Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Steph could talk forever about creative ways to celebrate the coming of the Savior! This is part 1 of their conversation. You'll hear fantastic book recommendations from Jen and thoughtful ways to pause this Advent season. But don't wait too long to listen--December is around the corner! Being a Christian parent is never more fun than at Christmastime, so make sure you are prepared!

Also, don't miss our 'Tis the Season Sale!

Scripture Mentioned:

2 Corinthians 12:15

Books Mentioned:

The Advent Book By Jack and Kathy Stockman

Christmas Day in the Morning By Pearl S. Buck

The First Christmas Night By Keith Christopher

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey By Susan Wojciechowski

An Orange for Frankie By Patricia Polaco

Shooting at the Stars By John Hendrix

Thanksgiving Graces By Mark Molton

Joy to the World By Charles Spurgeon

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift By Ann Voskamp

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever By Barbara Robinson

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

2

exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Welcome to our very first Christmas

episode of again, this podcast is

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sponsored by interested ministries.

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And I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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Today's conversation is part one of an

incredibly fun and helpful conversation.

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Betsy Corning, Emily deal,

Jen Frackman and I had,

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we're breaking it into several parts.

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Number one, because it was a, like

the, we just had so much fun talking

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about the different ways that we

celebrate the birth of our king.

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Secondly.

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We hope it'll be helpful for you to

listen on the parts that you need most.

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At any given time.

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Today's episode is about advent and

different books that we recommend.

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And the episodes to come.

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We're going to talk about decorating

tips, recipes, gift, giving principles.

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Our stance on Santa.

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And should he be celebrated?

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And all of these episodes are helpful,

whether you have very young children.

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Or whether your children are out of the

house and grown, and you're looking for.

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A creative way to celebrate that

doesn't interfere with in-laws

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schedules and getting everyone in

the same place at the same time.

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Thanks so much for listening.

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We hope you are inspired.

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Two.

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Bring joy and peace to your home.

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This Christmas season.

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my first question to kick us off on

Christmas traditions and the way we

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focus on celebrating the holiday is what

is a favorite gift you received as a

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child or a favorite childhood memory?

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I'm gonna start with Aunt Betsy.

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Can you think of one?

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Betsy: Well, I remember in fifth grade

that I really wanted stirrup pants.

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That's what they called them.

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I don't know.

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I think they had a different

name for 'em when they came

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back in style many years later.

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But I can't remember what they're called.

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They're, leg up,

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Emily: I know exactly

what you're talking about.

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Jen: Yeah.

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I know.

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Exactly.

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Yeah.

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I think they were called

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Betsy: And I really

wanted a pair of those.

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Unfortunately, my legs were so

long, they kept pulling down.

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They weren't really comfortable.

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Stephanie: Oh

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Betsy: that's been my story of my life.

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Finding pants long enough, right?

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But that was a really fun memory.

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Another time, my mom, who was a fantastic

seamstress, made Barbie doll colos.

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And I know some people have

a problem with Barbie, but...

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My older sister got the Barbie and my

younger sister and I got midges because

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they must have been less expensive.

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There must be way harder

to find now though.

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Anyway she made clothes for them that

were so beautiful because they, later

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on we, we said, Oh mom, this was the

best Christmas ever because we are so

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into design and creative things and

My mom said that was the year that

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they were so desperately broke that

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Stephanie: Aw.

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Betsy: just a sweet memory.

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We didn't know that until years

later that she said she didn't know

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what she was going to do that year.

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And it turned out to be just

one of our very favorites.

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But we always loved we always

lived in an area that was snowy.

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And always enjoyed the lights and going

to midnight service, midnight candlelight

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service at church, which was always

fun until we had little babies with us.

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Stephanie: Yeah.

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What's coming to mind for you, Jen?

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Jen: year, I was very little,

I think maybe five, six,

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seven, somewhere around there.

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And my dad had made all three

of us girls Dowel bassinets that

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were out of like wooden bassinets

for our cabbage patch dowels.

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it was so sweet because they

would rock back and forth.

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And I just remember, I,

we have a picture of us.

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Out on the back porch at my parents house

and it is like sunny and like 75 degrees.

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There was no snow and we all

had our matching little doll

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bassinets and it was really sweet.

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I still have it and both

of my girls have used it.

