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I would love to share with you today a great family tradition we started three years ago that has helped us to keep Jesus at the center of our celebration in a very tangible, practical way every Christmas’s Eve followed by Christmas Day.
I start two weeks ahead to plan different activities, I jot down each of them and keep them inside an envelope in a basket. We keep an eye on the clock and every hour and a half one of us (taking turns), goes to the basket and grabs and activity for all of us to do. Some of the activities are:
* Reading specific Bible verses which I write down beforehand and place in little envelopes. The Gift of the Word is open.
* Singing Hymns. We have the name of several hymns (and the lyrics for them) in the basket. We bring Him worship.
* Reading short Christmas stories. Little kids enjoy this activity a lot; they like to remember the story of Jesus coming as a baby in a manger. We remember, we gaze at the miracle.
* Praying, thanking. You might find a little note in an envelope saying: Lift up your voice in prayer. We come and bow down in prayer; He came to open the Way, He is the Way.
* There will be some poetry to read that I found at Desiring God by John Piper. These poems are a beautiful way to remember, to worship, to ponder. I found this other poem that I will certainly include in the celebration’s basket…White.
*This year I want to include some other things to the basket…
Any suggestions?; What would YOU add?
May you start all your preparations full of anticipation and joy!
May God give you a Christmas full of Him!

Please join us at Like a Bubbling Brook for a Parade of Christmas!
This is a repost from the archives (December 2009)
Celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord! Read other related posts…
Celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord – The Incarnation of our Lord is the heart of Christmas-
Celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord – A story for little souls-
Celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord – A guest post by Elizabeth DeBarros, Gifts We Bring-
Related posts around the corner:
Have you thought about The Mystery of His coming? Please read this, over at Rebecca’s.
What about reading 12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon?
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This post is linked to “Sharing Christmas” @ The Well