CHRISTmas not GIFTmas :)

Don't get me wrong...I love gifts, and I love giving them.  But oh MY how America has transformed Christmas into what you will GET rather than what we have already been GIVEN by our Lord.

 While Garrett and I have been prepping for the Live Nativity here at our house (sponsored by our church for ...over 20 years now?) ...we are reminded of the beautiful gift God gave us.  It warms my heart to know that my kids will always take part in making this Nativity reminder for the community.   It isn't flashy, it isn't fancy.
Its in an old barn with mason jar luminaries leading the way.
An old Moravian star is hung in the barn just like it is every year.
The costumes were made by the ladies of the church years ago with old underwear bands and sheets.

But its beautiful.
Its serene and peaceful.

If you haven't had the chance to come see it, I invite you to do so...with your family.  Sunday at 6:30-8 pm.

It put me to thinking... we are having two kids this year.  We have traditions to set for them, and expectations to set before them.  As a child, I loved Christmas...it was a magical time where my parents poured their heart out to give to us.  We normally didn't have much at all, and Christmas was a time of giving to each other.  And the funny thing is...Santa wasn't really ever a part of it.  GASP! I know... a magical Christmas without Santa? ...or in my case it wasn't without Santa...I only got one thing from him and he just was never a big deal.  And they stopped mentioning Santa when Matt came along (7 years later) I don't think I ever remember him asking if Santa was real.  He still had the same magic in his eyes that I did.  He'd barrel down the hallway and nearly slip and slide to get to the living room after Dad read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.  Christmas was about family and love.

I want my kids to experience this feeling.

Christ's innocent, peaceful love.

So.. I've heard a lot about the "Three Gifts" Christmas tradition and I think I'm hooked.  If you haven't heard what that is, here's a short summary.

The three gifts Christmas is a reminder of the three gifts brought to Jesus.  Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense.  Gold symbolizes a "want", Myrrh symbolizes a "need" and Frankincense symbolizes a "spiritual" gift.  So, your focus on Christmas is to gift each other with these three things.  This keeps it simple, focused, and not excessive.  And what a great reminder of the REAL meaning of Christmas.  We say that, but... how much do we attempt to REALLY remind ourselves that Christ is the only reason you are celebrating Christmas anyway?

So this year I think I've come up with some really good ideas for both of the sweeties in my life.  Can't wait to share what they are...but for now...they are a secret. :)

And what about Santa?

Well...I've thrown around the idea of how to still bring a tiny bit of the Santa magic to my kids lives....and I really like the idea of Santa filling their stockings.  It keeps some mystery and magic (believing when you don't see) without getting out of hand.  We shall see!

What does your family do?