Christmas Ideas

Here's a few of my thoughts about Christmas-

1. You have to dare to be different.

2. Kids resist meaningful ideas sometimes, but they end up loving them because they are more substantial and lasting.

3. You don't have to follow traditions unless they match your values.

-I do not value buying tons of un-neccesary stuff.

-I do not enjoy creating selfish children.,

-I hate shopping and enjoy saving.

I see the holidays as a time to magnify what is really important. Here's some ways we've tried to

focus on the 4 missions of the church:

1- Relieve the Poor

(Last year we did not buy our kids presents.  We took the money we would have spent and sent it to one of our friends whose baby has cancer.  We made a little video of her to show our kids on Christmas morning.  They loved it so much, they are begging to do it again this year.  What a relief to do NO SHOPPING during this crazy time of year... it makes it feel uncrazy.)

(Invite lonely people to join your family activities- or ask others if you can join them if you are lonely)

(Caroling to widows is always one of my favorite activities.  We are learning songs at family nights and we want to go every December Sunday to a nursing home- Myriam wishes we would go every night)

(One year, we got a full year's supply of food storage instead of wasting money on toys= Future relief of the poor)

2- Redeem the Dead

(We go do sealings with my parents since their anniversary is during the holidays)

(We spend time doing genealogy over the holidays since Donny has extra time)

3- Perfect the Saints

(We got cross country skiis one year for everyone so that we would get more exercise in the winter)

(We usually make a health goal- like not gaining any weight from Thanksgiving to Christmas- or going to bed at a decent hour during the holidays- or doing exercise or sports with family members when we are together)

4- Proclaim the Gospel

(Acting out or teaching the nativity story to our children on Christmas Eve)

(Reading meaningful Christmas stories to our children throughout December)

(Sharing the gospel through music/songs and through blogs)

(We could help missionaries- both with referrals and financially)