study more and more about I can't believe it isn't taught specifically more often in church! I mean, have you ever heard that phrase? And yet, Jesus said that the greatest LAW is to LOVE God, and the second is to LOVE others as we LOVE ourselves, and that everything else stems from this. Wow. WOW! It just hit me so hard and I am going to continue to study more about it.   

Have you read this book? It's a great resource! Our ward is choosing to focus on protecting our families from pornography so we had an FHE lesson about it which included reading this book. It is such an important topic and I'm grateful our bishop is working to make it less taboo and be proactive instead!

One morning Natalie yelled for me to come quick and when I ran over thinking something was wrong she announced that she had performed a hover charm in real life. =o] Wingardium Leviosa!!