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Olivia used it for her baby doll and

Kaylee uses it for her stuffed animals,

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Stephanie: Aw,

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Jen: it's really sweet.

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So I liked that

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Stephanie: The homemade

gifts that are winning out.

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Jen: Yeah.

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Betsy: In fact, that did make me

think of when my dad was a teacher

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and he got the wood shop guys to

make a kitchen set for my sisters and

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I, and that was just, Unbelievable.

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We played with that for years and years.

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It was so fun.

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But it also makes me think of getting

new pajamas every year for Christmas.

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Probably ones that

matched with my sisters.

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And did anybody else

always get new pajamas?

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It's our tradition in our home.

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All the kids get new pajamas.

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Jen: No, we never did that.

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Emily: we never did that

but everybody does it now.

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It's definitely a thing now.

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Jen: it is.

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I

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Stephanie: close together.

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So to see them in three sets

of little matching plaid

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pajamas, it was just adorable.

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And we did that for a while.

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I didn't realize that was a story

behind the wooden kitchen because

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I played with that kitchen even.

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So those boys did a great job and I

played with those Barbie outfits as well.

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They were beautifully made.

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There's a turquoise one I

wish I had it in my size.

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yeah.

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Emily: That's the way

with all the doll clothes.

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Stephanie: Right, yep.

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Jen: I have another favorite gift,

but it wasn't from my childhood.

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It's from my adulthood.

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Eric surprised me on our Christmas

morning, and this lady drove

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up into the driveway, and...

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She had something in her hand.

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It was quite large.

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And he said, Oh, your gift is here.

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She walked in.

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And and I just remember it was

wrapped in a huge, large bag.

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And I was like, what is this?

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And I didn't know who the woman was.

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It was very confusing to me.

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And I started to.

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Unwrap it and I started to pull some of

the opening to the bag and I could see

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just a little tiny portion of the bottom

of it and it had my favorite parenting

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verse on it and I stopped and I went down

to my knees and I just started bawling.

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And Eric's Open it!

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And the kids are like, Open it!

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Open it!

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And I was like, I can't believe this.

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Oh my word.

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So finally I'm opening it more.

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And he had paid an artist to paint a

picture of me and the kids in nature

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and had I will, Most gladly spend

and be spent for the sake of your

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souls, verse written on the bottom.

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Oh my goodness.

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It was the best.

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I, in fact, to this day, now, if

we talk about if there's a fire in

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the house, you make sure all the

children get out, grab mom's Bible

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and someone grabbed the painting.

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Those three things in and in that order,

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Betsy: I have to see

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Emily: So was it the artist

that brought you the gift?

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Was the actual

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Jen: brought it Yes, so she wanted to

see my reaction and she did not meet

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me or the children He gave her past

Christmas cards and she just looked at

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them and he said see if you can figure

out Their personalities based on like how

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we describe them in the Christmas cards.

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And she did it fantastic.

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Stephanie: It's so beautiful.

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Emily: That's amazing.

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How

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Jen: it is.

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I love it.

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Stephanie: Major husband points,

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Jen: Yeah, yes, yep.

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Stephanie: like this.

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Emily: He'll never top that year.

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Stephanie: Emily, what's

coming to mind for you?

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Emily: When I was young I think I

remember the year that Jen, I think

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had brought up the cabbage patch dolls.

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My mom bought me a cabbage patch

doll and I got it for Christmas.

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And of course, I didn't

know it at the time.

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They were all the rage and I

loved my cabbage patch doll.

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But when I got a little older, I

think teenage years, my mom had bought

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me a a trunk, like an old trunk.

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And and I loved that trunk.

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And She just bought it for me to keep

in my room and put fun things in it.

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And so she had bought it off of this man.

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And anyway, I loved my

trunk that my mom got me.

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And I think I was a young

teenager at that point.

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those are the two that are

sticking out in my mind.

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Betsy: ha.

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Stephanie: And do you

still have that gift?

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Emily: I actually don't.

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My mom, I think actually got rid

of the trunk when I left home.

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Stephanie: Aww.

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Aww!

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Now she's going to listen to this

and realize how special it was.

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I think Christmas Eve service

has always been It's my favorite

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moment of the whole year.

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And so when I look back and

think about Christmas, that

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really is my favorite part.

