Christ Centered Christmas 2008

I've been inspired by a fellow blogger through her idea for a December scrapbook. I was trying to get it done in time but sort of did and sort of didn't. What does that exactly mean you say? Well it means it could be done for someone else but it isn't nearly as dirty as I'd like it and it doesn't have anywhere close to enough "crap" on it and it doesn't weigh enough from my excessive "scrap crap". And this way of doing both (taking my time to finish the actual book and blogging it) I'll cover the journaling part I usually miss and share it with everyone else.

I work really hard each year to have Christ centered Christmas. I do all the families shopping in one day so we won't have to waste our time at stores during this season and can do crafts and activities and volunteer together. I then set up a "store" so each person can come in and shop for all the others. This year I'm changing the game a little. I bought for myself. Yeah I know that takes away the surprise but it also gives me back two or three days of Brian shopping and being gone from us trying to buy for me for my birthday and for Christmas. That is one gift I'm giving all of us. 6 hours of me shopping and I bought a whole season of family time.

This year I'm making little Christmas Trees to add things we've done for each other or for the community. We'll write them on tags and hang them on the trees and that we'll earn Kemper Bucks that will be used to buy at our little store. The trees will be labeled hope, remember, believe, try, & give.

Brian and I really want Brenner to understand what it means to have charity and help others and generally not be spoiled. We work hard at the boys not feeling entitled to things or getting everything and sharing and helping others. This season we're really focusing on our volunteering to serve and help others. We're going to try and find something to do each day that will help someone else.

Every night before Christmas we also read from a Christmas Book my parents made us years ago. Its a collection of inspirational and fun stories and scriptures to read each night. I look forward to it each year. We also have an Aunt. GABby that gives us Christmas books each year. So the next year we have a few new books to read and old favorites to pore over each day.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope this helps all of us remember to be the instrument in the Lords hands to help our fellow man. Whether its that dollar the person in front of you needs to pay for all they have or helping at a soup kitchen or filling a neighbors pantry. Holding a door for a mother with loads of children and packages or a smile and sweet conversation with a stranger in the mall. Making paintings/pictures and taking them to an office/dr/hospital/rest home for donated decorations. I hope we can all find ways to share the love we have been blessed with. If you have any great ideas or things you do each year please send them in. I might run low.