Starting a Christmas Books Tradition

I love to read.  It is probably one of my favorite things to do is find a good book and delve into it.  I didn't love it as much growing up in school because I had to read what others wanted me to read, not particularly what I would have picked to read.  But now, I can read whatever I am interested in and thus began my love of reading. :)

Books take me places I have never been.  They teach me about people that I come to admire even though have never met.  They open my eyes to different points of view.  They enlighten my mind when I read truth.  Writing is an expressive art form, and I glean so much from others expressions of themselves.  They enrich my life immensely.

I want this love of reading to reach my children.  I want them to love books, and not miss out on the joy of reading in their youth like I did.

This Christmas we started a new tradition.  One of which was shared with me by a couple of my dear neighbors and friends and also by my favorite blogger Shawni Eyre-Pothier.  All wise, dedicated mothers who mentor me in many ways. They each read a Christmas book to their children every night in December leading up to Christmas.  

So in an attempt to bring a greater Christmas spirit into our home along with the joy of books, I got on Amazon and started buying Christmas books!  Before long, thanks to Amazon and kind friends letting me borrow a few, we had a mini-collection of Christmas books started. :)

Each night we would pick a book from the basket and read it together.  Sometimes on the couch, sometimes by the fire, and sometimes at random times during the day.  

I think something truly magical happened.   The true meaning of Christmas seeped into our home with each story.

Here are just a couple of our favorites.

And as an added bonus...I think it also supported the love of reading principle we are trying to create.  YAY! :)  

Here's to Christmas, a growing library of books, and a legacy of learning through books.

Before I close this post, I have to also share a book that I read myself this Christmas.  I found it on the shelf in our office.  I can't even remember when I got this book, and I have to admit I had never read it.  But I found it, put it in the book basket, and pulled it out last week to read it not even realizing how much it would touch me.

It is basically the true story of the author, Richard Paul Evans, and his young family when they moved in with a widow during Christmas time.  I have to admit, I assumed this would just be a nice story about the true meaning of Christmas.

I finished the book last night, and what I found was that my heart was touched so deeply I went to sleep with tears on my pillow.  I don't want to spoil the story for any who may want to read it, but I do want to record for my own memory the 2 main lessons I learned from this book:

1.  Hold your children close because you don't know how long you will have with them.

2.  The first gift of Christmas was not gold, frankincense, or myrrh.  It was a gift of love from our Father in Heaven who loved his children so much that the was willing to give his beloved Son.  For our benefit.

I went to bed last night with my heart full realizing that all month long I was trying to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas while somewhat missing it myself by being wrapped up in all the hustle and bustle.  I didn't even realize I was wrapped up in it!  

To me this book was a gift.  A gift from my Heavenly Father to me for Christmas.  I am truly grateful for this gift, because it reminds me of my greatest gift, my Savior.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours, and may the true spirit of Christmas be in all our hearts and homes.

With Love,

 the Lightens