We hang candy canes on our Christmas tree each year. Do you? 

We also love reading the sweet story aloud at Christmastime each year. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg is a delightful tale set at the turn of the 20th century. 

When a stranger rides into town, folks hope he will be a doctor or merchant. Instead, the children's wish comes true. He is a candy-maker. 

Little Lucy befriends the candy-maker. In turn, he reveals the true story of how the candy cane came to be. Lucy is delighted! Readers will be, too. 

Lucy learns all about the symbolism of the candy cane. If you hold the candy cane one way, it is a "J' for Jesus. If you hold it the other way, it is a shepherd's crook. In addition, the red strips stand for the blood of Jesus. 

Together, the candy-maker and Lucy share the message of the Christmas candy cane with the whole town. The message of Christmas reaches everyone!

​It's time to make a Christmas dessert and you want something quick and easy, but festive. Here's a simple recipe that tastes delicious and looks lovely. 

Another wonderful Christmas. It all went so quickly. Instead of flying home to California, Aisha was with us for the holidays. We enjoyed having her in Florida and appreciated her family lending her to us.

We had our usual traditions: decorating the house and tree together as a family, Christmas devotions, traveling dinner, and festive Christmas dinner. Everything was delicious and fun.

Best of all, everyone was off from school, college, and work. We enjoyed full days together without meetings or very many responsibilities. It was so nice to relax with my children.

I  love to see pictures of the earth from outer space.

Wow! It looks like a bright shiny blue ball. That beautiful blue earth filled with life-sustaining water is a glorious to look.

It reminds us of the Creator who lovingly formed the blue sphere we call home. 

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it; the world and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV).

Everything belongs to the Lord because He made.

Everyone belongs to the Lord because He made them.

It is so simple, yet profound. It means our lives have purpose.

​We live for the Lord, to bring God glory. ​

Glorious God, Reflecting Man

Okay....I have to come clean. I love Barbies. There, I said it. I decorate with Barbies every year at Christmas. Barbies, Barbies everywhere. Here are some photos of displays over the years. 

One year we tried a Barbie singing Christmas tree...but it didn't go so well.

The Barbie worship team, on the other hand, went great and this year my friend, Maria, made me a drum set, a bass guitar, and an acoustic guitar. 

Many years I have done our entire family in Barbie and set up a display of Barbies in their kitchen and family room, eating and opening presents. I even have a Barbie blender.

"And Ebenezer Scrooge learned to keep Christmas well," we are told at the ending of  A Christmas Carol. What does it mean to keep Christmas well?

Does it mean to know all the words to at least twenty Christmas carols? Does it mean having the most lights in the neighborhood? Does it mean decorating every table top and wall space in the house with sparkly decorations? Does it mean having the tallest or fattest tree? Or is it buying expensive presents for everyone you know?

Keeping Christmas well begins in your heart. It starts with an understand of the miracle of Christmas, that magical moment when Heaven came down in the form of a newborn infant. Very God of Very God became flesh and all of Heaven gazed in wonder, though only a few were privileged to witness the event. You see, the miracle happened because of a very loving Father, a very Generous God filled with grace and mercy. He loved so much that He gave.

This year  I will be making gifts instead of buying them. I will dig out my trunk of material and my serger and make some napkins.

Napkin Directions

To make Christmas napkins, buy 1 yard of Christmas cotton fabric. Cut it into 4 equal size squares and iron until wrinkle-free. Then simply serge the edges of the napking with a contrasting thread color to give you the nice finished edge you find in stores. If you don't have a serger, you can do a hankerchief hem around the edges.

You don't have to be limited by Christmas fabric. You can make everyday napkins, Thanksgiving napkins, spring napkins, St. Valentine's Day napkins, or Fourth of July napkins.

A set of 4 napkins with 4 homemade napkin rings will make a nice gift.

Jar Gifts

Or maybe I will make cookie mixes in a jar. Directions for these projects can be found online. I have other options to fill my jars with. There are soup mixes in a jar, baking mixes in a jar, and casserole mixes in a jar too. These all make lovely gifts.