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More than the gifts, more than...

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Anything else?

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That's just what stands out to me,

like the stillness and the crisp air of

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the night with the candle lit worship.

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I love that.

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But on a less holy note, the gift that's

standing out to me right now is When

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I was little, I must have been about

third grade, my parents got me a karaoke

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machine and I loved to sing and so I would

get home from school and I would turn

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my music up really loud and I would be

singing with the microphone very loud and

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then I, this happened on a regular basis

or my dad would come around the corner

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and I didn't realize he had gotten home

from work and I would I didn't realize

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he was home, but I was just so into it.

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But I think that was one that I

definitely got some good use out of.

207

Betsy: Well, Stephanie, you

and I would have been at some

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of those same events together.

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And I certainly remember those.

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And my mom, your grandma, would

have made every year, what did she

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make for dinner, a Christmas dinner?

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Stephanie: Oyster stew.

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Betsy: Often had a,

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Stephanie: yes, every

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Betsy: I should have, but

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but it was I don't know where the

tradition came from, but it, without

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fail, every single year, oyster stew.

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Of course, we had some other

things, but that was a have to have.

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And the other thing was a

birthday cake for Jesus.

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She would make that pretty often.

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Emily: oh, so sweet.

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Stephanie: That is one of my

favorite traditions now that I have

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to do with my kids, to show this

is who it's really about and my

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grandma always made angel food cake,

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Jen: Oh, cute.

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I like that idea.

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Stephanie: I lean more towards chocolate

just because that's what I like,

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Jen: well, I just want to

go back to the oyster stew.

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Did any of the children

revolt against oyster

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Betsy: No, in fact, there's a lot

of the boys actually liked it.

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The oysters are cooked and

but the broth is really good.

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It's almost like a clam

chowder, only it's oysters.

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.

Emily: so did this carry over into, and is it carrying on with any of the grandkids?

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Betsy: made anything with

oysters actually, but maybe,

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Stephanie: I like seafood a lot,

but it just wasn't my favorite.

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I think, I'm trying to remember

the year I finally felt the

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courage to say, Grandma, I'm sorry.

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It's just not my favorite.

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Maybe I was 14 or something.

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I've been thinking it for Long time and

I, but it's like you knew she worked

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so hard and she, my grandma, she was

a home ec major and a chemistry major.

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So she's just a very intelligent woman

but with such a gift of hospitality.

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So even the vegetable tray, It was

pea pods with, in the shape of a

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Christmas tree, with pomegranates

on them, with little stars made

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out of cheese, and grapes, and

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Betsy: Very

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Stephanie: was lovely and beautiful,

and you saw how hard she was working, so

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you didn't want to say anything, but I

remember when I said to her, I'm sorry,

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Grandma, it's just not my favorite.

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Is it okay if I eat the other things?

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And she said to me,

What's not your favorite?

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The oysters or the broth?

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I was like both, because they

both taste like the oysters,

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Betsy: But every year she made it no

matter what she always made it to her it

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was very important there were people that

liked it, but it was an acquired taste.

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Stephanie: My grandma was such a

sacrificial person, and the other sides

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of the families, Christmas morning was

really important to them, and so my

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grandma made Christmas Eve a very special

time and her trees were always absolutely

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gorgeous she seized the opportunity

to make special memories for all of

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us, and especially, I think, with that

midnight service, like you were saying.

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Sometimes we were almost falling asleep

as we were opening the gifts, and it

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did feel like a long night, but it

was really special to be together.

263

Let's get into Advent traditions

then, or any book recommendations that

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you have for the Christmas season.

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Emily: Take it jen, I know you have books.

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I know you do.

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Jen: I know.

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I was trying to be so patient, but I was

like eager, just biting at the bit to go.

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I love it.

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I do.

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I had to pare down, but I picked

out like my best that I love.

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Okay.

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So the first one.

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It's called The Advent Book by Jack

and Kathy Stockman, and we actually

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were gifted this, but it is beautiful.

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It has a bright, shimmery gold

cover that says The Advent Book,

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and then each page is very thick.

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Thick gold lined page.

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So it's what it's meant to be like

a keepsake and there are beautiful

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doors on each page and you open

the door and it tells a story.

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So on the first page, door number

one, it says, his name shall be called

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Emmanuel, which means God with us.

