{"id":3547,"date":"2015-11-19T13:03:47","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T13:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oshetablogs.wordpress.com\/?p=3547"},"modified":"2015-11-19T13:03:47","modified_gmt":"2015-11-19T13:03:47","slug":"3547","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/2015\/11\/3547\/","title":{"rendered":"Because Twelve Days Are Better Than One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Because<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I know it\u2019s not even Thanksgiving yet, but Bulleye\u2019s Playground has me all excited about \u00a0Christmas gifts this \u00a0because we\u2019re doing something a little different.<\/p>\n

Am I the only one who feel like Christmas morning is completely and totally stressful?<\/p>\n

Even though, I try to make it meaningful with \u00a0Pancake Delivery to all of our friends home for the holidays, \u00a0<\/a>one part of Christmas morning always, always bothers me- the speed at which my children tear through their gifts like wild banshee babies.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m amazed that before they truly comprehend the awesomeness of the gift I\u2019ve spent HOURS researching and wrapping, they\u2019re on to the next one! \u00a0They\u2019re eager- yes, but they\u2019re also anxious. \u00a0They\u2019re enthusiastic, sure,\u00a0 but they\u2019re also insatiable. They\u2019re excited, but maybe, a little bit entitled too.<\/p>\n

A far cry from the peace of the season I so deeply want them to experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year I want to try something different.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I can\u2019t beat them I want to cut the crazy off at the pass by joining into the gift giving but under my terms: gifts with meaning, gifts within budget, and gifts that point us to Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You remember that song, the Twelve Days of Christmas? Nonsensical lyrics and out of touch gifts aside, have you ever wondered what that song was about and the genius behind celebrating 12 WHOLE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?!?<\/p>\n

Well, \u201cThe Twelve Days of Christmas\u201d<\/em> is a carol about \u201cChristmastide\u201d- the twelve days between Christmas Day and Epiphany on the church calendar. Advent, the season right before Christmastide is when we pause to meditate on the darkness of the world, we remember our need for Jesus, and lean in to the longing of our souls for Shalom, then on Christmas, we begin celebrating the gift of Jesus all the way through to Epiphany.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, in the West, we don\u2019t celebrate Christmas this way. Our calendar is closely tied to the retailer\u2019s calendar, this is why Macy\u2019s Parade brings in the Christmas season and Black Friday exists our celebrating is tied to the consumer\u2019s calendar, not the Church\u2019s.\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I realized this, I started to wonder: what would happen if my family followed the Church, sometimes called, the Liturgical calendar? What if during Advent we lit the 4 candles of Advent and joined with millions of other Christians as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ?\u00a0\u00a0 Then celebrate Christmas for twelve days, because twelve days are better than one!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The way this is going to work is every day of Christmastide, I\u2019m going to read from the Scripture cards below, then they\u2019ll get a corresponding gift leading up to Ephipany where we\u2019ll give gifts to the poor- this year we\u2019re doing a Holiday Sole Hope Party!!!<\/a><\/p>\n

First Day of Christmas:\u00a0Jesus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"We\u2019re starting with a bang. \u00a0This gift is something they\u2019ve been asking for all year. \u00a0The one thing I\u2019m sure would bring them joy. \u00a0Like Jesus. \u00a0Any other gifts from friends or church members, we\u2019ll open on Christmas Day!<\/p>\n

Second Day of Christmas: Name above Names<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

This is basically something personalized. \u00a0Some ideas are wallets, water bottles, journals, and pretty art print.<\/p>\n

Third Day of Christmas: Lamb of God<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

So there\u2019s this cozy blanket I bought for myself when I was sick a few weeks ago. MY KIDS LOVE IT! In fact, my husband checks their beds during their bedtime routine to make sure no one has stolen it from our bed. \u00a0So, this day, I\u2019m going to give them their own cozy, knitted blanket.<\/p>\n

Forth Day of Christmas: The Way<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

