We are having A Christ Centered Christmas

Last year I was introduced to this book by my relief society president. She did an entire lesson on this book. After the lesson I was determined to go and get it. I didn't realize the impact it would have on our holiday traditions. It has helped change the atmosphere in our home at Christmas time.  We take every Monday night from Thanksgiving on talking about one person or persons in the nativity.  We only display the people we have talked about.  Mary was our first.  We talked about her and then we place her in the nativity and she sits alone for the whole week.  Then Joseph was next.  He gets added in and so on and so on until on Christmas we finally place the most important piece in our special nativity.  Jesus comes on Christmas. 

At first I kind of thought it was sad that Jesus isn't there the whole time.  I had to remind myself that we have two other nativities in the home that Jesus is in.  Then the magical moment came when I overheard Elsie telling her friend in the most excited tone "Come and see our nativity.  Do you know who isn't there?  Baby Jesus!  He comes on CHRISTMAS.  I can't wait until CHRISTMAS so JESUS can come." She didn't say I can't wait for Santa, she said she can't wait for JESUS.  Now don't get me wrong, we love Santa.  In fact two of Santa's elves live at our home all through the month of December.  I just really wanted the focus to shift ever so slightly.  Each one of my kids have asked me if can we have family night early so we can learn about the next person.  Each of our family nights have been so touching and have brought us closer together.  That is what Christmas should be about.  I love watching their testimonies of Him grow as we celebrate His birth.  Santa is just icing on the cake now.  Jesus is what we focus on and we are loving it. 

I too can't wait for Christmas so that Jesus can be placed in our nativity and we can learn the most important story of them all.