Did you celebrate Christmas with Candles?

Did you have candles for Christmas?
We were in Australia battling hot humid weather with no air conditioning! With every fan available blowing a gale, our candles served decorative purpose only. That is what is nice about candles. You can appreciate their beauty even when not lit.

Actually so much of what one plans doesn’t eventuate but we have fun trying. One year, Christmas dinner did not happen at all. It would have heated up the kitchen and eventually the whole house. It was so hot that everyone opted for cold icy drinks rather than to face a hot meal. Actually it was so hot, no one wanted the cold salads either. So it was smoothies and ice drinks all day and the kids ran thru the garden water sprinkler. This Christmas we were on water restrictions so many families spent the day at the beach. We had salads and smoothies in the evening. Best of all we had long talks and lots of laughter.

What a contrast to our American home and family gathering. We spoke at length over the phone with hoards of our family members who sledded and played in the snow all morning followed by a fabulous hot dinner.

So wherever you are in the world at Christmas, spending fun time with family and sharing fabulous food (or cold drinks) and friendship remains important to all of us.

For us though, this is not just Happy Holidays! This season is about Christ and remembering what he has done and continues to do for us. It is not just about family and food, but it is important that as individuals and as a family we remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

To help us remember what Christmas is really about, here are a few ways we try to achieve this.

We decorate the house, not just with a tree and some tinsel, but with Nativity pictures, a nativity scene, motivation statements and candles that have meaning.

We play music that honors the God in the season. For us it is not about reindeer or a man in a red suit, so we try to find music that tells the real story. It is not that we ban the other fun songs. (Actually my daughter’s favorite Christmas song is an Aussie one “Six White Boomers” which is about kangaroos taking the place of the reindeer). We just make sure that Jesus is the primary focus of our music.

Before the giving of presents, grandpa gathers the children and tells the Christmas story about Jesus, the greatest gift that was ever given.

After we are seated at the table spread with a magnificent feast, the candles are lit and as they are lit a short simple statement about letting the candles be a reminder that God brought Light to the earth and to our lives and that we need to let His Light shine thru us to others.

Watch a good movie about the Christmas story. We have a great animated one for the kids.

Do a quiz about the Christmas story.

This year we did a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle called Light to the Gentiles. It pictures Mary Joseph, Baby Jesus and Simeon in the Temple. Everyone had a go at it over a few days.

Take time as an individual to reflect be thankful.
For Jesus coming to this earth that we might know God and be saved
For Jesus and the love joy and peace He gives us
For family
For friends
For our home
For our food
For our clothes

So now that Christmas day is over and our regular lives resume, we need to take the Love, Joy and Peace that He has given us and allow the Light of His Salvation to shine before others that they too may know Him.

The Best Birthday of My Life

At the end of her special day, my daughter said "This has been the best birthday of my life". She got the day off school and was allowed to sleep in....but of course it was a fun day so she awoke very early. Her desire for a pet was ...well ....almost met ....with her present being a Red Tamagottchi virtual pet...Since she totally loves computers, and always wanted a tamagotchi these 2 loves joined together in one. She was very excited and felt very grown up.

We had a family day together. We visited the Ginger Factory...took a boat ride following the gingerbread man all around the world and back again....then we took a train ride around the magnificent tropical gardens and saw some very beautiful ginger flowers. A visit to Santa's workshop and a spectacular marionatte display of elves working on all sorts of projects culminated in a free photo (just because it was her birthday) with Santa.

Swimming was on her favorites list too and so off to the beach it was.... what a great time boogie boarding the waves! On the way back from the beach we encountered some fabulous markets where she told every one who would listen that it was her birthday and she was very excited about it. You would be amazed at how many freebies she was given as her excitment caught on with the market vendors....she even received a huge very fragrant mango (of course she loves mangos..

On return everyone busied around the kitchen making a gourmet spaghetti bolognaise (her favorite food) with fresh homecooked bread (a garlic and olive loaf) and italian garden salad.

We all settled to watch a movie with intermission being another of her favorites...Chocolate mud cake, red strawberries and cream..... and of course the ceremonial candle blowing..... what a smile! She had just had the best day of her life.... and I am sure it was not about the things, but about the time spent making her day special with her favorite things and her favorite people...family.