As a parent, I have found it challenging each year to find a way to celebrate Christmas with my children, and keep the true meaning at the forefront. Not the gifts, the glitz and the rush. A few years ago I found the answer- for us. A trilogy of Advent books written by Arnold Ytreeide. We journeyed with Jotham, a fictitious young boy who lived during the time of Christ's birth. In fact his journey takes him to the event-but not before he encounters exciting adventure and really bad guys!
Here is a description from the author :
http://www.jothamsjourney.com
Palestine,4 B.C. A shepherd boy shivers against the cold of night -- lost, alone, surrounded by jackals. Where could they be, he wonders again ofhis family. Where are you, Father? I'm sorry I got mad...
After running away from his father's tents in a moment of anger, ten-year-old Jotham has lost his way, and his family. As he journeys through Palestine in search of his nomadic home, Jotham is helped by a fool, a priest, a zealot and a wise man. Chased by a gang of thieves, thrown from one "foster parent" to another, Jotham slowly discovers the miracle of the first Christmas, and some miraculous things about his own life and his own family...
Written as a devotional for parents to read to their children during Advent, Jotham's Journey unfolds day by day until the exciting climax on Christmas Day. Each day's installment of the story is followed by a short devotional which will challenge your family to share in Jotham's discoveries.
What is great (and the reason for my post) is that this book is now going to be in print for the 2008 Advent season! We were fortunate enough to purchase all three before they were out of print, and ignorant of the fact that they could actually go out of print I encouraged my friends to borrow mine, (don't buy one!) Now they are available on BAM and Amazon for $100 (no way!-sorry Heather!!) If Jotham does well, the publisher will print the other two (Bartholomew and Tabitha)
So I encourage you to look for it beginning this summer. Buy it. You will not be disappointed. OH, and don't worry about whether you will remember to read it everynight YOUR CHILDREN WILL... GUARANTEED!
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Journey with Jotham
Monday, December 31, 2007
Ending the year, right.
Well, its finally all over. The last of the gift giving blitz has finished (as of last night!). The decorations are still out, and the tree needs to be unloaded (uggh!) Fortunately I have children who enjoy this. I remember being the one who enjoyed it, who insisted that ALL the Christmas traditions be carried out. Now I pass the torch to the next generation. May they carry it longer and farther than I could. Seriously. I want to share with you one of my most favorite Christmas gifts, ever. See the photo? I got it at a small group white elephant exchange years ago. Nope, I cannot take credit for it, but I know who can! Unlike most white elephants, which I save for another year, this one took a place of honor. I have it on my desk, right next to my computer screen. I love it. To me it displays everything silly in life. I mean, who would have thought to take a glass head and hang a Christmas pickle in it?? I laughed so hard I cried the first time I saw it. It still brings a chuckle to me at times. It reminds me not to take things so seriously. For we all take ourselves too seriously, way too often-IMHO. So I keep it nearby to remind me. LIGHTEN UP! A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Prov. 17:22.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Homeschool Families (click here to view)
I am posting this quickly tonight, as I set to wrapping for Christmas morning. My friend Crystal , and fellow home educator, sent this to me. I think you will find it funny whether you are "one of them" or not. Enjoy! I also enjoyed his short clip on moms. Find it here.
Christmas Cards
I am wondering whatever got me to start sending Christmas cards? Whatever the reason, I am doing it later and later each year. The first year I sent one of those photo cards was the Christmas that Isaac was born. Since he was due in mid-December, I thought it would be neat to do our own sort of "Nativity" photo. I felt that it was "inspired", particularly because I had sensed from the Lord that he would be a boy. Fortunately, the wonderful ladies who decorated the church that year unknowingly complied, and set up a beautiful, rough manger, and background...(how DID they know?) It turned out wonderful, and Our baby boy was gracious enough to come the Monday after Thanksgiving, offering Mom a chance to get it all worked out. That was six years ago.
Fast Forward to Christmas 2007. Mom decides that since she cannot get everyone together at the same time, that she'll just take the camera on the way to Church. (Which wasn't cancelled as thought, because the Predicted "Ice Storm" didn't happen as predicted. But it sure was pretty. Oh, I'd love to get them near one of the icy trees in the front yard. But, alas, Mom is running behind again, and everyone is waiting in the car for me. So I think I am going to give up, but my DH says, go ahead, try it...and even though it will make us late, they all pile out to "endure" the photo shoot, that mom attempts to make as quick and painless as possible. You'd think that my two eldest children would be the easiest, but no. Not this time. So with Daddy doing crazy stunts to get people to look at least a bit pleasant, we snapped nine shots in the freezing cold and jumped in the car-Mom mumbling about "giving up". Really, next year, I'm going to have a better plan about this. It's just that none can compare to the first one. I'd like to be creative, and have something silly each year...So, my pride must take a back seat, and I know that one day I'll look back on this year and laugh...right???