Gifts of Time

With the economy in shambles and our government running up the national debt, we need some financial peace and hope this Christmas. If you are like our family, you are cutting corners where you can, making gifts instead of buying them, and doing your best to simplify Christmas. Some of you are thanking God for your family's employment and others are praying hard for a job.

Melanie is in my spinning class at the Y. We have been praying for her husband's employment for almost a year. During this year, she and her husband, Stormy have learned so much from God about His plan and purpose in their lives. Melanie and Stormy have become more patient and prayerful as the Lord has helped them to grow so much in Him in 2010.

Meredith: Melanie, you encouraged me so much last week in spinning class with your testimony of God's faithfulness to your family. Thank you for sharing the story, not only with our spinning class, but with my readers. Can you share a summary of the last couple of years to bring us up-to-date?

Melanie: I would be happy to! 2 1/2 years ago, my husband's job ended and he was offered 2 jobs to choose from. Stormy and I planned and chose the one with the most investment money behind the company and the longer projected outlook. We planned to take the job that was the most secure, or so we thought.

Stormy took a job with a hotel development company in Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia. This new company had a 25 year lease with the state of Georgia to revitalize Jekyll Island with a new convention center, retail stores, and condominiums. Also, Reynold's Plantation has a Ritz Carlton and The Ritz decided to build a new ballroom and add an additional wing of rooms. There was plenty to keep Stormy busy for the next 5-7 years. We had our plans.

Meredith: Tell me more about these plans.

Melanie: We decided to buy a home at Reynolds to enjoy while we lived there, while still keeping our Lake Mary home because our children all live in Lake Mary. We made lists of things we would do.

Stormy and I bought a home on the water that needed lots of work. The house had fallen into disrepair, but it had good bones. We hired an interior architect and a landscape architect. We had renovation plans, dock plans, and landscaping plans.

Last year, at Thanksgiving time, we had just gotten approval from the architectural review board of the development to proceed with plans for our new house. The bank had already approved our loan for the renovation project. We had our plans, but God had other plans.

Meredith: The Lord often does have other plans while we are busy with our plans. How did you find out that God had other plans?

Melanie: The first week in December, Stormy drove to Jekyll Island for the ground-breaking ceremony. All the dignitaries were there and everything was going as planned. He drove on to Reynold's Plantation later that day and was told by a co-worker, "Be sure to look for a press release tomorrow."

Stormy assumed the press release was about the ground-breaking, but discovered the next day that the relationship between Reynolds and the state of Georgia had been severed.

Stormy called me and I said, "What does this mean? We have plans!"

We went through Christmas last year without much worry. We made more plans. We decided to sell the house...put "blush and lipstick" on the house to make it look good so it would sell.

"Read this one, please," Katie Beth's chubby hands held the book up to me. I adjusted Julianna who had finished nursing and was asleep on my lap. I opened the lovely Christmas picture book and began to read aloud. Katie Beth and I smiled at each other and the baby slept peacefully.

Fast forward 20 years. My baby is a grown up lady. Katie Beth and my third baby, Jenny Rose, are cuddled up on the couch reading Anne of Green Gables aloud. They have both read the book several times, but there is something wonderful about reading a good book together aloud.

This summer I went to visit my aunt with two of my daughters. The four of us enjoyed an Agatha Christie short story together. We took turns reading aloud. My aunt wrote me a note the next week about how much she had enjoyed that sweet time reading aloud together.

What is it about reading aloud that is so wonderful? Is it the story? Is it the sound of someone you love reading aloud? Or is it the sense of togetherness? There are several Christmas picture books out there. Which are the best for reading aloud?

"Christmas is so commercial! I hate it!" Lisa grumped.

In spite of myself, I giggled.

"Lisa, Christmas doesn't have to be commercialized in your home. You can celebrate! There are lots of simple Christmas pleasures that you and your loved ones can enjoy together."

Look at Christmas Lights

Okay, so Christmas lights might be considered commercial by some, but I love to pile in the van and go look at Christmas lights. There are three houses in a row right near our church. I love to drive past very slowly at night and enjoy the twinkling display.

