I’ll be away over the holidays and back with a new blog in January 2010. Here’s a Christmas story for you to share with your family. Enjoy!

THE MOST BIRTHDAY PARTIES! A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS STORY 


_________________, whose birthday do we celebrate at Christmastime? (Fill in the blank with your child/grandchild’s name.) Yes, Jesus’ birthday. It’s a special day. No one else in the whole world has so many parties on his birthday. Boys and girls, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas from many countries remember Jesus on his birthday. But on the day Jesus was born, only a few people celebrated.

Mary and Joseph were tired after a long trip and needed a place to stay. “Joseph, let’s hurry,” said Mary. “I think it’s almost time for the baby to be born.” They finally stopped to rest in a stable, where animals lived.

That very night, baby Jesus was born. Mommy Mary hugged and fed Jesus. She wrapped him in warm blankets. Then Mary and Joseph made a little bed for Jesus in the animals’ feeding box called a manger.

In a field near the stable, an angel visited some shepherds as they took care of their sheep. “Today your Savior was born,” said the angel. “Go. Look for the sleeping baby.” And they did. The shepherds were Jesus’ first friends and visitors.

Questions to ask your child/grandchild:

1. Who has more parties on his birthday than anyone else in the world? [Jesus]

2. Where was Jesus born? [In a stable where animals live.]

3. Who were Jesus’ first visitors after he was born? [The shepherds.]

Activity: Sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.

Prayer: Dear, God thank you for sending Baby Jesus so many years ago. I like celebrating his birthday at Christmastime. I know Jesus grew up to be our Savior and our Friend. Amen.*

Papa read this story to our seven grandchildren at our annual Christmas celebration this year. See the picture of them as they answered the questions.  I’d love to hear about what happened when you read/told this story to your children. Please leave me a note on my website/blog. And have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

*Children’s story adapted from my book, Devotions for Little Boys and Girls: Jesus and His Friends.

Thank you again to all those who hosted a stop on my recent Wonderful (Imperfect) Life BLOG TOUR. I so appreciate you!

Congratulations to Lynne Hartke and Shantae Licano for winning signed copies of It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life: Devotional Readings for Women Who Strive Too Hard to Make It Just Right in today’s Book Give-Away Drawing.

WIN TWO AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF IT’S A WONDERFUL (IMPERFECT) LIFE

What’s your slightly imperfect Christmas reality this year? (Hey, even Jesus was born into imperfect surroundings!) Leave me a note below with your response to this question. I’d love to hear from you. Then I’ll enter you in a December 9 drawing for 2 FREE autographed copies of It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life devotional book. (One for you and one to “gift.” I’ll mail it by Dec. 10 and you’ll receive it in time to give it away on Christmas.

CHRISTMAS PHOTO FUN! So, how do you like the picture I snapped of the Christmas penguins as I strolled through a festive holiday display?

WONDERFUL, BUT NOT PERFECT!

It’s that time of year again—when we celebrate Christ’s birthday. I’m surrounded by twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, garlands lining the windows and fragrant (cinnamon-vanilla!) candles. It’s wonderful, but everything’s not perfect.

I haven’t had time to color-coordinate the gift wrapping (something I really enjoy doing) or make any cookies(that’s not my favorite thing to do, anyway!) I had no star or angel for the top of the tree this year, so I created a make-shift topper. The Webb family Christmas celebration with our two children, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and seven grandchildren is this Saturday, December 5 so that means Richard and I will spend a very quiet Christmas Day. We chose to do it this way, so our children can spend Christmas week with their in-laws.

This is evidence that a woman who had a tendency tostrive too hard to make it all just right really can change!Because I’m fine—well, more than fine—with all this slightly imperfect holiday reality. Hey, there’s no perfect way to celebrate Christmas. *

WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF IT’S A WONDERFUL (IMPERFECT) LIFE

What’s your slightly imperfect Christmas reality this year? Leave me a note below with your response to this question. I’d love to hear from you. Then I’ll enter you in a December 9 drawing for a FREE autographed copy of It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life devotional book. I’ll mail it by Dec. 10 and you’ll receive it in time to give it away on Christmas.

HELPFUL HOLIDAY HINT: UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA!

Need a GIFT-GIVING IDEA? How about giving a DVD of the old Jimmy Stewart/Donna Reed classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” along with a copy of my new devotional book, It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life? To purchase click here: http://tinyurl.com/DevoBook

* Adapted from It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life intro.