Thanksgiving Ushers in Peace!
When my kids were little, we spent many long hours traveling to the grandparents’ house for the holidays. In order to help our littles cope with the 6 or 10-hour trips (one way) they always …
Christmas Angels, Pt 1
No doubt about it: Christmas is a magical season. Short-lived though it may be, the Christmas Spirit transforms our lives and communities each year in a way that no other holiday even comes close to …
The Story of Santa Claus, Part 2
In part 1, we learned about the historical inspiration for Santa Claus, Nicholas of Myra, who died on December 6, 343. Nicholas’ habit of cheerful giving, and his commitment to both children and the poor, allowed …
The Story of Santa Claus, Part 1
Santa Claus is surely one of the most beloved figures of modern times. But did you know that he was perhaps even more beloved long before he acquired a fur-trimmed red suit, a big round …
Jólabókaflóð: The Icelandic Christmas Book Flood
I feel like 22 years has just been stolen from me and my family. Why? Because I recently learned about an Icelandic Christmas tradition called Jólabókaflóð. I’ll let the blogger at icelandwillmakeyouhappy.wordpress.com give you the …
The Story of the Christmas Tree, Act 3
In Act 1, we learned how the little fir tree became important to Christians. Boniface used the tree as an object lesson to teach about God! Then in Act 2 we learned about the Paradise …
The Story of the Christmas Tree, Act 2
In Act 1, we learned how the little fir tree initially became important to Christians. Boniface used the tree as an object lesson to teach about God the eternal, creator of all things—Father, Spirit, and …
The Story of the Christmas Tree, Act 1
It’s difficult to imagine Christmas without decorated trees. But do they have any “redeeming” value for Christians? And how did the idea get started in the first place? I think the answer to the first …
Christmas is About Giving
For the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we spend time as a family talking about how we integrate our faith into the Christmas traditions (sort of an Advent approach) that we call the Colors …
Christmas Angels, Pt 3
It was the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001; hurricane Katrina in 2005; the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Steve Jobs in 2011—each acting as a perfect example of the kind of historic events which …