Celebrating with Abigail

This past weekend we celebrated with Abigail…we celebrated her Christian birthday. I posted a little about this back in February in this post: celebrating your kid’s Christian birthdays but I thought I would share what we did on her special day this year. We actually celebrated a day early since it fell on Memorial Day this year, that way we had two days of celebration…

Jeff and I spend a few moments the night before writing notes to her on heart cutouts about ways we see Jesus living through her: evidence of her faith, things she should be proud of, and behaviors we hope to reinforce. She loves waking up to these hanging from her doorway…it is a fun way to start her day.

The table is also set (I use my Valentine plates-double duty again). I also use a heart punch to make small heart confetti and write her favorite verses on hearts that I tape to skewers and use as the centerpiece. The main part of the decoration is her album that I made on the night she asked Jesus into her heart. She loves to read through and remember that day. (This is my favorite part of the day). We also always buy her a new Adventures in Odyssey CD to listened to. This is one of her favorite things to do and we love listening to them just as much as she does…it is a win-win. If you have never listened to them I would highly recommend them. They cover a ton of great topics and are great things to listen to with your children and then discuss with them. You can pick them up locally at Northwestern Bookstore or online at Focus on the Family.

The main thing we try to focus on for this day is trying to teach her ways to help her strengthen her relationship with the Lord. We want to provide tools and ideas on ways she can use to help her stay connected to the Vine and grow on her own. So we try to keep most of the activities of the day geared toward Christian activities. We are huge movie buffs so we have numerous videos that she can choose from to watch for our family movie night. We also love board games and have accumulated a few Christian versions of some popular games, and they often lead to good discussion. We played Answer That (a board game having to do with Adventures in Odyssey) before bedtime. We ended the night by reading from a new devotional we got called Did You Know Devotions. It is a devotional right up Abigail’s alley…fun little bits of trivia with a biblical perspective.

I love these celebrations, not only for our girls, but for me. I need reminders of what I should be putting into my mind and how I should be spending my time. I once heard a quote that went something like this, “You cannot impart that which you do not possess.” That is a very powerful statement and makes me really think as a mother how am I spending my day and what I am hoping to impart onto my girls.

I would love to hear your ideas on how you celebrate the everyday with your kids. Share a comment below…

Happy Thursday!

A few Memorial Day Ideas...

I absolutely love celebrating the everyday and Memorial Day was no exception. I thought I would share a few things that we did to celebrate. These ideas could easily be used for your 4th of July celebrations as well.

I absolutely love decorating the table to fit the holiday we are celebrating. I also love when I can use items I have for more than one holiday...I purchased these flags a few years back in the dollar section at Target and I keep them for all the patriotic holidays we celebrate. I just place them in small glass vases...very festive.

For lunch I made these red, white and blue fruit cups. The girls (and Jeff) loved them. So easy...just layer strawberries, bananas and blueberries in a glass dish. Add whipped cream and a cherry just for fun...

The girls made these "safe" sparklers at Lifetime Fitness on Saturday and I thought they would be so fun to make and use for the 4th of July. They just cut small slivers of red, white and blue paper. Then take a few of each color and place them inside one end of the straw about 1/2 inch. Staple the papers through the straw. See the first photo below...they look really cute grouped together as a table decoration.

Making and writing thank you notes to soldiers is a great activity to do on Memorial Day. Here is a sample of an easy card to make with young children. Just let them punch the stars along the bottom of a pre-made blank card and glue a piece of colored cardstock behind it. Stamp a sentiment on another colored cardstock and glue above the punches...
Hope you enjoyed a few of these ideas. I am always looking for new ways to celebrate so please share your ideas in the comment section below...Happy Tuesday!

Reading with your Children about the Easter Story

I love children’s books. . .I always have. I love board books in particular. They last forever since they are so durable. They also stand up really well so they are fun to decorate the table with. My girls love to read together and I think finding books that tell the story at their level for any holiday is a great tradition to start with your family. I try to purchase one new book each year for each holiday (usually purchased the year before at an after holiday sale), that way I can add to my collection slowly. I usually put the books out on the counter or in a basket for the month leading up to the holiday and we read them whenever we get the chance. The girls also like having new books to look at and read on their own. Here are a few of my favorites for the Easter holiday.

