With Christmas just around the corner we're all getting more and more excited for the big day. But honestly, I love the build up and anticipation to the holiday more than the holiday itself. It is more fun each year as our family grows and Brynn gets older and understands a little more.
For us, we've continually been telling the story of Christ's birth with books and our little nativity set. Brynn is getting it, slowly. Our little characters have become a favorite toy, which may explain why Joseph and one of the sheep has gone missing. Of course we've also go the tree, lights inside and out, and stockings hung.
We were lucky enough this year to get a surprise Christmas bonus. So as a family we picked 4 children off the angel tree and took half the bonus and went shopping! It was so fun! We just hit Ross's and TJMaxx for all our needs and got nearly everything we needed there. Brynn loved shopping for other children but didn't understand why we couldn't give the presents wrapped and ready to the kids themselves. Over and over we explained to Brynn (3½) that the lady at the mall would give them to the kids. It was amazing to see how excited she was, even at 3 years old, to give presents to kids who as far as she understood needed presents because they didn't have blessings like jobs and extra money like we do. When we took it in and laid it out she was so excited to show the volunteers at the mall everything from earrings to jeans to warm winter coats to toys! I know we won't be able to splurge every year like we did this year, but for me personally - there is nothing I wanted more for Christmas than to make another family happy. Honestly, it's almost nice having no extra space in our apartment because we don't justify the extra "stuff." Of course Brynn and Abby will have presents to opened when Santa arrives, but this year - Brynn knows she was able to make 4 children and their mommy's and daddy's happy with a little extra "Christmas Help."
I don't post this to brag, but it makes me so happy to see that Brynn is understanding the idea of service, giving when we're able, and grasping the concept of Christ's birth and the true meaning of Christmas. Is there anything special your family does each year to "get in the mood" for the holiday season? We're always looking for new traditions to adapt :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
That's so awesome!! Great way to teach too. To relate to that have you read Christmas Jars by Jason Wright. I read it every year. Such a beautiful story with a great tradition that you could start too.
We started a service chain this year and I think that I like the idea. Every time one of us does service for someone else they get to write it down and put it on the growing chain. The boys love it and it gives me a chance to praise them for service.
Post a Comment