Day 3: Emmanuel

      This is probably the simplest carol of them all. A single verse, and very few words. However, it is beautiful in its simplicity. And it still manages to evoke all those feelings of wonder that thinking of the birth of Christ should. Perhaps you can find time to sing this one twice?



Link to lyrics: "Emmanuel" (by Bob McGee-there are several songs by this title)

The Baptist Hymnal (1991): #82



Questions for thought and discussion:
 1. How is "God with us" now?

2.If Jesus birth signaled "God with us" (since He was called "Emmanuel") had God not been there before? What changed about His presence with Jesus birth? How did that change again after Christ's ascension?

3. What specific events in your life have proven to you that "God with us" is really true?

Holly Jolly (Wally) Wreath

This is one of those projects that requires no crafting ability-at all. I didn't even use my trusty hot glue gun! I had been to Target and seen their "Merry Market" ornaments- all sparkly and glittery. That is not usually my style, but I thought that they would be really fun on a wreath. A wreath is a good place to expand your style horizons at Christmas. It is expensive to purchase all new decor for your tree, but a wreath is usually pretty cheap! I didn't really want to spend $2 per ornament when I knew that I would need between 6-10 to make a satisfactory wreath. Then I went to Walmart. I normally despise the big "W" but it just so happened they had extremely similar ornaments- for a buck! I knew I could swing a dollar so I picked up a "flower", a stocking,and a key (I thought that was so cool). The "Merry Christmas" was a dollar, and the four plain ball ornaments were sold in a pack together-a buck for all 4 made them $0.25 each! Then I grabbed the cheapest wreath you can get- $2. I also got a pack of white gauze wired ribbon- also $2. The total for my wreath: $9!

The key to a cheap wreath is to spend plenty of time "fluffing" it. It is like a fake tree, you have to bend the branches to give it some depth and shape. I made sure that it was nice and fluffed before I started. I didn't even glue my ribbon. I just twined it around the wreath and then tied a knot in the back.

See my cheapy ornaments? It will be so easy to use these on something else if I change my mind. I spent a few minutes deciding where I wanted everything on the wreath before I started tying them on. I thought the "Merry Christmas" was the perfect topper. I simply pushed a few "sprigs" of the wreath through it and then bent them to help it hold on. Can you see where it is being held on through the "a" and the "s" and the "C"? Initially I thought I wanted to have a bow on top, but I decided I liked it better without one, so I moved the Merry Christmas up some more before I put the wreath up. Still it gives you a better idea of how all the ornaments are attached.

The finished product! I used wreath sprigs to hang the ornaments on, and then I just twisted them to make sure they didn't come loose. Each sprig has wire in it so it is sort of like using a bread tie. Then I just curved the pieces around each ornament to keep it where I wanted it. No gluing and everything can be easily removed if I want to change it. I have had it up for almost two weeks now on our front door and I have lost any pieces yet. This would be a really easy, inexpensive "homemade" gift- the ornaments come in a large variety of colors- pink, lime green, and more traditional colors, too. And if you already had ribbon, it would be an even better deal!

Christmas Flash

" It came without ribbons,

it came without tags,

it came without packages,

boxes or bags..."

From "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"

Few things surprise me anymore. It is one of the sad, cliched parts of being a grown-up. Christmas is still one of my favorite times of year, but it rarely inspires the awe that it once did. I have devoted serious time and thought for years now to provoke emotions that the holiday season inspired in me as a child. It is time well spent. However, today, I was given a gift.

I had coupons. Coupons that must be spent or they would expire. That is the only reason I dared to tread in the mall on a Saturday in December. I despise crowds, rude people and stupidity, and unfortunately those conspire in the most bizarre of ways in a mall at Christmastime. However, I was pleasantly surprised. While busy, it was not overwhelming, and the sales persons who assisted me were definitely polite. I redeemed all my certificates and then we discovered that lunch time was upon us.

On our end of town there is no freestanding Chick-Fil-A. The only one is inside the mall. Sad, but true. So, of course, when Carson realized there was a "Chicken Fillet" in the food court, that was where he wanted to go. Fine by me! Of course, there was tons of people in line, but the kids got pictures with "the Cow" and coupons for free kids meals so it was worth it. However, there was no place to sit. We searched and then finally settled at a tiny table with two chairs- for the four of us. We begged a chair from another table, and while I was getting the food, Joel nabbed another tiny table and pushed them together. We started eating, wondering why it seemed that the food court was so very busy, and many of the people didn't seem to be eating.

