Reinventing Christmas Progress Report

Okay, so I am FINALLY getting around to posting my report!  (Sorry for the unintended blog-break!) We’ve been super busy, and we’ve still got a lot going on, so I will try to be brief.

I’ve already told you about our Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes, here.  So I’ll move on…

Last weekend the Revolution Kidz participated in a Cookie Swap and a Birthday Party for Jesus.  One of our friends and fellow Revolutioneers organized the whole she-bang and even hosted everything at her house. (Thanks SO MUCH, Dawn!!)  Each family brought a couple dozen fresh-baked cookies over on Saturday, and we boxed them in beautiful boxes, while the kids decorated cards to go with each box. Then we loaded up in  THREE VANS and took them out to friends and family who are “shut-in” during the holidays.  When we delivered the goodies, we also showered them with Christmas Carols.  You should have seen those eyes light up!! …both theirs and ours!  Then on Sunday, we all gathered together for a wonderful meal of BBQ Chicken and delicious sides, and had an awesome time of fellowship as a church family.  After dinner, we gathered around the Nativity Scene in the front yard, and the kids had a neat little interactive devotional about what Jesus wants for his birthday.  I bet you can guess… that’s right!! YOU AND ME!!  Then we placed the candles on His birthday cake, and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.  It was so special, and really helped us to remember the REASON for this season!

Today we are going to take a toy inventory.  I found an article in my Family Fun magazine last month that suggested a fun way to get your children to donate older, well-conditioned toys that they no longer play with, to charity. It’s a concept inspired by a Native American tradition known as a “potlatch ceremony” in which the clan leaders would “gather the villagers together for a feast… and give away as many treasures as possible.”  Considering our Christmas Around the World theme this year, I thought this would fit in quite nicely.  So as soon as I finish this post, I will give each child a “treasure bag” to fill with loot from the playroom.  Tomorrow we will box them up and take them to the House of Hope. (Thought it would be a neat way to encourage them to clean up/out some of their stuff…I’ll let you know how it goes!) ;-)

Speaking of our Christmas Around The World Family Night theme, I thought I would post a PDF of all the plans/activities we’ve done each week.  (We’re a bit behind schedule, so to make up for lost time, we will be going to France tonight, and Africa on Monday!)  You are more than welcome to adapt these to your liking by taking out or adding activities according to your family’s preferences.  (Not every family is made up of “movie buffs” like ours, so you may want to delete that option completely!) HERE YOU GO !! Consider this my Christmas Gift to you, whether you already have an established family night, are just getting started, or haven’t yet begun, this should help you with some ideas.  You could always save it til next Christmas, and already have the month of December planned out!  Talk about your de-stresser! ;-)

Well, there it is.  To borrow a phrase from Fox News, “We report. You decide”.  How are you deciding to reinvent Christmas this year?  Leave a comment…I’d love to hear it!!