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And you open the door and there's

like a picture behind each door and

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it tells, God sent the angel Gabriel

to Mary in the village of Nazareth.

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The angel said, Greetings, the Lord

has blessed you and is with you, and

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then you Close that door and you go

on to the next door for the next day.

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And it is so precious and so

pretty and just beautiful.

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All the doors are so ornate and

Detailed and it's just really neat.

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So this one is one of my favorites.

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Betsy: that's a great one.

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Emily: Is this good for families

with young children or older also?

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Jen: Yes, it's for anyone.

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Because It's brief, I think young

children can understand it as

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well but the beauty of it, older

children appreciate it even more.

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Emily: Yes.

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Jen: Okay, so there's that and then

another of my favorites is Christmas

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Day in the Morning by Pearl S.

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Buck.

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And it just is a sweet story of a

little I would say a young boy who

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lives on a farm and he wanted to

surprise his dad and give him a gift.

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And so he went up before his dad.

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was awake and did all of the chores in

the morning for him so that his dad could

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be there in the morning when everyone

woke up and his dad was never around.

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In the morning on Christmas morning to see

the children come down and to see their

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gifts and to enjoy Christmas morning.

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Cause he was always doing the chores.

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And so he did it as a gift to his father.

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And just the whole story

of it is really sweet.

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Like the family being together

and realizing that the gifts don't

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have to be worth a bunch of money,

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The meaning behind it

and the love behind it.

312

It's just a really good, it's a good read.

313

Then.

314

This is my absolute favorite.

315

It's The First Christmas Night,

written by Keith Christopher, and the

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paintings in this are absolutely unreal.

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They look like they are live

people jumping off the page.

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But it is set...

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To the night before Christmas,

that poem, Twas the night before

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Christmas and all through the house.

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But this is the first Christmas night.

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So it starts off and it says, twas the

very first Christmas when all through

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the town not a creature was stirring.

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There was not a sound.

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The moon shining bright in the

heavens so high gave the luster

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of midday to the Bethlehem sky.

327

So it goes through the

whole Christmas story.

328

But set to the night before Christmas.

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So that one is one of my favorites.

330

And then I love the Christmas

miracle of Jonathan Toomey.

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This is a special one.

332

We, I tried to make molasses

cookies and then we read this

333

story, Sitting by the Fire.

334

But it's just about an old

harsh man who lost his wife and

335

child and he's, pretty gruff.

336

And a widow and her son move to

the town and they ask him to make

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little, a manger scene out of wood.

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And he teaches the child how to make

them and He describes no, the cow is

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very interested in looking at Jesus

this way and just the thought that goes

340

into making the manger scene out of

wood is just really, it's really sweet.

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So we like that one.

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And then another one is An Orange

for Frankie by Patricia Polico.

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And this one is Again, about

family basically it's about their

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family feeding homeless people.

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And this little boy gives a sweater

that his sister had given him to a

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homeless man because he was so cold.

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And then there's a.

348

A special portion about how the

family gets an orange every Christmas.

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It's very special.

350

And the boy lost his orange.

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And so the whole family gave

a slice of their orange, a

352

wedge of their orange to him.

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And the way that they show it and

illustrate it in the book, and

354

the way that they come together as

a family it's just really sweet.

355

It's just a nice

heartwarming story as well.

356

And this last book is very different, and

I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids.

357

But for older kids, it's

actually a really neat story.

358

It's called Shooting at the Stars, and

359

It's written by John Hendricks,

and how in the middle of the

360

war, there was a Christmas truce.

361

where they stopped fighting and

they sang Silent Night and so

362

it's a true Christmas story in the

battle, in the midst of a battle.

363

And so it does talk about war, so

that's why I wouldn't recommend

364

it for the younger ages, but

just the Christmas spirit.

365

Of being in the middle of a war and

knowing it's Christmas back home

366

and everyone is celebrating family

and what they got to do this one

367

Christmas was pretty remarkable.

368

Those are some of my favorites.

369

And then we, I have a whole basket full

of books that anytime that I find one

370

that talks about the Christmas story

in a different perspective, I will.

371

Put it in the basket.

372

And so we probably have a good 30

different books that we read through

373

all of December that are just

different ways to tell the story.

374

One is from the perspective of an animal.

