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Dec 06

HOW TO HAVE A CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS

Dec 06

If you're looking to focus more on the Savior this Christmas, then this post is for you!
Merry Christmas! I get so filled with excitement and happiness around this time of year.  For our family, the reason its such a joy-inducing season is not just because we have the chance to spend a lot of time together, but because we’re focused on HIM. Our kids are now 12, 11 and 8, but when they were toddler age we realized that we really wanted to place less emphasis on Santa and have a more Christ-centered Christmas.

Santa is fun and we enjoy that tradition. We still put out cookies and milk for Santa. He still brings a special gift for each of our children and fills their stockings. However, Christ was the first gift we were ever given and the one we should be the most excited about. Together, Mr. Maven and I brainstormed ways we could help our kids (and us) spend more time thinking about the gifts that Jesus Christ has given us and how we can share those gifts with others.

White Stocking

Here are some easy ideas for how to have a Christ-centered Christmas this year.This particular tradition began a few years after we decided to have a more Christ-centered Christmas, but it starts the earliest in the season, so I’m listing it first. A friend gave me a little white felt stocking to hang on the tree for Jesus. We decided to use that stocking for more than just decoration. Instead, each year on December 1st begins our month of giving. Strips of paper and pens sit under our Christmas tree. Each time one of us does something kind as the Savior would, we anonymously write it down on a strip of paper, fold it up and put it in the stocking. Our goal is to fill the stocking with good deeds by December 24th. On Christmas day, we read all of the ways we showed Christ-like love and kindness that month. It’s a continual reminder of who we are as God’s children and the kindness and love shown to us by God and his Son.

Sibling Gift Exchange

How to Have a Christ-Centered ChristmasFor children, Christmas is often all about presents and what gifts they’ll be receiving. We really wanted our kids to understand that Christmas is about giving and not getting. So each December, we take our kids to a local thrift store and let them pick out a gift for their siblings. At first, we were paying for the gifts, but now they use their allowance to choose something small, but meaningful for their brother or sister. They look forward to sneaking through the store, trying to make sure the others don’t see what they’re choosing. Often, they choose things like games, puzzles, books or yarn. Then on Christmas morning, Mr. Maven has them give the gifts they’ve chosen to their siblings first before they open their own gifts, so they can experience the joy that comes from giving. This is my favorite! Is it sappy that I’m getting teary just thinking about this moment?

Act Out the Nativity

Easy ideas for having a Christ-centered ChristmasNow, I realize this isn’t something unique to us. I know a lot of Christian families do this. It’s always kind of hectic getting all of the “costumes” together after our special Christmas Eve dinner (more about this in a future post). I put costumes in quotes because they consist of bathrobes and sheets and whatever usually the dog is the donkey 😉 So, we read the christmas story as found in Luke 2 and act out the birth of the Savior…and have a few laughs along the way.

Watch the Nativity

Here are some easy ideas for how to have a Christ-centered Christmas this year.Before we open any gifts at all or read the good deeds from the white stocking, we set the mood for the day. Our church put out a short video years ago called The Nativity which re-enacts the journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Savior. We gather around and watch this video. The first time we did this, all of our children (including our dog) sat and watched intently and reverently as the joyful event unfolded on the screen. If you want the spirit of God to be in your home on Christmas morning, watch this seven and a half minute video. After the video, we’re lead to the next item on the list.

Opening the Gift

We have a Little People Nativity set that we bought years ago and though my kids are getting older, they still insist we put it out every year. I wrap up the baby Jesus from this set and place Him in the tree. After watching The Nativity on Christmas morning, we open the baby Jesus and put Him in the manger. A simple, but effective reminder that He was the first and most important gift.

Birthday Cake for Jesus

Looking for ways to focus more on the Savior this Christmas? Look no further. This post has simple ways to accomplish this very thing.

After a nice Christmas dinner, the kids help me make a birthday cake for the Savior. We usually don’t have time to make it fancy, but it’s always yummy. We serve it as a regular birthday cake, complete with candles and the “Happy Birthday” song. The kids blow out the candles together and then enjoy tasting their treat.

These simple little additions to our Christmas season have helped us to grow closer together as a family and build our faith. They help remind us that the colorful, wrapped packages, plates of goodies and decorations are lovely and fun, but what matters most is finding peace and happiness through celebrating His birth and living like Him.

My hope for you is that you can feel that peace and joy this Christmas season and enjoy every wonderful, memory-making moment with your family.

