Christmas Angels

In our family we come together once a week for what we call "family home evening." We have a prayer, song, lesson, activity, and treat. Everyone in the family participates. Sometimes it is something really simple and other times it is something that involves a little more planning. This helps unify our family and brings us closer together. At Christmas time we also plan some special activities to do as a family. One such tradition involves dressing up and acting out the Nativity (usually on Christmas Eve) but each year we do something a little different. Last year we had a "shepherd's in training" and everyone dressed like shepherds while we learned more about their role in the Christmas story.

This year everyone dressed up like angels. My husband had gotten a whole bunch of white material and he and our daughter made make-shift angel costumes. We had a special lesson about the visitation of angels from the Bible and then talked about angels on earth -- those people who have affected our lives for good. We talked about how we can be an angel for other people. Then we went and sang "Angels, We Have Heard On High," to some people in our neighborhood. It was a neat experience and my husband and I both were in need of a tissue by the evening's end! I hope it was a special experience for the children as well. Establishing traditions is an excellent way to promote positive feelings and bonding within one's family.

Family Song and Video

Here is a beautiful song that my husband wrote and sang. We hope you enjoy it!

Family Song (Click Here!)

www.firstratefamily.com

Special Christmas Traditions

Every year around Thanksgiving I give the kids their Christmas ornaments and on the back of each one I tell them what I love the most about them, and then date it. They can hardly wait to put up the tree because as we are putting up the tree we talk about what has gone on through the years. I figured after 11 years my son would be tired of hearing the same old stories but he loves it as much now as he did when there were only a few ornaments. In fact, this has worked so well we have extended it to all of our nieces and nephews. They look forward to getting their ornament on or close to Thanksgiving. I have every ornament from the time I was born until now. My oldest ornament is just about on its last leg but every year she is the first ornament to go on and ranks right up to the top of the tree with our angel. We have also started putting on ornaments for those who have passed in the year so this way we know at least once a year they are thought of.

Jennifer Matejka

After the kids wake up we all meet in the hallway with a birthday cake. As we are walking to the Christmas tree one person puts in front of the tree a nativity scene and we all sing happy birthday to baby Jesus. Then we all take turns saying what we are giving Jesus for Christmas (good grades, stopping a bad habit, volunteering at a homeless shelter, etc.) and then we start the unwrapping of presents. It is a change and remembering the real reason for Christmas is priceless.

Christine Johnston

We began the tradition of collecting snapshots from throughout the year, and then turning them into Christmas tree ornaments. We even bought a small, 4-foot tree just for our baby daughter. Each year, we will add new ornaments, and she will be able to see how much she has grown and changed over time. Each picture that we choose has a memorable story to go with it, so we can reminisce when she asks about them as she gets older. We also want her to realize that she is the greatest gift we ever could have asked for. We hope to carry on this tradition for all of our future children as well. Today's Christmas celebrations seem so hurried and rushed, but this tradition helps us to slow down and savor the moments every time we look at the beautifully decorated tree.

Jennifer Regan (Peotone, Illinois)

Christmas Tradition

One Christmas tradition that our family has enjoyed is having the family dress up and act out the Nativity. Here are my two daughters dressed up as Mary and Baby Jesus.

Looking at these pictures I can't help but wonder what it must have been like for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although we don't know how old she was, we do know that she was very young -- probably not much older than my daughter is in this picture. I can't imagine such a young girl going through everything that she did. I love the words to the song, "Mary Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry (lyrics) and Buddy Greene (music).

You can listen to it here:

"Mary Did You Know?"