What is Easter? By Michelle Medlock Adams

The Best Thing About Easter by Christine Harder Tangvold

The Story of Easter by Patricia A. Pingry

Tell me the Easter Story by Joni Walker

Let’s Celebrate Jesus on Easter by Amy Beveridge

Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson (this goes along with the resurrection eggs purchased from family life)

Please let me know if you have a good Easter book you share with your children. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter!

Making your own Resurrection Eggs

To make your own resurrection eggs you will need to gather the following items:

1 empty egg carton

12 plastic eggs-each a different color

small piece of fur fabric

3 coins

1 oyster cracker

1 prayer sticker

1 small piece of leather string

1 small piece of purple fabric

1 nail

dice

1 small piece of sponge

1 small piece of white fabric

verse sheet (see verses below)

(optional: number stickers to label the outside of your eggs)

All you need to do is place one item into each egg. The final egg being left empty to symbolize the tomb being empty. Below are the verses I used when we made our resurrection eggs. Use them to help you place the eggs in the correct order in the egg carton. These eggs are slightly different then the ones you purchase due to the fact that it is not easy to find a toy donkey or a plastic set of praying hands. This would really be a fun activity to do with your children or even as an outreach to your neighborhood. Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy using your resurrection eggs to celebrate the real meaning of Easter with your children!

1. Matthew 21:1-9 (fur)

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

2. Matthew 26:14-16 (coins)

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

3. Matthew 26:26-28 (cracker)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

4. Mark 14:32-42 (prayer sticker)

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

5. Matthew 27:26 (leather whip)

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

6. Matthew 27:28-31 (purple cloth)

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

7. John 19:16-22 (nails/cross)

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

8. John 19:23-24 (dice)

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

9. John 19:28-30 (sponge)

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

10. Matthew 27:57-61(linen)

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

11. Matthew 28:1-3 (rock)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

12. Matthew 28:5-8 (empty egg)

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Celebrating Easter with your Children

Next Sunday we will be celebrating Easter. How do you celebrate Easter? Do you put as much time into Easter as you do Christmas? I must admit that a few years ago I didn’t. Easter seems to be that one holiday that has successfully been taken over by our secular society and it makes me sad. Sad because while Christmas is so important in that God became man, but Easter is the holiday where we remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross so that we could be saved. If there were no Easter, we would not be able to spend eternity with our Lord.

I wondered if I didn’t celebrate because it is a hard topic to talk about with young children, after all Jesus died a horrible death on the cross. I think to some extent that is what kept me in the early years, but then I realized that yes, Jesus did die a horrible death and we need to remember the pain he went through on the cross to pay for our sin, but the real reason we celebrate Easter is that Jesus rose from the dead and while he is in heaven seated at the right hand of God, he left his spirit here on earth to live in each of us-wow! This is what I want to teach my girls. This is the holiday I want to put more time and energy into because while Easter Bunnies and Easter egg hunts are fun celebrations, without the resurrection of Jesus, we would have no Easter.

One way I found to help me teach my girls about Easter was through the Resurrection Eggs from family life. (www.familylife.com) These are a great tool to help you tell the resurrection story. Each egg contains a small object to help you tell the story. There is a booklet provided with each kit that includes a verse and a small description that you can share with your children. My girls love each year when I pull them out. They love to tell the story to each other or to guests when they come over. Last year I purchased a second kit, so each girl could have her own set. I placed number stickers on the outside of each egg to make it easier to keep the objects in the right egg. I also take them out of the plastic carton they come in and place them in different eggcups. I then use them as a centerpiece on the kitchen table and the dining room table throughout our Easter celebration. I allow my girls to play with the eggs as much as they want. I love the conversations that it brings up each year. I remember when Maddie was really too young to know what was really going on, Abigail spent so much time telling and re-telling the story using the eggs to Maddie. Maddie sat there and listened, holding each object, being so excited her big sister was sharing with her. I really cannot say enough good things about this product. I would highly recommend purchasing a set if you do not have one. But I also realize that some budgets are tight, so tomorrow I will share with you a set that I put together for my MOPS group a few years back that would be really easy to recreate on your own.

