Christmas in July: Christ is Born

I saved the best post for last in this Christmas in July series. The post that honors the reason we even have Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. That seems to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. It seems to be something to be embarrassed about in some circles. Is it the truth. Christ was born, and although He probably wasn't born exactly on December 25th, that is the day that we observe as His birthday.

Anybody that has seen "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is familiar with the scene where Linus explains the meaning of Christmas. It touches me every time I see it, even though it's been decades since I first saw the special on TV when I was a kid. In third grad I memorized Luke 2 in Sunday School. It has always stayed with me (King James Version). I can repeat it today almost as good as I could back then.

So for my final Christmas in July post, I want to leave you with those words from Luke 2. I am using the NET version for this post. Thank you for sharing Christmas in July with me. I'm amazed that I managed to post each of the 31 days in July. It was fun, and I hope you enjoyed it too. Now as we move through the final 147 days until Christmas, I hope you will find time to reflect on Christ's birth, the reason we celebrate.

Luke 2 (NET)
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the tine came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people; Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us." So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.

Christmas in July: Vintage

I love vintage images. I have several boards on my Pinterest account for vintage images, each one more beautiful than the next (in my opinion). I'm not picky about them being authentic vintage. I just like the look even if they're brand new! I couldn't let Christmas in July end without sharing some of my favorite Vintage Christmas images with you:

Christmas in July: Pinterest Party

Yesterday I hosted a Christmas in July Pinterest Party. It was such fun. Both of my daughters and my nephew's girlfriend attended, plus we included Janel over Skype. Everyone worked on a craft they had seen on Pinterest. We had so much fun we already scheduled the next one for November 2nd!

My craft

(but really Jessica made it for me!)

Katie's craft

Katie's craft

Jessica's craft

Shelby's craft 

Shelby graciously let Sunny "help" her! 

Shelby, me, Katie, Jessica

Christmas in July: Organize

I have written many posts about having an organized, stress-free holiday season. It is the best gift you can give yourself year after year. In the 90s I worked for a church that hosted a huge Christmas event each year. I was the administrative assistant for the producer of the event. I learned real fast that I needed to have my Christmas tasks completed by Thanksgiving so that I could work that event without being completely stressed out, as well as squeeze in some Christmas fun.

That was the beginning of my organization plan for the holidays. In the 20+ years since then I have perfected the plan. It is quite simple and it works for me. It is easily adaptable to any lifestyle: big family, small family, everyone together family, everyone spread miles apart family. It works. I will share an overview with you in this post. But remember, this is what works for me. You can tweak it any way you want to make it work for you!

1. In May I ask my kids/family for Christmas wish lists.
2. I make my gift-giving chart and set my budget.

This is my chart. I have a column for each person I'm giving gifts to.

The yellow spaces at the bottom are for stocking stuffers.

3. I begin shopping from the lists. As I buy a gift, I enter it on the chart along with the cost. This way I keep track of the budget on the same sheet.

4. I wrap each gift as soon as I get it home. Yes, I really do this. It is critical to keeping the holiday stress-free. I place a gift tag on the gift, but do not finish it with bows/ribbons, that comes later. I highlight the gift on the chart to show that it has been wrapped.

5. I store the gifts in see through tubs in a closet or wherever I have room to do so. The house we are in is very small, so this is a challenge, but I always manage to find a space for the tubs!

6. In October I start signing and addressing Christmas cards. I leave them unsealed so I can add my annual letter later.

7. I finalize plans for family Christmas celebrations and send an email to everyone so they can adjust their work schedules and in-law family events. NOTE: I always ask my kids what the in-laws are planning and plan around their events. I want to be the flexible Mom, not the rigid Mom.

8. I set up bags for Stocking Stuffers and begin to fill them.

9. In November I write my annual letter and stuff it in the Christmas cards. I stamp the cards, ready to mail them on December 1st.

10. If I'm not having Thanksgiving, I begin to decorate the interior of my house around Nov. 15th. If I am having Thanksgiving, I decorate the day after.

11. Dan plans the exterior lights and begins to hang them.

12. On Thanksgiving night we turn on our exterior lights!

13. On the day after Thanksgiving, I put the ribbons/bows on the gifts and put them under the tree.

14. On the weekend after Thanksgiving I do all of my baking.

15. On December 1st I mail my Christmas cards and then relax and enjoy the Holiday Season!

Christmas in July: Gift Wrap Pt 2

So, you may remember that I wrote about gift wrap ideas here. I had to make a decision about how I'm going to wrap gifts this year since I've started shopping and the gifts are piling up. I decided to wrap in colorful varieties of Christmas wrap, but I'm using black/white photos for the gift labels.

