Our 1st annual 25 days til Christmas~Dec. 1st, 2011

I am always looking for new traditions for my little family especially during the holidays. I have been searching online about advent calendars and I have put together a Prayer Tree. A prayer tree is just that...prayer. I am a very strong believer in prayer~it is the telephone line between us and God with no long distance charge. We need to call it everyday, several times a day. I am trying to teach Alex and Chris the importance of prayer and thought this would be a great way.

I came home today and told them some of the things that I am burdened by and things that are just on my heart. I started by telling them how I am burdened every year to serve during the holidays at a soup kitchen. I know this is something God is telling me to do and I have got to act on it. I told them that it is something I am going to look into. I also explained to them the importance of giving and this is not just with gifts but with time also. I talked to them about how very blessed we are to be a single parent home. How there are some that would not have heat tonight or maybe didn't have anything to eat today. I am trying to teach them that it is not about the gifts/presents under tree but about giving to others that are in need with things they need and something extra special...just our time. I talked to them about us adopting an angel from the Angel Tree this year and they both liked that idea.

So, back to the Prayer tree...we have written names and needs to pray for in the next 25 days leading up to Christmas. When I was asking them who did they want to pray for, I was very impressed with what they said. They thought about the those that are sick with asthma, cancer, in the hospitals, the nursing homes, the needy, the military for serving our country and family, friends and classmates and those that have lost loved ones this year. There are 25 Christmas balls (homemade) that we will pray for one each night. Tonight we gathered in front of our Christmas tree with all the lights out but the lights on the tree. We held hands and each of us prayed over a family. We wrote today's date on the back and placed it on the homemade Christmas tree. It just blessed me to start a new tradition with my boys this year. One that I want to carry on year after year and hopefully one they will each carry on with their own families one day.

We are going to do something special each night leading up to Christmas Day with Jesus being apart of each and every day. If it were not for Jesus, we would not have a Christmas Day. Thank you God for sending your son to this earth to teach us of Your love for us. Let us show that love to others this Christmas.

What will you do the 25 days til Christmas?