I would love to hear your ideas of how you make your Easter celebrations special for your children!

Websites I visit. . .

I also have a few websites that I can easily lose a huge amount of time at while searching for ideas and inspirations. The first two are jam packed with great ideas for kids crafts, party ideas, family traditions. . .love them!

http://familyfun.go.com/

http://www.marthastewart.com/crafts-for-kids

The next few websites are great for scrapbooking ideas as well as great inspiration. Enjoy!

http://stacyjulian.com/blog/

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/

Setting the Table

I apologize that this post is a day late. I was having trouble uploading the photos I wanted to include yesterday. . .

I agree with Barb whole-heartedly about mealtime and the importance it has in the development of the family. I am a product of a family that ate together. Isn’t it funny that sometimes we need studies to tell us what is productive for our families when if we would just stop and think we could have figured it out for ourselves-common sense really. If we spend time sitting down, eating as a family will we just not naturally talk about life issues? Isn’t it more difficult to hide having a bad day if you have to sit and talk with your family? Doesn’t it make more sense that sitting down eating, laughing and talking would improve your family’s relationships? This is what I want for my family.

I want my girls to have fond memories of our time around the table. I want to provide a place where they feel safe to talk and share their feelings. I want to provide an environment where they feel I have thought about them. That is why my girls will often wake up to a decorated table in the morning that will stay that way throughout the day.

I decided early on with young children that cooking was not my strength. I can cook, but I don’t like it. I make a few things well, but I do not like to try new things, but I do love to entertain. I love to decorate a table and make my guests feel like they are important and that I am glad they are in my home. I decided that this is how I want my girls to feel, so for holidays and just-because days I will decorate the breakfast table(I do not do this everyday). I love to see their faces light up when they drag their sleepy bodies down the stairs for breakfast to see the table decorated just for them. Sometimes I go all out and other times it is just simple little things that let them know I was thinking about them. An added bonus that I have noticed is when they invite someone for a playdate they want to help set the table to make their guest feel welcome and loved. (Abigail helped decorate the bags in the photo below).

I think a lot can be taught around the kitchen table. My hope is to share my love of entertaining with my girls in a way that will make them feel even more special than the guests that enter my home. My hope is that our kitchen table will always be a safe place where we come together as a family to reconnect. I don’t think it takes that much to make that happen. We just need to be intentional!

Happy New Year!!!

Barb has a New Year's Eve tradition that she has been doing since her kids were very young. I love this idea and wanted to share....

Make your table festive for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day by adding the following:

CANDY... for sweet adventures in the New Year!

AN APPLE... for a New Year of smiles!

COAL... for love and warmth throughout the New Year!

PEANUTS (in the shell!)...a New Year of surprises!

Scatter some of the items around the table, putting an apple on each plate. A quick note written on the computer could sit beside each place setting to explain your wishes for each of your loved ones.

Simple, but it works to stimulate a discussion for everyone's dreams for the New Year.

Have a Happy New Year!

What God Wants for Christmas

I thought I would share the last poem in a scavenger hunt game we play every Christmas Eve day. I found this game What God wants for Christmas a few years ago at my Wal-Mart, and it has quickly become a family favorite. It is by Family Life and can be found at www.familylife.com. We choose to make a scavenger hunt out of the boxes and the girls use clues to find the pieces of the nativity scene we have hidden through out the house. It leads up to the last box, which contains a small mirror so that when the child looks inside she sees her reflection and realizes that God wants her for Christmas. Here is the poem we read after they find the final box:

What God wants for Christmas? Now here’s the surprise

In box number seven, where it’s been disguised

Peek in the box, for so long you have waited.

What God wants is you-the one He created!

“Me?” you ask. “Why is this so?”

“I cannot wrap me and put on a bow!”

No, you cannot; but what you can give

Are the choices you make in the life that you live.