Go Christmas Caroling

We go caroling at least once every December. Often, we carol in our neighborhood, but one year my father was living in an assisted living facility so we went caroling there, door to door. The older residents loved it! They would beg us not to leave their door, but to keep singing.

Make Christmas Cookies

Christmas is a great time to learn new homemaking skills! So many life skills come into play at Christmas from budgeting to sewing, from interior decorating to baking. Why not make Christmas preparation a homemaking class this year with the goal to teach your teens how to "Do Christmas."

One of the great joys of being a mother/homemaker is preparing holiday dinners and carrying out the family traditions. A dad has a big role in Christmas festivities too. A great tradition for a family to have would be a special craft or dish or baked good that Dad makes with the children (without burning the house down!). You could teach your son the skills he needs to someday be that dad!

Make a list of the family events, traditions, and activities that you already do each year. The list might look something like this (I have added "subject/assignment categories" next to each activity):

• Christmas caroling (music/homemaking)
• Church Christmas pageant (drama/arts)
• Christmas cards/family letter (writing)
• Cookie Baking (homemaking)
• Candy Making (homemaking)
• Making Gifts/Baking (homemaking)
• Making Gifts/Crafts/Sewing (homemaking/art)
• Christmas Shopping/Gift Wrapping (homemaking)
• Planning menus for holiday meals/parties (homemaking)
• Grocery shopping for meals/parties (homemaking)
• Decorating Inside/Outside (homemaking/interior decorating)
• Cleaning for holidays and company (homemaking)
• Preparation for out-of-town Company (homemaking/life skills)
• Family Devotions (Bible)
• Hospitality (Character/homemaking)
• Making & Sticking to a Budget for the Holidays (homemaking/life skills)
• Scheduling to Fit in all Family & Church Events (homemaking/life skills)
  

"What's wrong, Lew?" I asked the young father of three at our church.

"Oh, just trying to figure out how I am going to pay off our Christmas debt," he replied, pushing his shaggy blond hair back from his forehead.

"You can celebrate Christmas without going into debt, Lew." I looked him straight in the eye and shared with him what I will now share with you!

American Christmas Spending

Economists watch carefully about how people spend their money. If there's lots of spending and charging, then the economists smile and pronounce it "good" in an economic sense.

January finds moms and dads trying to figure out how to pay off the debt that has turned out to be much bigger than anticipated. Does God smile and pronounce this "good"?

God calls debt, even Christmas debt, foolishness. Make up your mind to NOT go into debt for Christmas.

Start this Christmas season with a plan.

Make a List, Check it Twice

Make a list of all the things you need to purchase for your family Christmas. List gifts you want to give, decorations, food, drinks, travel, and entertainment.

Now it's time to look it over. Go back and prayerfully review your list. Is there anything you can delete? Is there anything that can be substituted with something less expensive. For example, instead of buying an expensive roast, can you eat turkey or ham instead? Instead of attending the laser light show at fifty dollars a ticket, can you attend the church Christmas play for free?

Now it's time to check it twice. Do the same thing you did before, except be ruthless! Cut and substitute to bring your expenses down to the financial amount that you can actually afford.

A Bargain Christmas

Thought to be inspired by the Swedish Crown of Lights. An Advent wreath is a wreath with five candles. There are four purple candles place evenly around the wreath and one white candle in the middle. You don’t hang this wreath up. It sits on a table.

Families light one purple candle the first Sunday of Advent after devotions. The second Sunday of Advent, they light two candles, the third three, and the fourth all four purple candles. Advent wreaths are used in many churches, including Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, and Roman Catholic churches also. Families usually do the devotions and lighting before dinner and let the candle burn during the meal.

Each candle is symbolic. The first candle represents hope. You can sing O Holy Night.

Jesus, You are our Hope! Please guide us and protect us in trials and difficulties. Our hope is in You! Amen.

The second candle represents peace. The second week both candles are lit and prayers of hope and peace are prayed. You can sing Silent Night.

