The Reason for the Season ~

JESUS

"...you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means God with us."

Matthew 1:23

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:11-12

We Still BELIEVE!

Saint Nicholas

Yes ~ our kids believe in Santa.  We believe that it's part of the magic of Christmas.  They know that Santa was a real person , St. Nicholas, a wonderful man who loved and served Jesus faithfully.  He spent his great inheritance on helping the poor, especially children ~ he was known to frequently give gifts to children, sometimes even hanging socks filled with treats and presents. They know that he wanted all the glory to be given to God.

In our home, Jesus is the focus of Christmas ~ He came to earth to save us from our sins.  Santa is someone who obeyed Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor".  We take part in Operation Christmas Child every year that our church participates and the kids love to send off shoeboxes full of gifts for those that may never enjoyed receiving a Christmas present before.  DS and DD have said before that they are like Santa ~ helping spread the love of Jesus everywhere.

This is the decorating in our family room!

Santa and tree in the kids' bathroom

Christmas countdown tree that my mom made when my brothers and I were little ~ now my children use it!

We love this!  Santa uses the key to enter our home!  Both kids have one!

Linking this post up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner , The Nester, The Shabby Chic Cottage, and Hooked on Houses for their Christmas tour of homes.

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can ~ You Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

Apparently, I can catch the gingerbread man!  Just take a look at my kitchen!

My new gingerbread cookie jar!

Cookie jar from my grandma and new Scentsy warmer!

Yes ~ I even have a gingerbread man scissor!

Strainer my dad found for me!

Gingerbread boys and girls DS and DD have given me!

And my kitchen bathroom ~

Wreath I made last year

And my sitting room ~

DD made the Gingerbread Man book for me!

Gingerbread couple made by my mom!

This is what 13.5 years of collecting gingerbread looks like!  I hope you don't go into sugar shock after looking at all the photos!

Today I'm linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner, The Nester, The Shabby Chic Cottage, and Hooked on Houses for their Christmas tours of homes.  Look for another post or two with the rest of my Christmas decorating!