I can’t believe that it’s December already!! The magical, fun and festive season has officially arrived. This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. Our family elves, Hope Lulu McSparkles and Farmer Elf have arrived and are already up to their seasonal shenanigans. The kids are getting the Christmas crazies. I have completed the majority of the Christmas shopping. And we just got our Christmas Tree. This is a hectic season but it’s worth all the effort!
There are so many fun family traditions this time of year. When my sister’s kids were young, she would do a Christmas Countdown with different activities each day leading up to Christmas. I always thought it was such a fun idea and planned to do it when I had kids. But as a busy working mom, I was never organized enough to do it. Until this year! My kids are 6 and 9 and I FINALLY remembered to do the Christmas Countdown. Better late than never. I thought that I would turn it into my weekly blog post in case you want to try it. Look up local activities online, think of things you think your kids may want to try, ask friends to share their traditions and then create your own.
25 DAY COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
Dec 1 Free Night for supper
Dec 2 Walk Through Bethlehem 5pm
Dec 3 Christmas Movie Night
Dec 4 Rolesville Parade
Dec 5 Make Paper Snowflakes
Dec 6 Walk around Neighborhood and look for decorations
Dec 7 Dinner- Kids Choice
Dec 8 Piper Lights
Dec 9 Christmas Movie Night
Dec 10 Make Christmas Ornament
Dec 11 Decorate Gingerbread House
Dec 12 Horton Rd Christmas Lights
Dec 13 Make JibJab Videos
Dec 14 Family Breakfast
Dec 15 Lake Myra Christmas Lights 6pm
Dec 16 Christmas Fire (Backyard fire/sing carols/drink hot chocolate/smores)
Dec 17 Visit with Santa in Wake Forest, 3pm-5pm
Dec 18 Make cookies
Dec 19 Drive around to look at Christmas Lights
Dec 20 Christmas Game Night
Dec 21 Coastal Credit Union Magic of Lights 5pm
Dec 22 Christmas Movie Night
Dec 23 Christmas Eve Eve Service at Bethany Baptist Church
Dec 24 Christmas Eve at the cousins
Dec 25 CHRISTMAS DAY! Happy Birthday Jesus.
All of these family bonding festive activities are wonderful but let’s not forget the reason that we celebrate.
The Shepherds and the Angels (Luke 2:8-20)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
