The nativity scene is iconic Christmas! While I’m sure the magi, angel, shepherds, and animals didn’t strike a perfect evenly spaced pose around Joseph, Mary, and Jesus like what is depicted in most nativity scenes, it reminds us of all the biblical stories of Christmas. I’ve always struggled which side the magi and shepherds go

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When my wife was a kid, she got an Easy-Bake oven for Christmas. I want to say her mom got one as a little girl for Christmas as well. We got our youngest daughter one for Christmas a few years ago and Abby Harrison gave Sara Lee and Betty Crocker a run for their money

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I love the snow, what about you?  I’m not talking about a blizzard or sleet, but that perfect snow…the kind that actually sticks to the ground and rolls up to make a snowman.  Living in Arkansas, I haven’t been in a perfect snow very many times.  I do remember a huge snow around 1985 as

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Last Christmas, I surprised my wife with a vacation to Hawaii for our 20th anniversary.  We have never been on a tropical vacation together, not even a cruise.  We got married after I graduated college and all we could afford at that time was a three day trip to Branson for our honeymoon.  I saved

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Stocking stuffers are great!  My kids love getting those little extra gifts at Christmas.  As they have grown older, these are usually items they are surprised to receive since they pick out most everything else.  Each of our family members has a large stocking with their name or first initial on it.  One day when

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Every year, our family sponsors a couple of local foster kids for Christmas. Not only is taking care of orphans biblical (James 1:27), loving on them in their distress and time of need helps teach my kids to count their blessings. We have donated luggage so foster kids don’t have to travel from home to

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A few years ago, a Christmas tradition started called “The Elf on the Shelf” where an elf doll “magically” moves from place to place usually at night throughout one’s home leading up to Christmas.  I’ve seen some creative photos of elves on shelves, fireplaces, and just about everything else.  My personal favorite picture of our

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“Abby, what was your favorite Christmas present of all time?” That was the question I had for my middle daughter as she walked through the living room one night. With no hesitation, she said, “My Barbie Dreamhouse!” Instantly, vivid memories flooded my mind of shopping for the Barbie Dreamhouse, purchasing the huge toy, and assembling

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My kids have a Christmas tradition with their grandmother (Gran) that they look forward to every year. They make Christmas sugar cookies from scratch and decorate them with colored icing and sprinkles. Sugar cookies are the best when they are still warm and fresh out of the oven…can I get an amen? When my kids

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Ever since we’ve had kids, we’ve had their picture taken with Santa. For some, it’s nonsense. Some even consider it paganism and blasphemy. Not Santa! Don’t you know the letters in Santa mixed up spell Satan? While we wouldn’t go that far, we also know the true meaning of Christmas is Jesus and teach it

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