Resources for Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas

Christmas. What a wonderful time of year to focus on our Savior!  It gets harder in this society to stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas.  This is a collection of resources that we use to make Christmas more meaningful.  I hope they will be helpful to your family.

Resources for Christmas:

The ADVENTure of Christmas: Finding Jesus in our Holiday Traditions

This book is packed with ideas of keeping Christ as the center of Christmas.  My boys enjoy the idea of each morning counting down to Christmas by getting a "Kiss". I wrap up 25 Hershey Kisses in a strip of cellophane and tie a ribbon between each one. They untie a ribbon each morning and get their "kiss" and then find me for a real kiss.

Advent Jesse Tree

Free Advent Jesse Tree Book- We started using this a few years ago to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Use a branch, small tree, or anything you can hang paper or real ornaments on. You will love this guide with printable ornaments from A Holy Experience. It is a wonderful addition to Christmas.

Free Advent Jesse Tree Book for younger children.  I just found this today and I love it.  It is a great resource!

Advent Wreath- We enjoy the tradition of the weekly devotional and gathering on Sunday evenings to light the candles. You can make your own or purchase an advent wreath. I just found the Cradle to the Cross at A Holy Experience. This one is used from Advent to Easter. Ann's son makes them and 100% of the cost is donated to Compassion. Our favorite book to use for devotionals is A Family Advent: Keeping the Savior in the Season. 

Advent Stories-. We started this series last year and love it!  These three Advent devotionals will take you and your family from Advent to Christmas with day-by-day readings and advice for making Christmas a meaningful season of worship. Read one book each Advent. Includes Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels. (Recommended for older children).

What Jesus Wants For Christmas is an interactive nativity that uses seven presents and a storybook to focus on Jesus.

We enjoy reading through The Legends of...
...The Candy Cane
...The Christmas Stocking
...The Christmas Tree
...St. Nicholas: A Story of Giving

I wrap 25 Christmas books and the boys unwrap one each day.  They never tire of the same books year after year and we add more to our collection. 

I hope these resources will help you as you offer Birthday Gifts of Jesus this year!
What resources do you use to keep Christ in Christmas?

Blessings!

Mary

Mary writes at www.theencouraginghome.com about her crazy but wonderful life on the farm with her husband and two homeschooled sons. She blogs about God’s goodness, homemaking, homeschooling, healthy living the natural way and life on the farm.