So for some reason this year December just seemed to fly by WAY faster then usual! I have so many fun traditions that I love to do with the boys, and some of them we just didn't get to them. I love my traditions and my passion is to always try to bring the focus on Christ! One of my favorite things that I do every year is like the 12 days of Christmas, but instead I do 12 Names of Jesus! Every day for the 12 days we learn a different name of Jesus. I try and get a small, $1 gift, that goes along with the name. AKA-Light of the World=a gift like a flashing lightbulb necklace. So as I was thinking about what I was going to do this year, I began to realize that those small gifts, while fun, usually end up in the trash! I want to do something more, something that can make a difference and really sink in with the boys! So this year we did 12 Days Of Giving! Everyday for the 12 days we did something for someone or a group of people! It was so much fun to see the boys get excited about giving and watching the faces of the people receiving. Our verse we kept using during the 12 days was, "It is better to give then receive!" Some of the things we did were:
Make puppy chow for all of the workers at our church and gave it to them on Sunday.
We left a goody bag of things on the porch for a family in need.
We made ornaments and handed them out to all sorts of people who had to work on Christmas Day! That small tiny ornament made them smile so big when we gave it to them.
We donated toys. We made cookies for firefighters. And one of my favorites was caroling and then leaving small gifts for the family! My hearts desire is to raise boys who would rather be giving of their things or of themselves then to be wanting things for themselves. We are not here on this earth to be served, but to serve! It is just so easy to forget when our world makes it seem like it is "All About Me!!" It was an awesome new tradition, and I can't wait to do it next year and hopefully come up with more creative things or ways to give! And I would love for anyone to join us!! The more the merrier!
Below are more pics of some of my favorite traditions!
This year we went and saw a live Nativity Scene! It was awesome! The only thing that wasn't awesome was when we got into our driveway Jett got sick in the car and then ALL over me!
Bringing the Firefighters Cookies to tell them Thank You for all they do!
They let the kids takeover and gave them an excellent tour!
Jett gave him about 10 high 5's! I finally told the firefighter that Jett was not going to stop!
Our two most important things we put on the tree! I love Jaxson's face and that Jett is in the background! The crown of thorns is our tree topper, and the nail goes somewhere very special so that all can see and remember why Christ was born on that Christmas day!
I love this pic of my three boys decorating our tree!
Sitting down with some hot chocolate after we decorated the tree to read the Christmas story!
Seeing more Christmas lights with our adopted red headed child!!!
Friends and lights!
This is our favorite house to go and look at every year! Our first drop by was a bust and the lights were off, but we tried again and success!
We love to go look at lights, especially when it is with good friends!!
I loved this light display!
Making goodies to give to others!
I love to have the boys make their own ornament every year! Our Christmas Tree resembles the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree full of homemade ornaments, but it is so full of love and any tree looks good when the lights are on!!
Jett was about done at this point and wanted me to wash his hands! This was his first year to make his own ornament!
No comments:
Post a Comment