Oh Christmas Time

My favorite time of year!!

I came across this facebook page that is giving away free Jesse Tree printables! I'm not sure how long they'll have it available so hurry over, like Print Candee Illustration & Design on facebook and print it all out!

And then make sure to go to their blog to learn more about what on earth a Jesse Tree is! (Don't feel bad, I had no idea either... or maybe we should be a little ashamed of that!)

My sister and her family has decided not to celebrate Christmas. My sis-in-law and I have really struggled with this. As a result, we've spent all sorts of time researching and soul searching. In one of Steph's searches (that I'm sure she'll post about on her own blog in the near future!), she found this blog - Desiring Virtue - which is where I came across the above printables.  Jessalyn (the blog author) recently finished a whole series called "Cultivating a Christ-Centered Christmas." She discusses the legitimate reasons for not celebrating Christmas, and the wonderful reasons to celebrate Christmas! She also gives TONS of practical ideas to turn your Christmas into a Christ-centered one.

I'm so pumped.

I love Christmas.

So I'm still working through Jessalyn's many posts and am very excited about making a list of ideas to add to (or replace) our Christmas traditions.

Once we decide what we plan to do (at least for this year. I'm sure there will be plenty of trial and error!), I'll let you in on that.

I'm also sure I'll have a post soon about why I think it is so very important to participate in Christmas, and how researching the idea of not celebrating it has only solidified the necessity of it for us! Until then, make sure to check out the free printables and the Desiring Virtue blog!  

And by the way, my family (parents and sibs) started a brand new tradition just last year of bringing a dinner and gifts to a needy/hurting family near Christmas. It's never too late to start something new that will be a form of worshiping and celebrating our Savior!