Top 4 Memory Makers that Keep Jesus in Your Family’s Christmas

Have you said it yet?

You know… “This Christmas is going to be different. This year we will NOT rush. We will not overbook, overspend or over commit. This Christmas we WILL keep Jesus at the center!”

I know I say it too. Then Black Friday hits and the rush is on. The season flies by and somewhere around 12:00 on New Years Eve we crash. The whole holiday nothing but a blur of receipts, wrapping paper and fattening food.

 Psst… I have a secret for you. This year you may not be able to fully put on the brakes but you can get your foot on the petal and slow it down.

The key? You will have to be intentional.

I want to encourage you to take hold of your family’s Christmas. You sweet lil mamma are the nurturer of your family. You are the one that will bring the Christmas season to life. You are the one that will create treasured memories that last for years.

 Making memories doesn’t have to be expensive or Pinterest worthy. In fact, I strongly believe you need to create memories that can be easily duplicated by your children and their children.

After years of trying everything out there these are the top 4 memory makers that our kids still enjoy from oldest to youngest.

 #1 The Christmas Crown and Nail

Decorating the tree is a family event. We even have a special box that we can pull out before all the house decorating. In that box are the snowman cups for coco, the angel for the treetop, the tree skirt and the Christmas crown and nail. Our girls make cookies and the boys grab the ornament boxes and set the music. Then the memory process begins as we decorate the tree with ornaments from years past. Every year our children receive an ornament that signifies something special about their year. The ornament is labeled and dated. And on tree decorating night we read them all and remember the goodness of their lives.

 (Note: When our children marry we give all the ornaments to them to start their own tree decorating tradition, crown and nail included.)

After the tree is decorated the lights are turned off and Dad turns on the tree. It is then that we gather around with cookies and coco and listen to Dad tell the story.

He loves this old story and his kids now know it too. He holds the crown up and tells of how Jesus left heaven, laid down his crown and came to earth to live for us. Then the long nail is held for all to see. Dad continues, “And then because He loved us so much he allowed himself to be nailed to a wooden cross, where He died for our sins, so we could go back to heaven with him one day.”

Then as his children watch, he hangs the nail in the center of the tree. And says, “When you see this nail, remember Christmas is not about stuff it’s about a Savior that came to save us.”

We complete our night with a picture of all the kids in front of the tree. No one is ever left out. Even if they aren’t able to be physically with us or they are at college, we Face time them. We have many Christmas tree photos with some of our kids smiling their biggest grins on a computer screen.

 #2 The Jesus Advent Tree

This tradition started when as a young mom I wanted my children to know that Jesus was more than just a baby in a manager. That Christmas was about more than camels and Kings. I wanted them to learn about Jesus the man, the miracle worker, and the promised Savior. So I created The Jesus Advent Tree. What a hit! Keeping Christ in Christmas was never hard ever again.

 The 24-day interactive family devotional counts down the days until Christmas using unique objects and riddles whose answers can only be found in the Bible. Each day a numbered velvet bag is opened to reveal a clue card, an object, a little ornament and of course candy that I slip in there. Everyone can participate, from opening in prayer, to reading the clue, or putting the ornament on the lil tree that’s included. Dad’s and Moms love the treasured time spent in God’s word in such an easy and fun way.

My kids loved it and soon my friends wanted one and their friends wanted one too. Before I knew it I was looking at The Jesus Advent Tree on Amazon. With a patent pending and a sold out stock, it appeared that I wasn’t the only one that wanted Jesus around at Christmas.

You can purchase your own Jesus Advent Tree here.

 #3 Worship Music

During Christmas songs about snow, bells and reindeer’s abound. After all, what would the holiday be without “Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Jingle Bells? It’s all so jolly, but be intentional about making worship a part of your children’s memories. Songs that tell the Christmas story and God’s love will be sown in their hearts for a lifetime.

 #4 Candlelight Church Services

There is nothing as peaceful as finding yourself in a pew with a lite candle singing “Silent Night”. Don’t miss the opportunity for your children to be around the body of Christ at Christmas. Find a church and really keep the focus on Jesus.

Let’s help each other slow down. Determine to be intentional by focusing on our families and Jesus this Christmas.

 So there are a few of the traditions from my family. What are some of yours?