Christmas Debriefed

Hey! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! I am so embarrassed to admit that I didn't send out any Christmas letters this year. I hope I can get out New Year's letters. All this activity! We, of course, had a huge dinner Christmas Eve and spent some time with some very close friends, watched It's a Wonderful Life (which I alway cry buckets even though I know what will happen) We were also blessed to go to a nursing home with our friends and the children played instruments and sang to the residents. We also led them in some Christmas carols. On Christmas we and (mostly) Grandparents blessed the kids, and we visited Dad and Jesse Evans, and went to the dollar theater. I love all of our traditions, but what really touched my heart was that nursing home. These people need us to go. Many are so lonely. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be all alone in there. Totally dependent. Trying to keep your dignity while you have no control of your body and/or mind,when once you were strong and a leader in your home and community. I met a lady named Helen who told me she is 98 years old. She was hoping to see her family. They only lived about 40 minutes away and hoped they could come and visit her. It was like my feet were concrete blocks and I didn't want to leave.

Bethlehem Star

I saw this program on tv, and there was a scientist who has studied the stars during the period of Jesus' birth and death, and found some amazing information. I think you will be amazed and find your faith strengthened in our great, sovereign God.

http://www.bethlehemstar.com/

Someone e-mailed this to me, and I thought it was great! Enjoy.

More Preparations

We finally put up our Christmas tree on Saturday. And, sad to say, our only countdown activity we've been consistent with is the paper chain. I took a picture of it today. I hope you are all doing well. I just started a new poll. I've decided to bake a ham this year instead of a turkey. I even considered some kind of beef dish, since ham is not that great for you, and we will be eating pork and sauerkraut on January 1st (I'll blog about that later!) Anyway, I am just curious what you all prepare for dinner on Christmas. I'll be finishing up my shopping for the meal, and since I'm baking a ham, this will hopefully distinguish this a bit from Thanksgiving. I've been tired of having duplicate meals for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am considering switching to beef on Christmas and ham on Easter? I don't know. I never eat ham, but hopefully once per year won't hurt.

"I want to be a hobbit."

For some reason, Justin has said this to me a few times this week. I thought it was a little odd, seeing as he has never read or seen Lord of the Rings. Katherine, however, is reading it and must have told him a little about the story she is reading. "Mom, I want to be a hobbit." "Okay, son." (whatever!?) I had no idea what could possibly appeal to him. I thought that perhaps he wanted to go around barefoot everywhere, or grow lots of hair on his feet. What in the world is this boy wanting? Well, yesterday, it all became very clear! Around 10:00 a.m. I walked into the kitchen, and there were Katherine and Justin, eating two great big bowls of cereal. "Justin and Katherine," I exclaimed. "You've already eaten breakfast. What are you doing?" Justin just looked at me, and in a matter-of-fact tone said, "I want to be a hobbit!" Ding, ding, ding! Bingo! If you've never read Tolkien, let me enlighten you. The hobbits always had "second breakfast."

counting down....

Can you believe it is December already? We have about half our Christmas decorations up, and today is the official start of our Christmas countdown activities. First, we make a green and red paper chain with 25 numbered links, and the kids take turns removing a link each day. This eliminates the constant asking..."How many days until Christmas?" Just go look at the chain-- What number is on the bottom? We also have an advent calendar, and take out a little ornament to hang on a box, and read part of the Christmas story each day. These are our morning activities. Then, in the evening, we do the "Jesse Tree" I have a tiny table top tree. Each day, we hang an ornament. Today, I recall, we hang a miniature world. Then we have a devotional book that corresponds, and it basically has 25 lessons from Genesis through the New Testament that shows characteristics of Christ throughout the Bible until his birth. So the kids can see Jesus revealed prophetically in the O.T. and leading up to his birth. It is pretty cool. There is an additional devotional page for teens and adults, too. This is such a fun time of year. We probably won't get our tree for at least another week. I don't like needles everywhere!