How to Have a Christ-centered Christmas

Is there something special that you do to focus on the Savior at this time of year? Please share! I’d love to hear about it.

(*Note: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little kickback if you buy something through that link. No cost to you, but it does help me to be able to continue creating awesome posts)

Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Faith, Holiday Traditions Tagged: christmas, family, Jesus

Sep 16

4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY MEMORABLE

Sep 16

Looking for ways to make your child's birthday special? Check out these 4 easy ways.

Years ago, my husband and I decided that we wanted to change how we were celebrating birthdays and Christmas in our home. Birthdays were always fun; with a party and one or two presents from Mom and Dad, but never anything big. We tended to buy the “bigger” gifts for Christmas.

Christmas had become all about, “How many presents are under the tree for me?” and less about the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

After some thought, we decided to make a switch. Big birthdays to celebrate our kids! A day just about them, to let them know how grateful we are that they are a part of our family. Christmas would be small; just one meaningful gift from us to them.

So, how did we do this? We created some fun traditions that our kids look forward to each year.

Breakfast in Bed

Birthday Traditions

Usually the week before their birthday, I find out what they’d like for breakfast. Frequently, the request is for crepes with whipped cream and berries (probably because I forget to make them the rest of the year!). But we’ve also had breakfast burritos, puffy oven pancakes with buttermilk syrup and pop tarts. I get up early and my other two children help me make and assemble breakfast on a tray, which we take to the birthday child for breakfast in bed. We serenade them with “Happy Birthday” as we enter, in our most terrible beautiful singing voices. The rest of us, sit on the floor and join the birthday child in eating their yummy breakfast of choice!

Presents after breakfast

Birthday Traditions

After the yummy breakfast, we bring in the gifts. Usually, there are about four gifts. I don’t necessarily plan to buy four gifts, it just ends up that way. I think it’s fun to open a bunch of presents and be spoiled once a year. It doesn’t always matter what’s inside. Sometimes it’s just about the opening! We try and get them things off of their amazon wish list that they keep throughout the year. I also keep a running list of gift ideas for each child in my phone. As they mention something they really want, I jot it down.

Themed Parties

Themed Birthday Party

We have a rule that determines the number of party guests that can be invited. If they’re turning seven, they can invite seven kids for example. However, we cap the guest list at eight children. With my three kids and eight others, that’s more than enough for this only child (me!) to handle! I love doing a themed party with decorations, cupcakes and games. The kids really enjoy it and the games and activities keep everyone occupied. I won’t lie-this is a bit of work. It takes some planning and lots of pinterest surfing (that’s the fun part), but in the end, it’s all worth it. In the past, I’ve done a puppy party, spy party, halloween-themed party, garden party, spa party and more.

Pick Your Dinner and Cake

Burger and Fries

In addition to choosing what they have for breakfast, I let the kids pick the menu for dinner. Yes, they’re getting spoiled, but it’s only one day a year. Usually, their request is something like mac n cheese, hot dogs or burritos. Easy peasy! The odd time they want to go out for dinner, but it’s typically a request for Denny’s or Sonic, which are pretty cheap. The best part is that if we go out, I don’t have to clean up!

Then comes dessert! My favorite =) I prefer to make cupcakes, but sometimes they really want cake. This past year, K wanted a key lime cheesecake. I found a copycat cheesecake factory recipe that was to die for!

Take Lots of Photos

Birthday Traditions

I know, this is a given. Sometimes though, in the midst of all the celebrating, it’s easy to forget to take pictures of the amazing day you’ve created. Not only is it great to have photos to send to relatives or get inspired for future events, but your kids will love looking back on the fun birthday memories they’ve formed from year to year.

These are just a few simple birthday traditions to your make your child’s special day one to remember, and make them feel like a king or queen for the day. I don’t know about you, but that’s all I want on my birthday! Good food, some gifts to open and relaxing time with my family. A perfect day in my book. Well, as long as chocolate is involved in there somewhere.

What does your family do to make birthdays memorable? Do you have some of the same traditions?
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Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Gifts, Parenting Tagged: birthdays, kids, traditions

I’m Lauren, the wife, mother of three and homemaker behind One Haven Maven. I love dark chocolate, old movies and all things pretty! Stick around for a while and enjoy mouth-watering recipes, ideas to help you strengthen your family and discover some easy ways to make your house a home.
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Day in the Life Vlog: Laundry+Cleaning+Cupcakes

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