I was SO ready for Christmas this year. We decorated our house and put our tree up the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving. As that is usually our tradition. (or at least that is what we WANT our tradition to be...there's been a few years we did not do that due to new babies or pregnacies or moving). But around here we like to start the Christmas season ASAP! This was my first year homeschooling during the Christmas season (we didn't start Homeschooling until Feb. 2010). A few months back I had all these ideas about things we could do for Christmas and incorporate it into our curriculum. But now Christmas is here...and we haven't done a THING in school that was Christmas related. I'm disappointed in myself...but I am taking it as a learning situation. I've learned that we probably need to plan on the month of December being more of a "fun" month rather than a strict "learning" month. I need to remember that even though my kids aren't "hitting" the books they are STILL learning. Learning A LOT actually. It's so hard to get that in my head sometimes. That it's not about the amount of workbook pages my kids get done. It's about how much they are taking in and learning thru every day life. So my plan for December 2011 is to focus on Christmas and do activities only related to Christmas. So that is my homeschool tidbit.
Let's see. My house is now filled with Christmas candy (which is a tradition that i started doing with my kids last year and it's something I did my whole life growing up)...well, chocolate covered pretzels and peanut butter balls. In a few years, as the kids get more helpful I'd like to add more types of candy. Mya, Mason & I spent all afternoon making them. They had a blast. I was impressed at how well Mya did. She is such a perfectionist...and made sure each one was made PERFECTLY! I love that about her! We still have our gingerbread houses to make. We are waiting on big brother Jordan to return home. He is out in Eastern TN with his Daddy until tomorrow afternoon.
My Christmas shopping is just about completed. I just have 2 more gifts to get and know what I'm getting so tomorrow afternoon I'll run and get those.
This time of year always makes me miss my family up in Wisconsin. I miss being with them and have always enjoyed my Christmas' in the past celebrating with them. As I grew up and got married and moved away from home though, I have not been able to celebrate with them due to different circumstances each year. I'm celebrating with them in my heart. I couldn't imagine not spending Christmas morning with my own family in our own home (that grew from 3 of us to now 6 of us!) This is the season of life I am in right now. This year I had all my family's presents ready to be mailed...with plans of mailing them out on Tuesday morning. WELL, due to vehicle issues and Ryan needing to be out of town (with our only running vehicle) I am stuck at home with no means to go and mail out the packages. I'm sad about that. I wanted them to get their presents on Christmas. I also have half of my Christmas cards sitting here waiting on stamps. :( Those too will be late. (so any of you reading this that thought you would get one from me...hang tight..it will get to you eventually!)
Now onto the REAL meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus. What an awesome thing we celebrate. Because of HIM we have this wonderful holiday to celebrate. We can not lose our focus of the TRUE MEANING of Christmas. I love singing Christmas songs to my children when they are going to sleep. It's such a peaceful, quiet moment. When I sing to them at bedtime, I only sing songs that tell the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Here is one of my all time favorite Christmas Hymns.
Oh Holy Night
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Merry Christmas from My family to Yours. (here's a picture of our Christmas cards)