375

One is from the perspective of baby Jesus

looking out at everybody coming to visit.

376

One is from the perspective of the

shepherds and just all different ways

377

that we can talk about think about this.

378

Just think of how.

379

Amazingness is that Christ

came down to be a baby born in

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a manger and all other Kings.

381

Are so royal and majestic and get the

best, but our Savior came and was born

382

where animals eat from a trough of hay.

383

As many ways that we can just show them

and put that in front of them that this is

384

such a moment to treasure and to remember

each year is a good book to, in my book.

385

Stephanie: Yes, because we want

it to stay fresh and new to them,

386

right, to, to have that be so magical

each year, to not let it get old.

387

And I think no matter how old I get,

I find the Lord does that for me and

388

gives me a new perspective or someone

in the Christmas story to really,

389

connect with and empathize with.

390

There's so much richness there.

391

So thank you for all of

those recommendations.

392

I've read a couple and they were

beautiful, but some definite

393

new ones for me, so I'm excited.

394

Thank you.

395

Jen: Yes, there's one more

that I have to mention.

396

It's not technically Christmas.

397

It's called Thanksgiving Graces, but

we read it at Thanksgiving, but then

398

we also read it at Christmas because it

talks about how families come together

399

and there's a little boy who's nervous

because his grandma and his mom are

400

in the kitchen cooking for everybody

and more people keep showing up.

401

This aunt and uncle came and they didn't

know they were coming and then this niece

402

and nephew show up home from college

and they didn't know they were coming.

403

And so the little boy goes into the

kitchen and is worried for the grandma

404

and the mom and says, What do we do?

405

You didn't know they were coming

and the grandma stops what she does

406

and it's doing and takes the child

upon her knee and says, Do you

407

remember how Jesus fed the 5, 000?

408

And all it took were two loaves

and Five fish but do you remember

409

how Jesus fed the 5, 000?

410

And so she just goes through

how there's always enough.

411

God always makes it be enough.

412

And she says, we've never gone.

413

Hungry people, God just makes

it happen and makes it work.

414

And so the whole family then

sits around at the table and sure

415

enough, at the end of the story,

there's enough for everybody.

416

Everybody is filled.

417

Everybody's hearts are filled

as well as their bellies.

418

And so we read that at Christmas time

because that's when we're all together.

419

The most is during Christmas

as well as our extended family.

420

Emily: That's so good, and couldn't

that just apply all year round when

421

we take time to open our homes and

it takes financial it takes financial

422

resources and time resources and

and so that's good all year round.

423

Jen: Yeah, I know.

424

I just told my oldest, I said, just

remember this when you're in college.

425

Just come.

426

I don't care.

427

Bring your roommate.

428

I don't care.

429

Surprise me if you need to.

430

I don't care.

431

Just come.

432

Don't think that I'm going to

worry about having enough food.

433

If we don't have enough

food, we'll order pizza.

434

Emily: Of course.

435

Stephanie: books or advent traditions

you'd like to share with us?

436

Recommend.

437

Emily: like we're so far removed

from when they were small.

438

Jen covered absolutely

every base and then some.

439

It was all so

440

Stephanie: Yes.

441

Love it.

442

Yeah.

443

Emily: I actually ordered a book

and it hasn't come in yet, but

444

we're going to go through it.

445

As a family this year,

it's actually there.

446

Some of the writings of Spurgeon,

written for Advent, the Advent season.

447

one will be a new one for us.

448

So the verdict is not, in on that one yet,

but it looks like it will be phenomenal.

449

So I'm excited to try that

this year with the family.

450

They're just little short writings.

451

It said about five minutes long,

so I'm excited the kids this year.

452

Betsy: Have lots of

things to check into here

453

Stephanie: My kids are at an age where

454

The advent calendars and things like

that are still really special to them.

455

And we've done different ideas

where I've taken little gift bags.

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They were at Ikea one year, but

it was like 25 little gift bags.

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And I put a Um, maybe I'd put

a chocolate in there for each

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of them and then an idea.

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So I have to say, I did not put the

Christmas idea in the bag beforehand.

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I waited till the night

before and thought, okay,

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what's feasible for tomorrow?

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Because this is when they were

pretty little and I would know,

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okay, tomorrow's the day that we're

going to do our gingerbread house.

