Day 4 - Christmas Books

One of my familty's Christmas traditions is that we buy a new Christmas book every year and read it along with the Biblical account of the Christmas story in Luke.  Here are some of my family's favorites.

#8 - Olive, The Other Reindeer - The art in this book is amazing!  The story is adorable, it is sure to become one of your family's favorites.











#7 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - If you're looking for a chapter book, this is my favorite children's Christmas chapter book.  How many of us remember how much we all wanted a good part in the Christmas pageant?  This is great for an upper grammar or junior high student.










#6 - The Polar Express -  This book is so beautiful!  The story is lovely and the pictures are dreamy.  A coffee table Christmas book for sure!











#5 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - I didn't appreciate Dr. Seuss until I was an adult.  I never really liked his books as a child.  Now I love them.  This is no exception.  What a great book, with a great message.










#4 - The Night Before Christmas - What a magical book.  The two things I remember most about this book is the sugar plums dancing in the heads and how I always used to laugh when my mom would pause at the part where it says "I went to the window and I threw up.....the sash."









#3 - The Glory of Christmas - I always put this book in one of my bathrooms.  Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll and Charles Colson write about Christmas very profoundly.    This would make an excellent gift.










#2 - A Christmas Carol - The original Scrooge.  We all know one.  The person who doesn't like the holidays, or any other cheerful thing.  It's so refreshing to see that person rehabilitated, and it gives us hope for the ones in our lives who are the same.










#1 - The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey - I can not read this story out loud without crying.  The pictures are beautiful, and the story is very moving.  My favorite read-aloud Christmas book ever....










Start your collection this year!  Let me know what your favorites are, (I'm running out!)

Day 3 -Christmas Movie Marathon - Seven Christmas Movies for Christmas Week

Our family likes to watch Christmas movies together during the Christmas season.  Even if I'm too busy to sit down and actually pay attention, I like to hear my favorite movies playing in the background while I'm baking or wrapping presents.  So here's a list to get you through this last week of the season. Note: I only included family friendly movies.  If I were to include a list for older children and/or grown ups, I would include Family Man and A Christmas Story.  In addition, I will be posting a family discussion guide as an extra post daily in case some of you would like to use these movies as a catalyst to spur on Christ centered discussions with your children.

Night #1 - A feast for the eyes!  What a beautiful job this movie does in bringing the audience into a Dr. Seuss world!!  The costumes, makeup, hairstyles, and sets are AMAZING!  Jim Carrey does a remarkable job and makes me laugh every time.  What a great way to kick off the Christmas week.

Night #2 -
The beautifully illustrated book becomes a beautifully animated movie.  I love how this movie captures the "dreamy" feel of the book reminding the audience of that vivid moment between sleep and wakefulness.  Great movie to watch right before going to bed.








Night #3 - Elf is such a fun movie.  It's definitely my favorite Will Farrell movie, seeing that many of his movies are inappropriate for families, (and some adults too!).  It's always a big hit with children to see a grown up acting childlike.











Night #4 - I know it might sound silly, but I cry every time I watch this.  The simplicity of the presentation of the Christmas story is so beautiful.  Plus, I also get inspired by Charles Schulz's boldness to present the Gospel.










Night #5 - I am not a part of the "I hate Home Alone because it shows a disrespectful kid" group.  Isn't that the lesson he learns?  I think there are a lot of great lessons for children in this movie, and it still makes me laugh my head off!










Night #6 - I suppose if you have to you can get this movie in color for the kids.  I like it better in black and white.  This is my all time favorite movie - ever.  Love, love, love it.  My favorite line - "Worse, he's discouraged."  Sooo many discipleship opportunities here.









Day #7 - What better way to end your Christmas Eve than by watching this beautiful version of the nativity story?  I find that the reality and simplicity of this production is a miracle on film.  I like it almost as much as the Passion of Christ.  Beautiful way to focus your Christmas on the reason for the season.