This is one of my favorite gifts because we\u2019re planning three one day road trips for the kids and they get to pick one. \u00a0We\u2019re going to wrap a gift box in a map and inside will be the three envelopes with their three options. \u00a0When we moved here a friend gave us a cool sheet full of SoCal day trips under $100. \u00a0I can\u2019t wait to research those options!<\/p>\n

Fifth Day Of Christmas: Friend<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

No golden rings this day! \u00a0Since we moved here, my kids have been having a hard time missing their friends. On Day Five of Christmas, we\u2019re going to Skype with friends back in Boston,\u00a0write them postcards, then their gift will be a registration for that one class they\u2019ve always wanted. \u00a0My hope is giving them new experiences will help them make new friends.<\/p>\n

Sixth Day of Christmas: Savior<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/h2>\n

My kids have been begging<\/em> for an allowance and chore chart, so this day, my husband and I will introduce the ways they can make money, chores, grades, general pleasantness in the face of sibling mayhem. \u00a0 Afterwards, we\u2019ll make mason jar piggy banks with a $5 bill to help them\u2026ahem..save.<\/em><\/p>\n

Seventh\u00a0Day of Christmas: New Song<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\"image\"<\/h2>\n

This day, which happens to be New Year\u2019s Eve, \u00a0will be filled with music all day- Spotify playlists, each kid will get to pick their intro music and whenever they enter the room, I\u2019ll play it, we\u2019ll find a (free) concert, and then (hopefully) a family dance party as we ring in the New Year.<\/p>\n

Eight\u00a0Day of Christmas: Restorer of Hope<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

This day, I\u2019ll replace something they loved, but lost in the move here from Boston.<\/p>\n

Ninth Day of Christmas: Light of the World\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"IMG_7879\"<\/h2>\n

I simply can\u2019t wait for this day. \u00a0When I told the kids about this name of Jesus, they all thought they would be getting electronics- nope! \u00a0I\u2019m going to give them something light-related, like head lamps, book lights, or decorating my daughter\u2019s room in Christmas lights! \u00a0Ahhhh!<\/p>\n

Tenth Day of Christmas: The Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/h2>\n

Something to read.<\/p>\n

Eleventh Day of Christmas: Alpha and Omega<\/h2>\n

\"IMG_7881\"<\/p>\n

Something that has a beginning and an end, like steps or a recipe, the idea is it has be educational and have a finished product they can be proud of. \u00a0This day will break out the Lego-esque toys or Goldiblocks for Trinity.<\/p>\n

And finally\u2026<\/p>\n

Twelfth\u00a0Day of Christmas: Chosen One<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

Today it\u2019s kids\u2019 choice, we\u2019ll take them to the store or let them shop online for one thing within a budget.<\/p>\n

So here it is, our 12 Days of Christmas Plan.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be writing on our new site (ready in a few more days) about each day and I hope you\u2019ll join me. \u00a0 \u00a0Which Name of Jesus is most meaningful for you? \u00a0When you think of a counter-cultural Christmas, what does that mean to you?<\/p>\n

Monday, I\u2019ll share some simple ways to make our 12 Days of Christmas work for your family.<\/p>\n

Shalom,<\/p>\n

\"signature\"<\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I know it\u2019s not even Thanksgiving yet, but Bulleye\u2019s Playground has me all excited about \u00a0Christmas gifts this \u00a0because we\u2019re doing something a little different. Am I the only one who feel like Christmas morning is completely and totally stressful? Even though, I try to make it meaningful with \u00a0Pancake Delivery to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3037,"featured_media":3666,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,428],"tags":[283,498,21,32,753],"class_list":["post-3547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-family","tag-christmas","tag-gifts","tag-jesus","tag-love","tag-simplicity"],"yoast_head":"\nBecause Twelve Days Are Better Than One<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"      I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but Bulleye's Playground has me all excited about \u00a0Christmas gifts this \u00a0because we're doing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/2015\/11\/3547\/\" 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