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So I would put a little note in

there that says, you know, today

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we're making a gingerbread house.

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they loved that surprise of

it wasn't just a chocolate.

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It was, what are we going to

do together that's special?

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I didn't just have it be

activities or fun things.

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It's, there are service projects in there.

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So it might be write a thank you

note to the librarians or, um, give

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Christmas cookies to the neighbors.

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Different service projects that they can

do, you know, shovel snow for a neighbor.

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For me, that's really important.

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As you were saying, Betsy,

with Thanksgiving kind of being

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lost in the commercialism and

everything, it feels like, okay,

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let's be thankful this one day.

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And then the next day gimme,

gimme, gimme and what can I have?

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And I want to be careful that.

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in celebrating Christ that I'm

not making my kids think that

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December is all about them.

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It's, it's not.

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And so how can we delight in the

joys and make these fun memories,

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but also keep it centered on others.

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So that's a way with the Advent

traditions that I've done that.

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One of my favorites is One year we

built a manger at church together, and

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it came with its own devotional, but

just having that manger, and we have it

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empty in front of the tree, and, you

can put a piece of hay every day, just

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preparing the way for Jesus to come.

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And we have that honestly,

it was a sweet story.

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Maybe five years back

and I had decorated my.

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My house for the first time

where I felt good about it.

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You know, when you have toddlers and

you're like, it's just so much work.

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And it.

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was the first time where

my house looks beautiful.

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And, I felt like I had some advent

systems in place where in traditions that

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I was excited to begin with my kids and

I felt like I've really prepared well.

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This is exciting to head

into December like this.

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And, and then I went to my friend's

house who she has her own design company.

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And so I went to her house and her kids

are older and it just, it was amazing.

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And, in the front of her

house, she had this manger.

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And I looked at it and I just had

to fight Oh no, like I'm not, I'm

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not doing it right because clearly

that's the most beautiful tradition,

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but I didn't even know about it.

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And I went home and I looked it.

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up and okay, number one, it's

not going to be here on time.

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And then number two, I can't

afford to buy it right now.

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And I had to fight that battle of

someone's doing it differently And that

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seems better than what I'm doing , I'm

mentioning that because there are so

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many different traditions you can do.

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So many different books you can read

it's good for me to remember we don't

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have to do every idea on Pinterest.

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We don't have to embrace every tradition.

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It's about keeping peace in the

home and focusing on Christ.

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And often that means doing less.

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What was so sweet about it is then

the next week at church, our church

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announced that they were having

this workshop where families were

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going to build majors together.

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Jen: Aw,

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Stephanie: it was only 10.

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And.

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That was just another way.

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where I felt like, Lord, you saw

my heart in that and you provided.

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And so now we have the memory of building

it together and it was even better.

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So we love having our manger and then

my daughter loves putting her baby

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doll in there on Christmas night.

526

One year, we did something that was

completely my husband's idea, and he said,

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Well, there's 24 days in December, before

Christmas, there's 24 chapters in Luke.

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Let's just read a chapter

of Luke every night.

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Jen: That's cool.

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Stephanie: This was, the first,

year, , he had wanted to lead

531

that, and I thought That's great.

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And so you start with Luke

one and Luke two, and this

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seems like such a great idea.

534

And then you continue on this is

great to read about, but it feels

535

different reading it at Christmas time.

536

And then you're a couple of

days before Christmas and you're

537

reading about the crucifixion and

everything Jesus went through for us.

538

And it was almost like this is,

this is too hard, you're wanting

539

to enter in the joy of Christmas

and it's the pain of good Friday.

540

But I, I realized though, this is so

beautiful we understand why Jesus came

541

so much because we've been meditating

on everything he's going to do.

542

So when we wake up tomorrow morning.

543

We're waking up with that story of

his death and resurrection so fresh in

544

our minds and it ended up to be such a

beautiful way to meditate on on why Christ

545

came and all we all have Bibles, right?

546

That's a free option.

547

and I mentioned that because sometimes

we do overcomplicate it one of our more

548

recent Advent Books is Unwrapping the

Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, and it

549

goes along with the Jesse tree idea.

550

So you can, I think, buy ornaments

to go with it, but I make my own.

551

I just bought some plain ones

at Hobby Lobby and then wrote

552

numbers on them or names and then

decorate them with paint markers.