Jesus, You are our peace. We are right with a Holy God and we have peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ because of what you have done. Please bring your peace to our hearts, homes, churches, and the world. Amen.

"Look at this baby book!" I grabbed Laura's arm and pulled her over to the table with the baby book on display.

Laura, who was gazing at science curriculum, reluctantly allowed herself to be dragged away. We were at the FPEA Homeschool Convention in May, 2008 at the vendors' hall.

"Look! It's a baby book for Jesus! Is that not the cutest thing in the whole world?" I cooed, picking it up and flipping through the pages. "Look, it says "Before Jesus was born, he was creating the world!" and this page says, "Here are the gifts baby received..." And, here is a page about His parents, God and Mary."

By now, Laura was interested. We scanned through the book several times, and, of course, I had to buy the unit study.

Celebrate the Savior by Charlene Notgrass is a Bible Study with history and crafts. There are craft projects and creative writing assignments. The children make two booklets: a Baby Book for Jesus and a Christmas Traditions around the World booklet. With fifteen lessons on the birth and life of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, this book is a great way to teach your children about Christmas!


Celebrate the Savior is a unit study that begins with a closer look at the birth of Christ Jesus our Savior revealed in Scripture and progresses into a look at the history of Christmas celebrating and traditions. Bible, history, geography, writing, music, and art are covered in this unit.

From our home to your home, I want to wish all my dear friends and family a very Merry Christmas!

_"Kiss the Son lest He be angry," it says in Psalm 2. If you step back and look around at the world, no one seems very concerned with getting right with the Son, born in Bethlehem. People mock Him, take their stand against Jesus. He certainly arouses anger. He cannot be mentioned in public gatherings or quoted in school. His authority is mocked and ridiculed.

And yet, Jesus still has all authority in Heaven and earth. Though the nations rage, one day they will give an account to the One who laid aside His glory and in humility, came to this dry, dusty planet to bring life to a people who were dying.

Next week is Christmas! There is so much left to do. By now, homeschooling is finished until after New Years Day except for that child that is "catching up" on math or some other subject because they are so behind! But is school ever over? What things does God have to teach us and our precious children this holiday season.

Gather around, dear friends, and let me share some Christmas lessons. 

There's not always time to do everything we want to do!

So many Christmas dreams beat in our heart! If you are like me, you want to be the "perfect mom" doing all the perfect Christmas things and making our family enjoy the best of everything Christmas has to offer. There is simply not enough time to do it all.  As God to show you what beats in HIS heart and to order your schedule. No one will be heartbroken if you do not make Aunt Edna's Cole Slaw on Christmas Eve, but maybe the homemade eggnog is just too yummy to not make. Try simplifying recipes and traditions so that preparation time is shorter and family togetherness time is longer.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:3).

God often supersedes our plans for better plans!

We made our plans, tie them snugly to our heart, and put our whole heart into bringing them to pass. When inconveniences or surprises happen, they catch us off-guard, making us hurt or angry. But, God is on the throne of your life! Only what He allows to happen, happens. Even if it is an attack of the enemy, it has to get through God's protective hands, so relax when your plans change. I hate this as much (maybe more!) than you! But I know in my heart of hearts that when God disrupts my plans, He is often testing my heart. Will I respond with a submissive, obedient heart or will I fail the test. Make plans, work to bring them to pass, but, ultimately, leave the results to God. He is good at running your life!

Christmas is all about worship!

When you think about the Christmas story, it always brings us to the act of worship. The Shepherds came to see the baby Jesus because worshiping angels announced His birth! The Wise Men followed the star to bring gifts to the baby Jesus (worship!). When Mary was informed by the angel that she would give birth to the Messiah, she worshiped, writing a lovely song that songwriters for centuries have adapted in one way or another. When Elizabeth saw Mary (with Jesus in her womb!), the baby in her own womb (John the Baptist) lept for joy (worship)!  Anna and Simeon waited at the temple to see the baby and when they did, the worshiped God. Every part of the Christmas story leads to worship!

Christmas is the season to worship at church!