Our Would-Be Christmas Card Picture

So, you didn't get your Christmas card from us in the mail this year?! I just couldn't get it together enough this year... or last year...to make this happen. Things were rolling along so smoothly early on this season. We're going to have to make some changes next Christmas in order for us to really enjoy this "most wonderful time of the year."

The picture above, by the way, would be our reality: Jackson pulling Rivers hair. Below would be the idyllic, sweet picture that you would have received in the mail!

Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve just as much as Christmas Day and have as long as I can remember! We usually go to the service at First Presbyterian with my family, eat a wonderful homemade supper, and open family gifts under the tree. This year, we had a bit of a detour. I ended up getting a migraine headache (the third one in a week!) that afternoon and Jackson fell and bit through his lower lip leaving a beautiful blood trail in our master bedroom. This was not the Christmas Eve that I had dreamed of! Thankfully, my headache was gone in time for supper, and we enjoyed a wonderful night with my family eating pork tenderloin, drinking Wassail, and sharing gifts with each other.
My favorite gift that the children were given was the children's Bible that I grew up with, the Read-N-Grow Picture Bible. I had asked if Mom would get this for the kids because I loved it when I was young. It has 12 pictures per Bible story, which kept me riveted as a child. We have really enjoyed reading it with Rivers. Thank you Mimi and Pop-Pop!

Advent

In Bible study a few weeks ago, our group shared Christmas traditions that we grew up with that we want to pass on to our children. Advent was always a very special part of the Christmas season for my family growing up. Each night at supper, we would read a story from the book The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Meador Lambert. There is a symbol for each night of Advent along with a brief story. As we grew older, my brother, Eric, and I would try to remember all of the symbols in order and recite them each night. Who says a little friendly competition can't be Christ-like?

We will also begin lighting our Advent wreath. In both the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, they light Advent wreaths and read scripture each Sunday during the month of December. My family read our Advent story and then lit our wreath each night leading up to Christmas (week 1: purple candle, week 2: add another purple candle, week 3: add pink candle, week 4: add final purple candle.) Daniel and I will be starting these traditions with Rivers and Jackson this Christmas to help us focus the Christmas season towards Christ, the true meaning of Christmas, each and every day. I hope that you will consider making this tradition a special part of Christmas with your children this year!

*After looking at all of the major book buying sites and visiting a few bookstores, it was going to take too long to get the book in to the stores or mailed. I then called the bookstore at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (across from the capitol) to have them order it, and it will be in this Wednesday...just one day late! The church number there is 771-7300.

*I found this Advent wreath at Family Christian Store. It came with the 4 Advent candles included and was about $37. You can then buy replacement candles separately in years to come.

FROSTY

Saturday, Rivers and I attended the Columbia Children's Theater rendition of the play Frosty with some friends of ours. It was so much fun! The actors did a wonderful job of getting the children involved by asking them, "What makes Frosty's hat so special?" (making a wish on it, of course!). Rivers' eyes were glued to the stage for the hour-and-fifteen minute performance. We even had the chance to sing "Frosty the Snowman" with everyone.
"Samantha" did a wonderful job! This was Rivers' first "autograph" following the performance, so she was a little unsure of herself. This guy played several parts in the show, my favorite being "Mrs. Vanderschnitzel...haagendaasendorf!" I can't remember the whole name, but it was hilarious!

If you would like to attend a performance of Frosty, it will be playing again this weekend, December 4th, 5th, and 6th. Visit their website at columbiachildrenstheatre.com or call 691-4548. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door. Columbia Children's Theater is located on the second floor of Midtown at Forest Acres (Richland Mall) above S&S Cafeteria. Enjoy!