God wants you to know Him and love Him within,

And this is called worship, an offering to Him.

To do this, trust Jesus, who died in your place

When you didn’t deserve Him-that is called grace.

Pray now and offer your life and your heart.

Say, “Jesus, I need You. I’d like a new start.”

Forgive me today for the sins I’ve committed

So one day in heaven I will be permitted.”

When you pray this decision, the heavens rejoice

That you have made worship of God your life’s choice.

God wants you to know Him, so choose every day,

To love God and thank God and give Him all praise!

So as you spend your Christmas Eve and Christmas day with those you love this year, remember the real reason behind this season-Jesus came to earth for you! Celebrate the most wonderful gift that was ever given.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

A family favorite

I am going to share a recipe that Barb shared with me years ago (I am hoping she has not shared it on the blog before, but if she has it is worth repeating)! It has become a family favorite at our house. I will just warn you that if you make this it will not last long. . .it is so very yummy!

Frosty’s Favorite:

3c. corn chex

3c. rice chex

2c. cheerios

2c. stick pretzels

2c. dry-roasted peanuts

12 oz. MM's (I like Reeses Pieces better)

16 oz. almond bark

Mix everything but the almond bark in a large bowl. Melt the almond bark in microwave according to direction on pkg. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring gently until mixture is well coated. Spread mixture on waxed paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate (I just let it cool on the counter). When cool, break into pieces. Store in air-tight container in frig. (it's usually gone before I need to store it!).

I have motified the recipe slightly because I could not find some of the ingredients in the right amounts and I am not one to use 3 squares of left-over almond bark. So everything is the same except the following:

5 cups cheerios

6 cups pretzel sticks

1 lb bag of Reese Pieces

24 oz almond bark (I think the Plymouth Pantry brand is the best-I find mine at Walmart)

Enjoy!

Dice game

One tradition my family has enjoyed for years is the dice game. Some people play this and they bring white elephant gifts to exchange. My family actually uses nice, enjoyable gifts.

Here's how it works:

Everyone buys 3-5 $5 gifts. Gifts for guys, girls or either. You wrap them and place them in a pile in the center of the room. Everyone sits in a circle around the gifts. Then, depending on the number of people, you have one or two containers of dice going around the circle. Everyone rolls the dice and every time someone gets a double they grab a gift but don't open it. Once all the gifts are divided between people (not necessarily evenly), you open the gifts. Then the fun begins. You roll the dice again and when you get doubles you get to steal a gift that you want and exchange one that you don't. So all the gifts exchange hands numerous times. It's a blast and so fun to see what items everyone purchased. We usually set a time limit for how long the dice can go around the circle for.

I enjoy gift giving and this is a unique way to have fun together as a family, laugh and share in a little competition. It might not work well with smaller kids, but with adult kids and relatives, it will lead to great memories!

Home Improvement...New Tradition

Stacy, I don't think you will be planting bulbs with Samuel this weekend as you wait for your labor pains to start. Here's an idea you already have in place, just continue it for many years to come:

I once read about a woman who had six children. They were all in school, ranging from first to sixth grade. She said if she had it to do over again, she would say to each child the moment he awoke, from the very first day;

"You're terrific, You're marvelous, You're fantastic!"

She would say that every day, a hundred times a day, for six years.

Then, she said, maybe that child would be ready for first grade!

What a great way to improve any home this weekend and prepare all those babies for their first day of school in years to come!

Happy Labor Day to all and especially to Stacy:)

Hide and Seek

A great fall tradition to begin with little ones is to plant bulbs in the garden. Many bulbs are very hearty and makes this tradition almost fool-proof!

Buy a dozen bulbs, all the same or a mixture of daffodils, tulips or crocus'. Buy them now and wait until the weather becomes abit cooler. The nursery should be able to tell you when to plant them.

If your kids are old enough, take them out to the garden and dig up a small plat for them. If the kids are too young, try it yourself so you will be ready when they are!

Prepare the soil (these bulbs aren't too fussy!)

Plant the bulbs with the pointy side up.

