Tonight was Christmas Light Night. Ryan was stuck working late at the hospital so after taking dinner to him and having a "picnic in Daddy's office" as Camden put it, me and the kiddos rode around for a while on our way back home and looked at some Christmas lights. Camden oooooed and ahhhhhed as we passed each house with so much as a porch light on and Alison slept through the whole thing.
Perhaps we'll do Prairie Lights (kinda like Tanglewood for my NC peeps) one evening when Ryan's home. We'll save that for another one of our 25 day events. Because if I learned anything from Christmas Vacation, you can never have too many Christmas lights...
Aunt Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?
Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.
At first I thought we hadn't really done anything to write about for our 25 days of Christmas and that if I took something we did at church and used that as my event for today I was "cheating" - but isn't what we did at church this morning what Christmas is really all about?
Camden came home with the cutest picture of a nativity scene that he'd assembled (obviously all by himself...which is his preferred method for doing anything these days) and we were able to talk about Baby Jesus and the other people in the picture.
I think at some point we may discuss why the sheep, the palm tree and one of the Wise Men are floating in the sky, but for now, we'll just be happy that Jesus is actually in the stable...and that his mommy and daddy are close by...that's the way it would have been in real life. :o)
We sang carols as part of the service this morning. Camden has been going with us to "big church" (only for the singing) for several weeks now. He'd been doing really great until this morning - today I rejoined the choir after a 3 month sabbatical to take the "Disciplines of a Godly Family" course that conflicted with choir practice. Now that I am back in the choir loft, he wants to join me there so Ryan had to make a quick exit with him just before the prayer...we'll try that again later...
So, it's not cheating...today was very much about Christmas...and I love Christmas at our church. I love the decorations in the foyer and in the sanctuary, I love the "in memory/in honor" poinsettias, I love the fact that almost every woman over the age of 50 is wearing a Christmas/Winter themed sweater (or at least it's red), I love that we can mix a sing along of good old fashioned Christmas carols with an amazing orchestral call to worship complete with our electric guitarist rockin' out on Carol of the Bells. Mostly I love that our church is passionate about exalting Christ and making His name known - not just during Christmas, but every day of the year...and that's what it's really all about.
Oh how I LOVE Christmas shopping. Seriously...I love the crowds, the craziness, and the exhaustion that comes from a day full of successful finds for those on my list.
Most anyone can tell you that my Love Language is quality time. I know they say you're "bilingual" - but I'm fairly certain my second love language is also quality time. I do think that if I had to choose a third, giving gifts would be next. I am not a "stuff" person and I need something else to find a place to put and then dust around like I need a hole in my head. If I am on the receiving end, my favorite gifts are things to do later...tickets to a concert, a restaurant gift certificate (and free childcare) so that I can enjoy a date night with my hubby, etc. Like I said, "quality time".
When it does come to actual physical gifts, you can ask Ryan about my only rule - Christmas (and birthdays for that matter) are for gifts that you do not need and would not otherwise purchase. Do not give a vacuum cleaner for Christmas...unless it's the Dyson pet vacuum. Do not give me a coffee maker...unless it can make me a double shot latte and clean itself when it's done. The items at the top of my list are things that reduce clutter - a Nook to rid myself of books filling up every shelf in my house, Tupperware so I can organize and store things neatly, etc...
But even then, I'd rather give gifts than get them. I love the hunt to find just that perfect thing for the person on my list and then I love to watch their reaction when they open it.
I am trying this year to instill that love of giving in Camden. Before he could make out his list of what he wants to get for Christmas, he had to tell me what he wanted to give for Christmas. We thought of things for Daddy, Alison, Oma, Papa and Granna. We talked about what he might like to give Jay, Luke and Rebecca - the ever growing list of cousins. We added on a few more ideas for a few of his very close (get together multiple times a week to play together) friends and his teachers at school/church. By the time we finished talking about it, he was pretty excited about what we'd thought of together...of course now he's probably going to tell each of these people what they're getting the next time he sees them, but still, he spent some time thinking about giving to others before he thought about all the things he "thinks he needs" for himself. He's even picking out a toy each day (or so) to give to Goodwill in time for them to find a good home with another little boy for Christmas.
But most of all, I have been trying to explain what all of this gift giving is about - that we're celebrating Jesus' birthday! I hope that he will eventually understand that Jesus is the best gift of all!!!
As for Day #4's activity - it was all about the shopping. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. today Ryan and I got all but 3 of the gifts we need for Christmas - my family, his family, friends, teachers, and even pets. Camden and Alison didn't get to go with us - but they were having much more fun at Mrs. Georgia's house. My dear, sweet friend gave me the gift of "quality time" today by keeping the kids all day so that we could focus on our shopping, enjoy a rare lunch date together and make much better time than if we'd been schlepping two kids in and out at every stop. I am grateful that she has opened her home and her heart to be Camden's "Texas Grandma" - and he couldn't love her more if she was his actual Grandma!
So naughty or nice, the gifts are bought...now, if I can just start to love the wrapping, packing and shipping as much as I love the shopping!!!
Today was kinda low-key...we baked Christmas cookies this afternoon.
Tonight Ryan and I have our Sunday Bible Fellowship party and there is childcare available (at no charge I might add) at the church. It is sooooo nice to be able to leave the kids in a familiar place with teachers who will love on them and care for them while we enjoy a night out with friends...and conversations void of any phrases like, "I am going to give you until the count of three to make a good decision" or "if you do that again we will have to go to the bathroom and have a talk about it" - although I guess part of that also depends on how Ryan behaves this evening.
