reese says this several times a day now, and at least once a day to strangers too.  We had a friend come over and work on our broken fridge last night and he asked her if she thought the fridge would work now and her response? “you renember, jesus birthday coming in a little while?” she cracks me up.  But i am so glad that that is her focus as christmas approaches! it really challenges me.

So we are trying to take the commerciallism out of Christmas at our house in subtle ways.  I have no problem with Santa, i just don’t want that to be what the kids grow up looking forward to and awaiting as Christmas approaches.  It can be a definite fun part of christmas, but i really want to keep the meaning of christmas central for our family and it has been a challenge to me personally.  So i have really tried being intentional as i explain what Christmas is and why we give presents and all of that.  So here was my idea to make Christmas exciting because Jesus came, not because santa is coming with presents for me me me... I think i want to have a birthday party for Jesus every year on Christmas day.  Kids love birthday parties and Christmas is all about Jesus being born so why not have a birthday party.  I am working on how to explain it and make it happen and how to do presents as it relates to the real reason for giving and all of that. So i am ready for you input and ideas! I don’t want it to turn into a holiday where we are all just making this huge list of things we want and the only reason we get people gifts is b/c you have to fulfill that obligation in order to get your gifts in return. I want to instill in our kids and keep in myself the joy of giving because we have been given so much.  This is the first year wehave saved and have extra to really enjoy giving more than usual this year and it has been fun to do things for other people who aren’t expecting it and who aren’t giving us anything.  It has really sparked an excitement in me about giving and i think i would totally cut our grocery budget this month just to give to less fortunate people, which may work b/c our fridge is out again so no need for groceries!! haha.

Anyway, give me your input and ideas on how to explain/celebrate/etc Christmas this year and building raditions for our family to do each year! Share your favorite tradition or one you may want to start or just think is a great idea of how to keep Christ in Christmas! Thanks!