Book Review with Sara!

The ADVENTure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in our Holiday Traditions - A Mom's Guide
by Lisa Whelchel
Illustrations by Jeannie Mooney
Published by Multnomah Gifts, a division of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

I recently interlibrary loaned a book I've heard about to help me think of some ideas for Christmas. I've heard about The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today so I thought it could help me. I really like the ideas in this book. The whole idea of the book is that we shouldn't feel bad about getting excited about Christmas and all the things that Christmas brings. We should embrace Christmas and all the traditions because there is meaning behind all the things we do. Lisa Whelchel, who is also the author of Creative Corrections, does a good job giving a brief description of the history and Christian meaning of all the traditions so we in turn can explain to our children why we do what we do. Activities and questions are also given to do with our children so we can enjoy the traditions and focus on Christ during this special time of the year. I really enjoy Christmas so it's good to find a book that isn't about alternatives or complaining about how secular Christmas has become. This book takes what we already do and love and puts Christ in the center of it.

I think a quote from the book best sums it up:"Now it is my desire to lure parents into the hustle and bustle of Christmas and then set them free to join their children in the celebration - guilt-free. On each day of the traditional Advent, the twenty-four days preceding Christmas, we will explore together a different aspect of the Christmas celebration. It's amazing how short a distance you have to go to find Jesus in our present-day symbols and traditions. We will encounter the true meaning of Christmas in such unlikely places as a candy cane, a fruitcake, and the partridge in a pear tree. We will rediscover the significance of Santa Claus, tree ornaments, and even the colors of Christmas."So go find the book and have fun celebrating with your family this Christmas. I know I will be making the birthday cake for Jesus that the author describes in the book. It has lots of symbolism which I love!

Merry Christmas!
Sara Trott