The annual first-night-of-Encounter chicken fingers.
Someone got their little mouth on this before I took it away.
So close!
I'm pushing 30 Christmas Conferences/Winter Conferences/Encounters over the
years, and I'm experiencing a part of the conference I've never experienced
before- nap time. It's an interesting feeling knowing that there's so much
work/fun going on out there in this hotel, and I'm sitting in a quiet, dark
room. But I love Samuel and he loves his naps, so I can live with it. I guess
it means I have time to write some thank-you's and an update for all my many
blog fans.
Patrick and I started talking months ago about how we wanted to talk about
Christmas with Samuel over the next few years. I think so many kids know that
Christmas is about Jesus, but the real excitement is over everything else
(actually, I'm pretty guilty of that myself, if I admit it). We really want
Christmas to be about Jesus in our home. I know that starts with us and where
our hearts really are, but I wanted some fun ideas from people more creative
than me. I talked with the children’s coordinator at our church (I am sooo
thankful for Zina for many reasons!), and she gave me some great
ideas/resources.
One was
this interview with Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales. He
recently made a movie called “Buck Denver Asks, ‘Why Do We Call It Christmas?’”
I still haven’t seen the movie, but he talked in the interview about how
Christmas has gotten to where it is today and how he talks with his own kids
about Christmas and Santa Claus. I love his ideas! Definitely worth listening
to.
Zina also gave me an article about a special way to do gifts with children.
3 gifts for each child in light of the gifts
given to Jesus, the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Side benefit- I can now
spell frankincense and myrrh.) Because gold was so valuable in the days Jesus
was born (well, still is I suppose), the first is a gift that will be very
valuable to your child- maybe something they’ve really been wanting or
something a little more expensive. And wrap it all in beautiful gold paper and
bows. Frankincense was burned in the Old Testament days in the temple, where
God’s people went to meet with Him. So the second gift is something your child
uses to meet with God- a Bible, a journal, music. And it’s wrapped all in white
(I think that’s what color frankincense is? Oh, I’m learning so much. I believe
it’s resin from a tree.) And myrrh was used to anoint bodies for burial. Have
to get a little more creative there. The article suggested something your child
could use on their body- lotions or perfume or something. And this one is wrapped
in earth tones. We went a different direction on that one though. We’ve decided
on a mercy gift instead- either some kind of donation or gift to someone in
need.
So here are Samuel’s 3 Christmas gifts
Diapers- now, those are very valuable to Samuel right now!
Fisher Price Little People nativity set
A Caregiver Kit for someone caring for the needs of people
affected
by the AIDS crisis in Africa through World Vision.
(Caleb was teaching Sam all about the nativity)
Last year we had just found out I was pregnant and we chose
a New Mother/Baby Kit through World Vision in honor of our little baby. I’m
excited to see over the years the things God will put on Samuel’s heart and to
begin choosing mercy gifts based on what he loves and cares about.
This really may have been my favorite Christmas ever.
Patrick and I talked so much about each gift we gave that each one felt really
meaningful, not like we were just buying something to cross off the list. And
the Advent readings that we enjoyed together all month brought the anticipation
of Christmas in my heart closer to where I want it to be- waiting for the day
we would read about the little baby finally entering the world in Bethlehem!
