At our home for Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior, and with in the busy season we try to keep Christ the center of Christmas in our holiday activities. Yes, we visit Santa at the mall and hang stockings and things like that, but we tell the kids that these are "games we play" at Christmas time. When the kids ask us, "is Santa real?" we tell them the history of Santa Claus's story, but no, Santa isn't coming down the chimney and he isn't real. Jesus is real and He is the reason for the season. We give gifts to remember the best gift of all, and that is the gift of Jesus coming to this earth to restore our relationship with God that sin had separated.
So when the Elf on the Shelf comes out in so many homes at Christmas time, we'd like to enjoy the fun, but we put a different spin to it. Let me back up: Are you familiar with Elf on the Shelf? Well, he is this special Elf sent from the North Pole by Santa. The elf watches the kids and tells Santa if they have been naughty or nice. Each night the Elf gets into mischief and adventures. The kids wake up in the morning to see the Elf in a new spot in the house and usually with some evidence of what he was doing last night while they were sleeping. Never fear, he is perched on the shelf ready for watching the kids' behavior all during the day long.
I've seen several super funny Elf on the Shelf pics from others who have done this game. I like the idea of the kids waking up to find a surprise, but I'm not so crazy about the tattle tale Elf and more attention to Santa. So we came up with the idea of using our Mary and Joseph nativity figurines and made a "Journey to Bethlehem." I mean, what did Mary and Joseph really do in their travels together? Maybe they....
Or gather some ornaments and decorate a tree! Can't miss a ride in the convertible either!
Or Joseph might have taken Mary fishing!
All our adventures led Mary and Joseph closer and closer to the Christmas tree in our living room. Each morning the kids would wake up and see what Mary and Joseph had been up to during the night before. Other adventures that Mary and Joseph had last year were the time they were found in front of the t.v. with a bowl of popcorn watching a Christmas special, they were singing carols with several of our Disney Christmas figurines, roasting marshmallows (with toothpicks that had mini-marshmallows attached, mini chocolate chips and graham crackers near by all beside a Fisher-price campfire pit), and another morning they were found on-line shopping for gifts.
This was a fun game for us to play during Christmas last year and by request the kids want to me to do this again. Last year I started on Dec. 1, but I was really searching for ideas come days 21, 22, 23, etc. This year I'm going to start with the 12 days 'til Christmas countdown and enjoy this game for that time period.
Elf on the Shelf is cute, but this is an idea for a game with more attention to the coming of Christ versus more Santa. Instead of the behavior report and Santa's rewards of presents, we look forward to Christmas morning when Mary and Joseph finally make it to Bethlehem, (under the tree) and there arrives the nativity piece of the baby Jesus, God's precious gift to the world! After that celebration, then we'll enjoy the gifts under the tree from mom and dad and the kids gifts that they give to each other.
However you choose to celebrate the season, have fun at it! The kids' smiling faces and memories made with the family are absolute treasures - better gifts than any wrapped box under the tree!
Merry Christmas!!
I loved this when u guys did it last year just too cute,
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