Christmas Spirit
gift-giving This year Christmas has been different for me. For several of my friends who have lost loved ones this year, this Christmas will be different in a more profound way. For me, it's just the death of Santa. My boys no longer pretend to believe in Santa, and I have only bought two toys for each of them under $20 each. No Legos, no showstopping gifts, just twelve days of gift-giving things we "need" like a new belt or better fitting bike helmet, a jacket for school or an alarm clock. It has been fun to get small thoughtful gifts that they have mentioned they need--or knowing what they like to do--would enjoy having: a tape measure, a better pencil sharpener, a wireless shower speaker. It has given us time to appreciate each gift and has helped keep the focus on Jesus, the greatest gift. song-singing Another new tradition I have enjoyed this year is our couch time devotional Hallelujah: A Journey Through Advent with Handel's Messiah . We have