553

And then the kids hang them on the

tree and, we started, I think a

554

couple years ago, I would put tea

lights around the room and then

555

we would take the time to light.

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If it's the 10th of December, then

we would light 10 candles and that

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anticipation of building the moment for

the devotional, they really loved that.

558

For little ones, having them maybe color a

picture or something While you're reading

559

can always help their attention span.

560

And we really love the best Christmas

pageant ever by Barbara Robinson.

561

I will warn you, there's

some sassy moments in here.

562

But it shows how these naughty

children learn about the Christmas

563

story and their fresh eyes to see

what Jesus did for us and what Mary

564

and Joseph went through in the story.

565

We just laugh so hard at it.

566

and I Dallas Jenkins, the creator

of, of the chosen is going to

567

be making a movie of this it's

going to come out next Christmas.

568

Emily: Oh,

569

Jen: Oh, that's so fun.

570

We listened to the audio book of

that and it was an old grandma with

571

a really raspy voice that read it.

572

Oh, it was so good.

573

I was laughing so hard.

574

I had to stop the audio because

they couldn't, we couldn't

575

hear what was happening and

I was laughing so hard at it.

576

Like it, that is, it's a good.

577

Good book.

578

Stephanie: It's just so funny

for them to think, what?

579

That's what they said?

580

And the little girl saying,

I would say, Shazam!

581

He's here!

582

And it's just really, really sweet.

583

Jen: So true.

584

Aww.

585

Betsy: Unsolicited comments.

586

I love what you said.

587

Shazam, he's here.

588

teaching Sunday school one time.

589

This little girl, we asked her,

Jesus was going to Zacchaeus house

590

and we asked her, Jesus was coming

to your house what would you do?

591

and she raised her, hand right

away and said, I would decorate a

592

little bit and practice my bowing.

593

It was so

594

cute.

595

Just right

596

immediately.

597

She

598

Emily: her

599

heart!

600

Betsy: Yeah, a little five year old.

601

I always remember that.

602

just so sweet.

603

We hope that was inspiring

and not overwhelming.

604

I love to hear all the different

ways that people focus on Christ.

605

And the Christmas season.

606

And I hope you didn't do.

607

If you haven't heard the news in

trusted is having its best sale ever.

608

On the book for a couples

interested with the child's heart.

609

So often women have taken the

class and say, how do I get

610

this information to my husband?

611

Betsy and David wrote the book together

so that couples could read it at home

612

or that individuals could read it.

613

And.

614

It is on sale for $15.

615

On our entrusted ministries website,

that's www dot entrusted, ministries.com.

616

That is the lowest price ever.

617

And it'll be going through mid December

618

just to make sure you have time to get

that And Jen personally gives a copy

619

of entrusted at every baby shower.

620

She goes to.

621

We are also having the chart for

sale packets of the every day.

622

Before you say chart are

on sale for a limited time.

623

We have a limited amount.

624

And so we may sell out.

625

So I would say, get your

copy as soon as possible.

626

Those packs effort, $20 and

it includes 25, 11 by 17.

627

Copies with thick paper, so you

can decorate your own and get

628

that system down in your home.

629

I am so grateful to have

this on my fridge right now.

630

And my kids just love it.

631

Make sure you get your copy.

632

And maybe buy a pack for a friend.

633

it turns out to it.

634

It'll be a two year supply which works

out to less than a dollar a month.

635

As always, I'm going to encourage

you to support the ministry,

636

however, you may be able to whether

it's leaving a review, sending us a

637

comment, liking us on social media.

638

Are perhaps a year in a position

to bless the ministry financially.

639

Most of the work that we do

640

As provided for by donors who

just want to see God glorified

641

in the family and in the church.

642

It would be such a blessing if you

would consider becoming a monthly

643

donor or giving a one-time donation.

644

You can head to our

website to do that as well.

645

And don't forget that we've got several

more Christmas episodes coming your way.

646

So stay tuned.

647

We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

648

us for this episode of Again.

649

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

650

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

651

EntrustedMinistries.

652

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

653

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

654

world, and we want it for you, too.

655

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

656

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

657

We're rooting for you.

658

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

659

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

660

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

661

Him, according to the grace of our God.

662

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

663

Amen.

664

Until we meet again.