Plant them in groups, rather than in a long line

Cover and wait for the long winter to begin. You will have a spring tradition just waiting for you!

fall traditions

Today is September 1st! Fall is just about here. In Minnesota the days are warm and sunny, the nights cool and crisp. A beautiful time of year!

Samuel isn't yet going to school, but in Minneapolis school starts today. I've been thinking about the day Samuel goes off to school....and hoping it's decades away!! Since school isn't yet a 'tradition' in our home, I am pondering what fall traditions we could implement in the next few years.

Decor around the home changes to fall colors. Little accents here and there remind me that the seasons are changing. My baking and cooking changes as I want to pull out my apple crisp, apple bars and soup recipes that have been tucked away for some time.

But I would love to create one or two fall traditions with kids that we could do as a family this month. Next month will be pumpkins, but for now, any ideas or suggestions on celebrating and acknowledging the change of seasons?

I'd love to hear what your family did growing up or what you do now to mark the passing of summer and welcoming fall with open arms! Please share!

The Easter Egg Hunt!

Our family hosted a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt for quite a few years. Kids of all ages showed up at our doorstep early morning, usually wearing winter jackets and mittens. (Easter never was a guarantee for warm weather). I divided the kids up into pairs, one older child with a younger child. Anyone who could walk could participate! Each pair was given a picture of a farm animal and that was their team name. When every team was in place, we walked to the park that was behind our home. Very early that morning, my husband and I hid colorful, plastic eggs all over the park. Each egg had a picture of a farm animal on it and was filled with goodies.
The 'hunt' started when all the young participants received a basket. When an egg was found, the older child of each team was not allowed to touch or pick up any egg. The older child could just stand over the egg that had their farm animal picture on it and make the sound of that animal. That was a signal for the younger child to come over and pick up the egg and put it in their basket.

What a sight that was:
Older children "mooing", "barking", "meowing", "baaing", "clucking", etc all over the park. Parents lined the park, taking pictures and cheering the teams on.

The 'hunt' was over before we knew it and everyone was invited to have hot chocolate, coffee and donuts to make the morning enjoyable for everyone. The treasures were sent home with each child along with the Easter story.

What started as a fun neighborhood tradition, ended up making an impact with each family.

This Easter, share the Good News...He is risen! Indeed! Tell the story with friends and neighbors this Easter in whatever way that fits your family.

St. Patricks Day

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. It is also my husband's birthday!

Today I bought Samuel a St. Patrick's Day t-shirt, we bought window stickers, some green plates and a pair of fun socks. I went grocery shopping tonight and bought food to make him a special dinner tomorrow night.

I realized that I'm going the extra mile because it is my husband's birthday tomorrow, but I really do love celebrating different holidays and the seasons they represent. I also recall growing up in a home where my mom decorated for the seasons and holidays. It is a tradition I would like to carry on with my kids.

For me, as the years go by and my kids get older, building my home will include recognizing and celebrating the seasons and the holidays. I'm not into buying for the sake of supporting the retail world, but I do think there is joy in celebrating fun days and milestones.

Tomorrow make sugar cookies with your kids and add green sprinkles or green frosting.

Dress your kids in green.

Hide a treat somewhere in the house and have them search for the 'pot of gold.'

Have green jello, green veggies, green pancakes, green milk, or whatever you can think up for your meals.

Make this a fun day of celebrating life, love and the joy of each season!

An opportunity to serve

Yesterday Barb mentioned serving...

I can't think of a better way to honor Christ's birth than by serving others during the Christmas season! I think our ideas of serving vary greatly from person to person. But we all have opportunities to serve if we look around!

For example,
As an individual, think of someone you can serve in the next week...maybe a co-worker who wouldn't expect it or a parent or a friend.

Or, grab a few friends and plan a way to serve others as a group: go to a homeless shelter and serve food. Volunteer at a food shelf. Adopt a family and plan to serve them anonymously. Go shopping and buy some toys for a local organization.

Or, if you are married, talk with your spouse (and kids?) and find out how they would like to serve. Is there a family you know of who could use a meal or some gifts this Christmas? Maybe there are some parents who could use a night out while you watch their kids? Look around you and notice those in need.

