Christmas 2009

Baby was the first to wake. Daddy didn't hesitate to get up with her. He put on the coffee, the anticipation was building. I dressed and met him and baby in the living room. She had found all the balloons which scattered the floor, ready to celebrate a birthday. The coffee smell filled the room. Egg nog lattes were made and savoured. Still we waited for Grace to awake. Her door was wide open, as we played with baby, and started to make the celebratory breakfast meal. Alas, we could hear the quick footsteps of our precious toddler down the hall. "Morning!" "Merry Christmas!" Her face lights up. She looks around and sees the table set for a party and a big feast, she spots all the balloons, and the stockings that are now filled. It was a nice morning. Opening our stockings, hearing our daughters giggle as they opened little toys and trinkets. Next, we lit the advent candles, including a Christ candle. We sat at the table to enjoy daddy's pancakes, whipped cream and berries. A place was set for Jesus, reminding us that we were celebrating him. Such a precious morning, preceded and followed with family dinners, and parties.

One of the most precious gifts this Christmas was a blanket of white snow which covered our surroundings. Our yard looked like a winter wonderland. We managed a snowshoe and some sliding time on Christmas day...and we've been enjoying more since. What a joy to be surrounded by such beauty. Celebrating Him who created all this. Enjoying the creation. Savouring each moment outside (when you live where we do, moments are short when you can truly enjoy winter weather without jack frost nipping at every part of your body!).

Those were the savoured moments. However, for us the Christmas season doesn't come without some 'birth pains'. Our little family is on a journey to change Christmas, which means some own inner battles are going on, as well as with family around us, trying to understand why we just don't do things the way 'everybody else does'. Anxiety over our more 'humble' gift offerings. Trying to put past innuendos and comments that don't make one feel like celebrating with loved ones, and rather, escaping to another place. Oh family, love em, love em, love em...but sometimes they do bring out the worst in us. In me anyways. I've seen some ugly colours rearing in me. Thank God for grace and forgiveness. Purify me, like the layers of beautiful snow, make me clean.

JOY

Today is the 3rd Sunday in Advent, JOY Sunday! Ironically I wasn't feeling much joy today. Ah, but joy is so much different from happiness. Now, after our family time I am refocused on what matters, real joy.

During our advent devotion time my sweet 3 year old told us about an angel that came to Mary and told her she was going to have a baby boy, named Jesus. Music to my soul.

We then read the story about the three wise men and their joy to see the baby Jesus, and about the gifts they gave. We shared about what gives us joy, pretty simple around here, each other, and Jesus. Then we talked about giving Jesus gifts. Grace (3) said her usual answer to my questions about Jesus and gifts, "Santa will give Jesus gifts."
"Yes dear, but what gifts can we bring to Jesus?"
"A Christmas Tree!" She exclaims.
"Well yes, the Christmas Tree is our gift to Jesus since it's an act of worship, all the things on it are reminders of what/who we are thankful for and the many things Jesus has done for us." After more explanation of 'gifts for Jesus' our 3 year old led us to her room to look for a book to give to a little girl or boy who didn't have many toys. She picked out a great book, brand new. Then she led us to the rec room to find a toy to go with it. She found a musical instrument. We were so proud of our little one to was joyfully giving her gifts to Jesus. Hopefully tomorrow she doesn't change her mind.

Homemade Christmas

Yesterday Grace and I did a really neat project that was cheap and easy, and is a great alternative to plastic Christmas tree decorations. I remember making these as a child. Ornament dough (recipe here) is simple! We made a few dozen stars. After they cooled I painted them a 'champagne' colour, which is a light gold. Then I gave my 3 year old a tube of gold sparkle glue, she'd squeeze some out on the star and spread it around with a paint brush. We are going to finish them off with some gold ribbon and after we add to our tree, we'll use the extras as gifts or as decorations on gift packages. I also made some trees and candy canes to paint another day. Grace made a snowman too, which we are going to dress.

It's fun being creative! I just received a copy of "Creative Family" and can't wait to expand the creativity in our home. I've only just cracked the book, but have already been motivated and encouraged. Today I did finger painting with my 1 year old. She LOVED it! (See my gratitude blog for a pic). Good thing it's non toxic. She made a beautiful rainbow. Through the creativity of this one year old God was able to speak to me. I had been asking for a rainbow for a few weeks. Waiting patiently. Not that now I know there's promise, I know there's promise, but it's nice to see a sign.

Such a Simple Idea - Christmas Change

The past week we have been doing Christmas orientated projects, like this Christmas tree I printed off the internet. She coloured, and I cut, and then with some glue we decorated a lovely tree. This is the third tree we have created this week. Projects are fun. Now I am inspired to take it to the next level...tomorrow we are going to swing by the great grandparent's place and deliver our creation. It's such a simple idea!!! But I know it's going to be such a treasure for great grandma and great grandpa. Now that the wheels are turning I am thinking of all sorts of 'projects' we could do that would bless others. What teachable moments for my 3 year old. What a way to prepare for the Lord, by blessing others, and thinking outside of ourselves.

Christmas Change

Have you been over to Christmas Change yet? Inspiring ideas! Good to have some encouragement to change Christmas, a longing I have had on my heart for a few years now. It's hard when you have grown up remembering Christmas as Santa and GIFTS. We'd actually use Christmas as a time to get all the stuff we wanted through out the year. Our family didn't have much money, but at Christmas time, that was THE time to get stuff, the only time mom or dad would get us the things we wanted (other than birthdays). Oh the joys, the dissappointments, the greed, the lust, the lack of tradition, purpose, meaning. Oh, it wasn't all bad. I have some fond memories outside of 'gift getting' but they are few. I don't want that for my kids. I want them to celebrate Jesus, their saviour. I want it to be a time for them to grow closer to God who humbled himself, and became flesh. I want them to 'give' of the love Jesus generously gives them each day.

My oldest daughter is now 3. The past few years we've never over did gifts or emphasized it, or asked her 'what do you want for Christmas?' But this year it just happened. We were in the toy department at Winners (I can probably count on my fingers the number of times she has been to a toy department, it's just not something we do) and she spotted it, a BIG, plastic, princess Dora, beautiful, chemical laden, wrapped in a big box, with her made in China side kick, an irresistible to any 3 year old girl, horse! If I was a mom who bought stuff like that, I would have been sneaking it to the till under my coat. Grace's eyes lit up, it was the perfect gift. And then she asked "Can I have that?" "Sorry sweetie, remember what we came to get?" I tried to refocus her on the task at hand, a gift for my nephew. "Maybe I'll get it for Christmas." She adds. WHAT?! How did she know you can ASK for things at Christmas? She's already associating Christmas with getting. Needless to say, we've had the Christmas story books out already! We've gotta get this kid back on track!