I have a few precious traditions I would like to share:

The first is one for the children. We have a Birthday Party for Jesus and invite their friends. Instead of presents, each child brings a can or box of food to donate to a food ministry. Then we make handmade ornaments and decorate cookies and sing "Happy Birthday Jesus" around the Birthday cake.

Another tradition that I love is setting up the Nativity scene in the Living Room early in December...minus Baby Jesus. Then on Christmas Eve we read about the birth of Christ and then everybody leaves the Living Room, except for one adult. That adult lights candles, turns off the lights and places the baby Jesus in the manger and calls everybody back in the room to sing "Away In the Manger!" or one of the other favorites. The children actually get very excited every year to see the Baby Jesus in the manger. Some families prefer to hide the Baby Jesus and let everybody search for Him and whomever finds Him gets the honor of placing Him in the manger.

One that helps ease the pain of taking down the decorations after Christmas: Before Christmas wrap special little gifts in Gold Foil and either place them under the tree or near the Nativity scene. After all the decorations are put away...these gifts are finally opened. Some families choose to do this in January on Epiphany to celebrate the coming of the Wise Men.

Last, but not least...my kids love to pick a needy child each year to buy and make gifts for and they find such joy in wrapping it, knowing they are being the extended hands of Jesus. May the Love of Christ be with you this Holy Day Season!