Nativity Devotion

Good Monday morning!

The Showcase Pic is of Austin and Josh. I got a quick shot of them before the Sunday clothes came off. Handsome guys.

The Gallery Pics continue telling the story of Black Friday, and I've added some of our Christmas Tree Farm photos as well. Are we completely decorated? Uh, no. Once I get the trees up, I usually work on finishing everything over three or four days. The family is coming over Friday night, so I have to have everything finished by then... or life as we know it will cease to exist!

Monday Mayhem

We had a wonderful long weekend beginning Wednesday with all five of us at home. Thursday was spent with Mike's family and MY great-nephew, Matthew. By the way, Matthew is calling me Aunt Benda (which is fantastic), speaking in complete sentences, knows almost all of his letters by sight (as well as his numbers and colors), is unbelievably pleasant even when he misses his nap, and is beyond precious. He is a sweet, sweet little guy, and it is so much fun having a toddler during the holidays.

He will not be two until January, but he knows all of us by name because... Are you ready for it? HE READS MY BLOG! Actually, his mom, Brandi, shows him our pictures on the blog and he can point us all out, but I'm thinking by this time next year, he'll be reading AND adding comments to my posts. Just a little prediction.

Black Friday at the Wynfrey, as I said earlier, was a huge success, but I will write in detail about that adventure on Wednesday under Seasonal Traditions... because I'm pretty sure that is what it has become for our little group. We learned a few things, and next year we have plans to make it a little better, but everyone is anxious to try it again... especially the younger girls. You know, the ones who look good with little or no sleep. (No offense, Amy and Bev. You both looked marvelous. However, I think people could tell I was sleep deprived. Of course, I look like that after a good ten hours and a nap, but that's just me.)

Saturday was an easy, breezy day. The Christmas Tree Farm was fun, and we found our tree in record time. When we found our tree so soon into the hunt, I was afraid someone would come behind us and take it for their own... so we made Austin stand guard. A few minutes later, we looked up the hill to check on the tree status and were surprised when we found no Austin. But he had marked our tree with a JSU cap, so he gets an A for using his head... or hat... or whatever it took to save our tree.

We had a celebrity sighting, too... Jerry Tracy and his wife were there. I couldn't get Mikie or Roxie to take a pic for me, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

While Austin and Melia watched G.I. Joe, Josh and friends saw Old Dogs, Roxie and friends had a sleepover birthday party, and Mikie did a little Christmas shopping research at Sam's, I wrapped gifts and did laundry. Fun, fun Saturday night!

Sunday was equally exciting. We're down to the last Amazing Race next week, which makes me very sad indeed. Thankfully, there will be plenty of Christmas movies and Hallmark specials to take it's place for two or three weeks at least.

And that's it. Our weekend in a neat, little nutshell. Very simple. Boring even. But that's the way I like 'em!

This morning will find us going in many different directions. All three kids will be going to three different schools, and Mikie and I will be headed to the periodontist to have the bone scraped in my jaw. I don't mind telling you, I am a little apprehensive. When I talked to the girl in the periodontist's office last week and asked her if I could be put to sleep, she said, "No problem." I'll be honest with you. Usually I have to beg to be put to sleep, so I'm thinking with her quick okay, they must agree I'm going to NEED to be asleep during this little procedure.

I'm ready for Part Two to be over... especially since it is a three-parter. All I want for Christmas is a pain-free crown!

REMINDER #1 - Tomorrow we will be featuring our Special Guest for two or three days, so you'll want to check back to see who she is. She won't disappoint. I promise.

REMINDER #2 - Enter the Contest. You have until December 18. I know it sounds like a lot of time, but with the busy Christmas season, it will be here before you know it.

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! The Contest winners celebrating my 300th post of A Simple Life will be awarded their very own Mystery Bag Party. That's right! We had such a good time in October, I have decided to have another Mystery Bag Party in January... and the six women who will accompany me on this "journey" will be selected from the women who enter the contest.

Just leave your name under my Comment Section, on Facebook or my e-mail with the word "CONTEST" beside it, and I will put your name in the bowl. I will draw SIX NAMES December 18... the day of my 300th post. You have about three weeks to enter. It will be a very fun party! I've also changed things a little from the first party, so it will be an unique event. I'll be reminding you once a week or so until December 18, so go ahead and get your name in today! A good time will be had by all who win!

REMINDER #3 - So far, so good on Belinda's Project 365. I'm close to having a picture a day for 100 days. It has really gone by too fast, but it's been fun. Will I do it again when I turn 49? I don't know. It's a good way to look back on your year and remember the big AND the little stuff, but it may be a commitment I have to take out of my "busy basket" next August. I'll just have to see.

Nativity Devotion

You may or may not already do this with your small children. If you have little ones, this is a great hands-on Christmas devotion for you and your family.

You will need a nativity set you do not mind the kids touching. One night while you are decorating, bring the family together and sit down with the nativity and a children's Bible. Depending on how many children you have and their ages, let them take turns setting up the nativity all by themselves, telling the Christmas story in their own words as they go. When they are finished, talk about any corrections you may need to make to keep the nativity "accurate."

Then read an age-appropriate version of the Christmas story to the kids. Be sure to be ready to explain words such as "manger," "myrrh," etc. Remember, hands-on is always a very good way to help little ones remember.

Having an age-appropriate nativity in each child's room would be a great way to help them remember the true "Reason for the Season," too.

Tomorrow I have a delicious and easy Christmas dessert, our Special Guest will be here, and hopefully, Part Two of my Christmas Crown will be feeling great!

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda