tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post8974520097838093234..comments2023-04-22T17:15:14.615-05:00Comments on blessed beyond measure: Share your Christmas traditionsMelodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05589995674020326830noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-21644414839332092242008-11-13T18:39:00.000-06:002008-11-13T18:39:00.000-06:00We of course don't have too many traditions yet, a...We of course don't have too many traditions yet, and we also want to try hard to help our girls understand the true meaning of Christmas. We do have several friends here who don't do Santa at all. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but that's always an idea. Also, my sister has a friend who's family does 3 gifts per child to represent the 3 gifts the wisemen brought baby Jesus. I think that's a cute idea and Jeff and I have thought a lot about doing this also. It's so hard though, because I want to buy the girls so much! One thing that my family did growing up that I loved and will continue with my own, was Christmas morning when we woke up we would all pile on my parents bed and my dad would read us the Christmas story. We loved that as little girls. Then he prayed for all of us, and we would head down for presents. I just liked starting it off that way before we were all into opening presents. Whooo, sorry for long winded comment!The Skains Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01464056958639413784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-89285706816091124622008-11-11T12:29:00.000-06:002008-11-11T12:29:00.000-06:00I think we are going to do 3 gifts per child...bas...I think we are going to do 3 gifts per child...based on the idea of the wisemen. One gift to represent gold, one to represent frankensence, and one to reprsent merh. Some people choose to get a bigger gift to represent that of gold, but I don't know that we will do it that way.The Curtis Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15718934707935598730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-13833861440333342272008-11-11T06:37:00.000-06:002008-11-11T06:37:00.000-06:00Growing up we always did an Angel Tree Kid. Now, ...Growing up we always did an Angel Tree Kid. Now, I take Thomas every year with me and pick an Angel Tree Kid about his age and then he "helps" buy the presents. I know he doesn't get it YET, but like you, I wanted to start it from the beginning.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00844615436866857977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-16010491921636945412008-11-10T12:44:00.000-06:002008-11-10T12:44:00.000-06:00Several families already shared this, but we have ...Several families already shared this, but we have had the boys help us pick an angel tree kid and then they help us buy the gifts (meaning pick out). Again, the boys want to keep them for themselves, but that's when we explain again what we are doing and talk about the true meaning of Christmas. We also only do stockings for the kids. They get so many gifts from other people and they are already overwhelmed, it's just a way to keep it simple. Our church does a the Christmas story live and all the kids where their jammies to come and watch and make ornaments and such. It's a blast and they love seeing the real animals and all! Yet another way to remind them what this is all about! Love the post!Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983106171924940163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-50997661064142631142008-11-10T12:02:00.000-06:002008-11-10T12:02:00.000-06:00Okay, I emailed you before I even read your blog. ...Okay, I emailed you before I even read your blog. Wierd! We adopt a family with at least one kid around Grace's age. She goes with me to pick gifts for the little girl. It is difficult because she wants the toys for herself, but she is actually looking forward to it this year. She is starting to ask questions like, "Why do some kids not have toys?"Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075436976671998566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-78767999750388879292008-11-10T07:30:00.000-06:002008-11-10T07:30:00.000-06:00You know some of my traditions, one being we alway...You know some of my traditions, one being we always make a birthday cake for Jesus. Carson helps make, bake and decorate and it is a great time of sharing the story of His birth. I actually just last week bought a new book to start reading at night for his bedtime. "The purpose of Christmas" by Rick Warren, not really a kids book, but an easy read for the family. The contens are The purpose, a time for celebration, a time for salvation, and a time for reconciliation. Its great!The Coopershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14769987663016907988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-5595980237544296772008-11-10T00:44:00.000-06:002008-11-10T00:44:00.000-06:00Let me know what you find out... we're in the same...Let me know what you find out... we're in the same boat with the beginning of joyful new Christmas traditions! P.S. What was Hope's great idea about Santa?The Wier Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00580055542103731201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-23175106208843578792008-11-09T23:54:00.000-06:002008-11-09T23:54:00.000-06:00We had some friends that, as an exciting alternati...We had some friends that, as an exciting alternative to Santa, had a manger that magically showed up on Christmas morning under the tree. Then, they would tell the story of Jesus' birth first thing. Presents came later. I always thought this was kinds of beautiful. <BR/><BR/>You know our traditions, but I can tell you a few more when I talk to you later. I do think we will be making Hope's idea a family tradition for years to come. It is one of the best ways to deal with the Santa thing that I have ever heard of and it was handed to me by my four year old!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865453629622309843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-4052786633115291142008-11-09T21:05:00.000-06:002008-11-09T21:05:00.000-06:00i just wrote a huge long comment and my computer l...i just wrote a huge long comment and my computer locked up, so I'll try to call you tomorrow and tell you what we do<BR/><BR/>Board book recommendations: What is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams<BR/><BR/>and Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buckeveryday graceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06747444497280474291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603661001613191105.post-65182562838535733162008-11-09T18:02:00.000-06:002008-11-09T18:02:00.000-06:00One year growing up my family and a few others ado...One year growing up my family and a few others adopted another family for Christmas. I was 14 and bagging groceries at the commissary and I worked my butt off to buy toys for the children. I was older of course than Holden, but it was the best Christmas I have ever had. I don't remember any other Christmas than that one. It was amazing. We did everything, to Christmas dinner, sheets for the parents bed, to toys etc. That I thought was the true meaning of Christmas! My family ended up having a small Christmas but it didn't matter. I completely believe in a small simple Christmas. This year my husband and I will be home for Christmas. We have been traveling since we got married. So I am going to start thinking of traditions as well. :) Thanks for the idea!Sewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09963399196987365207noreply@blogger.com