And then something strange started happening. People started pointing to the floor above us. If you have never been to the Citadel mall, it has a rather unusual food court. All the restaurants are on the first floor, then there are stairs down to a central middle seating area, and then more stairs to the bottom floor and more seating. Where we were sitting was almost like a courtyard, and we could see the "balcony" all around us. I noticed there were quite a few people lined up around the railing. Almost as if they were in line for something.

And then they started singing. Over 100 very practiced voices, all together, in perfect harmony. Truly, it was like the angels were singing. "The Hallelujah Chorus". It was majestic. Thinking of it now is giving me goosebumps. I stopped, the kids stopped, Joel stopped. No one said anything. We just let the music flow over us. It was magical.

I was disappointed when it ended. I recalled hearing a similar story about a "Flash Mob". People decide on a place and time, and without warning the all do something simultaneously. In this case, it was singing. It was such a wonderful Christmas surprise.

But I also noticed something else. Most of the people around us did not stop what they were doing. Here was this beautiful, amazing singing, and they just kept shopping and eating and serving and talking. I couldn't. I had to just sit awe-struck in appreciation.

I thought of another Christmas event that suffered from the same lack of attention. But it was the most important one. A Baby was born, and few stopped. A Child came into the world and few noticed. The King came with the beautiful singing of angelic voices- "Glory to God on the Highest" and only the lowest of low paid any attention at all.

I did, though. I wished that I could have thanked one of the singers. But everyone was dressed in street clothes and once the song ended they all blended into the crowd. They did not come demanding that I take notice. They did not have an announcer, or matching outfits, or a program. They did not have any instruments besides their voices. I don't mind being so naive that something like that brings joy to me. And I don't mind being so lowly that I have a chance to celebrate the arrival of the King.

I don't want to miss Christmas. I will search for the joy, and sometimes, I will find it. And sometimes, it will find me. In a food court, or in a manager. Thank You, Father, for joy. Thank you for the gift of a group of people unashamed to praise Your name-at the mall. Thank You most of all for not demanding my attention, but allowing me the privilege of giving it. Thank You for the gift of Jesus- may He always have all my focus.

Advent"urous" Box

I remember the Advent calendars of my childhood- sometimes we did the little chocolate in the cardboard window ones, sometimes they were more intricate. One year in particular my mom wrote a poem that included the name of the surprise for that day in some clever way. So talented! Anyway, I knew I wanted an Advent count-down for Josie and Carson. I wanted one that had a fun surprise for each day, but also helped them to see how many days were left. I picked up the box at Hobby Lobby for $3. I knew it would be a good size to fit the variety of things I wanted to give the kids.

I picked up the "Countdown to Christmas" tree kit at Hobby Lobby for 90% off last year. It is really cute- you put a different ornament on for each day. I glued it to the front of the box. It is great because the extra pieces can easily be stored in the box.

The first day's activity was cinnamon ornaments. I put all in the ingredients for them in the box. The kids were a little confused about what the things were for, but that was part of the fun!

The kids were anxious to make their ornaments. We used this easy recipe-it worked perfectly! The dough was a little dry, but the more that we kneaded it, the easier it was to work with.

Carson did not really grasp that he was supposed to be using the cookie cutters. However, he really enjoyed crumbling up the dough.

Josie did a great job! She told me she wanted a "real ornament". I finally deciphered that she wanted a circle.

She also informed that her candy cane needed stripes. We discovered that tooth picks make great detailing tools.

Josie's finished ornament. She even made me add the little box at the top so it would look "real". The design is entirely of her own making. She is so creative!

This one is "Carson's" or mostly mine. He pushed the cookie cutter into the dough. Mostly he was just interested in crumbling the dough between his fingers.
Our collection of ornaments. Now we just need a tree to put them on! We are really enjoying the wonderful smell for now. I do think the kids' will enjoy making real cookies, so that activity will probably find its way into the box. They already have started looking for it first thing when they wake up. I am on the lookout for more fun activities and surprises- 22 more days to go!