Since my grandkids are two and four years old now, I thought this would be a good way to include them in playing Santa. As long as the gift is not fragile or heavy, they can look at the photo and deliver the gift to the right person. I made various sizes to fit on the packages appropriately. I love the b/w photo because it stands up off of the paper.

I'm looking forward to see what my kids think of this year's gift wrap!

Christmas in July: Advent

I didn't observe Advent as a child. I dimly remembering hearing of it from Catholic friends, but I was never sure what it was. In the Midwest Protestant churches I grew up in, it was never mentioned. When I moved to Arizona I learned what it was. The non-denominational church we attended when the kids were young did observe it in the Sunday School classes. I wanted to start the tradition of Advent in our home, but I just never did.

Since I don't have any first-hand experience with Advent, I started searching on the Internet and came across some neat sites for you to check out.

The first site is Focus on the Family. They have a simple, complete guide to celebrating Advent in your home with your kids: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent.aspx

Another site I came across gave a detailed explanation of the Advent Wreath and Candles. You can find it here.

Do you observe Advent in your hoe? What are the traditions you've established for this celebration?

Christmas in July: Gifts

Let the wrapping begin! This is what I accomplished yesterday...

Christmas in July: Stockings

When I was a young girl I saw the movie "Yours, Mine, and Ours" with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. My favorite scene in the movie is Christmas morning with 20 stockings hung from the fireplace. It's always been my dream to have lots of stockings hanging in my home. And my dream has come true!

My favorite hobby is counted cross stitch. I have stitched stockings for every person in my family. I have stitched two stockings for the people in my immediate family; one for their home and one for my home.

Here are some of the stockings I've stitched:

Stitched 2012 for JD and Janel's kitten

2012 - my house

2007 - their house

2007 - their house

2011 - their house

Stitched by Dan's Mom 90s - our house

Stitched by Dan's Mom 90s - our house

1988 - our house

2000 - our house

2009 - our house

2009 - our house

2008 - our house

1987 - our house

2007 - our house

2012 - our house

2009 - our house

Katie's house

Christmas in July: Traditions

Oh, the traditions of Christmas! They are as varied as the snowflakes that fall from the sky. I love hearing about the customs of other families. The word tradition brings to mind a practice or habit that takes place each year without change. However, as our families grow and expand to accept new members our traditions must grow and expand too. What worked when my kids were toddlers, doesn't work when they're grown with families of their own. I try to keep the meaning of traditions without being so rigid that I can't bend and shape them to the way our family is now.

Since my kids have grown, my newest personal tradition is flexibility. As we've added in-laws and their families to our family, I've chosen to be the flexible mom. I did not want to be the mom who demanded my kids presence on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day without fail. I didn't want to add angst and stress to their lives as they transitioned into the in-law traditions or endeavored to create their own traditions. So I've instituted the "new" tradition of Family Christmas. Family Christmas takes place a week or so before Christmas Day. It's held at my house and involves just my kids' families and my parents. We use this time to open presents and have a casual meal together.

The advantage of Family Christmas is that it frees them up to be available to their in-laws on Christmas Eve/Day. It also frees Dan and I to accept invitations we receive for Christmas Eve/Day or to spend the day on our own. We've had this new tradition for a few years now and it's working nicely.

Stockings: We've enjoyed the tradition of stockings our entire marriage. As each child arrived, I stitched a stocking for them. When we had a fireplace, they hung at the fireplace. When we didn't, we had to be more inventive about where to hang them, but hang them we did! We continue this tradition even though they've all grown and gone to homes of their own. I have their original stockings hanging in my house, and I stitched a set for all of them to hang in their homes. Whoever attends Family Christmas at my house finds a stocking stuffed with small gifts.

Christmas 2008

Christmas Lights: We turn the exterior lights on Thanksgiving Night. It's a tradition that I brought into our family when we were married. Growing up in Kansas City, I enjoyed seeing the Country Club Plaza lights come on Thanksgiving Night, so we took that tradition and made it our own!

Country Club Plaza Lights

our house 2011

Our other traditions include baking the same goodies year after year, sending Christmas cards with an annual Christmas letter, and picking 11 angels from the Angel Tree. We choose an angel to commemorate each member of our little family. And of course we have the tradition of driving around to see all of the really great light displays in our community.

Ok, it's your turn now! Tell me about your Christmas traditions...