We decided to show a little appreciation for those that will be serving us tonight in the children's department by baking them some cookies.
Camden loves to "help" me in the kitchen - everything from mixing and pouring to washing dishes - he loves it all. Mostly he just wants to be under my feet while I'm cooking and I've decided letting him help is easier than convincing him to play in another room by himself. Usually he makes more of a mess than is really necessary for the task he's trying to accomplish - we've lost many an egg to "more shell than I want to try to dig out" when I let him crack them - but practice makes perfect and he's loving every minute of it. Hopefully this will still be the case as he grows up and does get to the point where he can do these tasks a little more independently. As for now, I'll just tie his apron on and enjoy the fact that he simply longs to be where I am - even if that is just working in the kitchen.
Today Camden and I shopped for the family our Sunday Bible Fellowship (a.k.a. Sunday School class for all my homies back at the PHBC!) has adopted this year. It's kinda like an angel tree, except we adopt them for the entire upcoming year - inviting them to church events and social events our SBF plans, giving gifts to the mom on Mother's Day, remember the kid's birthdays, etc... it's more about being in a relationship with them and showing them the love of Christ on a "long term" basis...rather than just "playing Santa" for a brief moment of time.
Our family has a 1 year old girl in it so we enjoyed picking out a few toys that light up and make sound...along with some necessities like socks, shoes and warm clothes...and extra batteries for said toys.
I really enjoyed watching him "figure it all out" today as we were shopping. First, he just wanted to pick out excavators and trains but as I explained to him (and it took several attempts) what it was that we were doing and that we were going to think of others before we think of ourselves, it was almost like I could see the light bulb finally go off in his head. By the time we left, I think he'd suggested every pink item in the toy section and was thoroughly enjoying deciding which sweatshirt/sweatpant sets to buy...btw, he decided on the pink ones and the teal ones because they had sparkley letters on them which made them the "mostest coolest".
I hope this is the beginning of a pattern of behavior where he continues to put others first. It's something that I still forget to do myself so I know he's not always going to get it right the first try...but at least we're making a start.
This year we are doing a specific Christmas activity each day during the month of December leading up to Christmas Day. Some of the things we have planned are "serious" in nature (donating toys and food to local charities), some are delicious (making and decorating Christmas cookies) and some are just downright silly...like today's.
Today I had intended for us to make a Christmas chain out of red, green and white paper with our 25 different activities listed - one on each link in the chain. To help my very visual learner countdown to Christmas, we'd just tear off one link each day and do that activity...watching the chain get shorter and shorter everyday.
So this afternoon I gathered our supplies and started cutting the paper into strips and for some odd reason, this greatly upset my child. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I've told him that scissors can hurt him and he thought I was hurting the paper or what?...but he was not happy with me for cutting it.
So, revamping today's activity, we just took the white paper, crumpled it up, and had ourselves a big indoor snowball fight. Even that took a little bit of convincing b/c he wasn't sure throwing something, especially indoors and at someone, was permissible...but I think when I popped him in the forehead with one and then laughed hysterically at his reaction, he started to understand that this was (what he calls anything fun and out of the norm) a "special privilege" he jumped right in - and I must say, that kid's got an arm!
Even Alison got in on the action...not so much with throwing, but if one of the snowballs landed within her reach she would grab it and chew on it.
Of course there's no video or pictures b/c I can't very well defend myself and snap pictures at the same time, but hopefully this will be a recurring event all winter and we'll get some documentation when Daddy's home to participate.
Meanwhile, I've got to get some paper strips cut while he's asleep or we'll never get this paper chain made!
One of the "lessons" I'm currently trying to teach Camden is that we can pray to God anytime that we want. This was a fact that I was very much aware of throughout my childhood...but didn't really put into practice. I made sure to pray at dinner and before bed and here and there as the situation called for it, but it's only been in the last few years that I've really gotten to the point that I just "talk" to God whenever and wherever I feel like it.
I also try to spend a little time each day in God's word and in conversation with Him...but as the laundry piles up, the teething poops get more frequent, and the dog hair accumulates, I have learned that sometimes it's not only "easier" but "better" for me if I simply continue to converse with the One who gets me through all of that each day instead of adding another "task" to my to-do list. It may not be the "ideal quiet time" that I was taught to do in my youth group days, but honestly, some of my best conversations with God have occurred over a sink full of dirty dishes.
So as I am trying to model and prompt this behavior for Camden I try to take advantage of situations that his comments present. For example, there are times when Camden will comment on how much fun it is to play outside and I'll ask him to take a moment and thank God for our nice weather. Or he will make a statement about Daddy being at work and I'll suggest that we thank God for daddy's job and for the things that we are able to have because Daddy works so hard to provide for us.
Recently at a playdate with a friend of mine (who shares this goal of "anytime" prayer with me) and her two daughters, we heard a siren in the distance and her 4 year old suggested that we pray for the people that were in need of a firetruck or an ambulance and for the workers that would be helping them. I know, she's ridiculously adorable...and spot on with how prayer should just be a normal, regular part of our day.
Fast-forward to yesterday morning - we were getting in the car to head out for the day and we hear a siren in the distance. Camden says, "Mommy, we should pray for the firemen like yesterday." Great! He's learning the lesson of talking to God anytime we want! We're getting there!!! So I ask, "Would you like to pray or do you want me to do it?" He volunteers to say it and after a few moments of silence I hear him say, "Thank you God for our good food! Amen!"
Hmmmmm...off to a good start but we'll keep working on it. :o)
