New Christmas Traditions

For approximately the past four or five years, we've been doing Christmas based on the Wise men's gifts to the Baby Jesus.  We had some friends who had been doing Christmas like the Wise men for several years and I liked what I heard about it.  Gold is a gift that is special or precious to that person.  Frankincense is a gift for worship.  And Myrrh is a gift for the body.  The first year the kids were a bit unsure about the change.  They liked getting lots of stuff at Christmas.  I felt like it was too much and I was spending money on stuff that got tossed aside after a little while.  That made it seem even more expensive.  They felt like they were going to get gypped.  Our oldest was more accommodating than the younger ones.  However, after they opened their gifts that year, they started coming around.  They have enjoyed the past few years and even get excited about what they could be getting.  This change has helped with my shopping because it becomes more focused on something meaningful for each person rather than just getting something because its at a supposedly cheaper price on Black Friday.  I'm purchasing less trivial items.  Some of those years I've knitted a gift or two too. Plus the kids have become less materialistic.  That has made it all worthwhile!

This year we decided to add another new tradition.  I used to buy a gift for each child from their siblings.  This year we decided to have them draw a sibling's name.  The rule is that they have to make a gift for the person they drew.  They have been challenged and they have been excited!  It has added an element of time for me as I act as mentor and teacher for them.  They all came up with their own ideas of what they wanted to do and took great consideration of the person they drew.  Some are making gifts from the kitchen while others are crafting their gifts.  They have been trying hard to keep their secrets and some have been bluffing about who they drew!  What I find really hilarious is that one of them thinks they know who everyone drew!  I just asked her her last suspicions and they were wrong.  I'm trying to figure out if it is really what she thinks or if she's testing me.  I can't wait to see her expressions on Christmas morning!  They are all anxiously anticipating Christmas and hoping that their gift is special!  What do I like about this new tradition?  It is teaching them a skill that they will need in their future when money is tight.  Plus I think it is going to build memories and relationship.  Aside from celebrating the birth of Jesus, I think that these are some of the most important things about Christmas.

Is there an old or new tradition that is special to you?

Why Did God Let Flies On The Ark?

I'm sure you've seen the cute signs and magnets that ask "Why Did God Let Flies On the Ark?"  I've always chuckled at them because let's be honest, flies are irritating.  And it is not just flies, but mosquitoes and other such bugs or insects.  However, after looking more at nature through the curriculum we are using, I realized something.  Flies actually do serve a purpose.

We use CNN Student News for our current events.  Today's episode talked about the decline of giraffe and frog populations.  The scientist in the segment takes recordings of the sounds of the geographical area he is researching.  He's able to tell if there is a decline in population just from the recordings and comparing them from one year to another year.  His research got me to thinking about how the decline of a species can be affected by changes in the environment and food sources.  What do frogs eat?  Insects.  He's seen a decrease in the frog population.  Hmm...  Is the environment changing?  Is there a change in the food source?  Or is there something else that is the cause of their decline?  I certainly don't know.  I'm sure he's trying to figure it out. Bats also eat insects.  Unfortunately, there is apparently a decline in bat population too.  But that is being attributed to a disease causing fungus and wind turbines.

Now I'm sure that I learned about this in school, but I never really took the time to think about it like this until today.  Maybe I can attribute this thought process to DC's Legends of Tommorrow and how one change in the time line of history affects everything and everyone else.  Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this.  Although flies are irritating, they have a place in our ecosystem.  They are decomposers that take care of garbage and dead animals.  And it seems that they are helpful in the forensic field.  Plus they are food for bigger animals.  So as irritating as they can be, if they disappeared, it would leave a big, bad impact on our world.