Maybe serving is just the gift of your presence...rather than presents. A listening ear for the elderly or a single mom? A plate of cookies for a family. A evening of encouragement for someone in need of joy this holiday season.

Whatever you do "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." Ephesians 6:7

Tradition...

Saturday was December 13th. Every year for the past 25 years or so our family has celebrated Santa Lucia Day,the 13th of December. I began this tradition when my kids were very young in hopes to instill in them the 'magic' of serving others and a way to reach out to people who didn't celebrate Christ's birth. Each year I would introduce a new cookie that would go along with a Christmas tradition and we would focus on the meaning and background of that tradition. Everything was done by candlelight and that made the 'magic' of the day memorable.

It became an overwhelming task as the cookies began stacking up and the kids invited their friends over for our Santa Lucia 'feast'. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the kids' involvement and anticipation even when they were in college and out of the house. I looked forward to meeting their friends and loved having a venue that would encourage them to share with others.

Last week, my niece borrowed my Santa Lucia scrapbooks. Her 7 year old daughter needed to share a custom with her 1st grade class, so my niece wanted more info on how we celebrated, but didn't want to get as elaborate as my celebration had gotten. The reason for this posting is to share about her telephone call she made to me Friday night:

"Barb, you did this 'Santa Lucia thing' different every year! I think I see some possibility in doing this if I don't have to be so rigid in tradition."

When talking about this tradition with her earlier, I had emphasized the years that things went smoothly. I didn't think she needed to hear all the times I was frustrated and disappointed. I didn't think she needed to hear about the times I cried to my husband that my plans weren't coming together.

After talking with her, I realized it was because of my shortcomings that she decided she could take on this celebration. She realized she could make it as big or as small as she wanted to, depending on what each year looked like.

Too often we put our best foot forward, trying to make everything look like a success. Success comes in trying.

Christmas...traditions...family time...is meant to be special, not perfect. I encourage you to continue to try different celebrations and make the most of them every year. That's what will make memories and that is what will turn a celebration into a tradition that will fit your family.

Happy Thanksgiving...

A young mom shared an idea with me I'd like to pass along. Years ago, she received a letter from a student of hers telling her how she had impacted this girl's life. The young mom was a new teacher at the time and was moved that a student would take the time to write such a note. The student explained that it was a 'tradition' in their family to choose one person each year that made a difference in their life. Then they would write a note of gratitude to that person on Thanksgiving Day. This young mom was going to start that 'tradition' with her young 4 year old this year.

Most of you will be reading this after your Thanksgiving Day is done, but consider choosing someone who has impacted your life this year. Sometime over the weekend, send off a note of thanks to that person and let them know how they impacted your life. Tell them you are writing only ONE letter and it is to them!

If you do this with your children, the first few years they may choose daddy or grandma or grandpa to write to, but if they do this each year, they will begin to 'look' for people in their life that are making a difference. They will also become aware of how they may be impacting others!

I think I will commit to do this each year. A truly wonderful Thanksgiving Tradition.

More End-of-Summer Fun...

I had a few simple 'traditions' that I started with my kids when they were young. I didn't realize they would become a yearly activity or that they would mean so much to me in the years to come.

I had the kids print their names in a scrapbook on the first day of a new school year. It is amazing and fun to see how every year their signature took on a whole new look. The early years they tried to get it 'just right'. As they got older, they wanted it to look 'real cool'. This simple 'tradition' is now a priceless treasure to me.

I also measured them each year at the start of a new school year. In each of their closets are precious memories notched on the wall. I dated each mark and we 'oohed' and 'aahed' as to how tall each child had grown that year.

The kids kept a one page list of what was important to them each year:
Friends' names
Favorite books they read
Favorite movie they saw
What sports they enjoyed

I had to help them during the younger years, but they came to realize it was a 'right of passage' to get into the next grade! They needed to record the essentials for mom's sake.

It took abit of effort, but doesn't everything that is worth something? Think of ways to capture the memories of your children now that summer is coming to a close. Keep it simple and enjoy it all!