Blue Jeans and Cotton Tees

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was on last night.

I watched it with the kids – all five of them – even the teenagers. We sang right along with the songs; jumped in fright when the Bumble prepared to eat Clarisse; and cheered when Herbie removed all his teeth.

It’s a classic. An event. A tradition that we enjoy once a year.

As I sat there last night I remembering sitting at home with my siblings doing the very same thing – only the TV was black and white.

Just hearing Burl Ives singing “Silver and Gold” brought back a flood of memories. I could almost smell the Christmas tree and taste Dad’s caramel corn.

I remembered visiting Santa at the firehouse and getting a brown paper sack of goodies (salted peanuts at the bottom, a candy cane, and apple and orange.)

I remembered Christmas Eve – dressing up and saying our “pieces” in the Church Christmas program, then hurrying home to hang our stockings on the couch (we had no fireplace) and taking the traditional pajama picture before going to bed to wait for sleep to come.

I remembered slipping out of bed, tiptoeing to my sister’s room with my other siblings to wait for Santa. We would giggle and talk and send out an occasional spy until we got caught.

I remembered waking up at dawn and running to the Christmas tree to see if Santa had come, before running to Mom and Dad’s room and literally pulling them out of bed.

I remembered the chocolate Santa and animal crackers in my stocking, the happy confusion of unwrapping gifts, and the special breakfast of little smokies sausages and Pillsbury pastries from a tube (rare treats from my “make-everything homemade” mom).

I remember Christmas dinner at grandpa and grandma’s house, opening more presents, and playing with cousins before heading to the other grandma’s house for an oyster soup supper on Christmas night.

Such rich memories.

As the credits rolled last night I couldn’t help but wonder just what my kids will remember.

What sights and sounds of Christmas will trigger their memories?

I only hope they are as rich and wonderful as mine are.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

It’s a wrap.

We got Mary and the donkey, some surprised shepherds and even some irate taxpayers in Bethlehem.

There were shepherds and angels romping in the grass,  Roman soldiers wearing aluminum foil armor, and Coco the pony who played the part of the donkey with great finesse.

We were so thankful that the weather held long enough for us to finish all the shots we needed for the Sunday School Christmas video.

This video will be played as a part of our annual Christmas program.  Since our church is so small, we don’t have enough children to have a full choir and a nativity scene – so we tape it ahead of time.

The kids love it – dressing up and acting – then watching themselves later on the big screen at church.

Even though it’s a crazy day herding excited and tired children through the various scenes – I love seeing my ideas come to life.

And I really love when those special “unplanned” moments happen.

Like when the sun shone through the window at just the right angle at just the right moment to look like star light as we filmed the stable scene.

And when the old nail the Roman soldier used to hang up the royal edict on the census reflected on the paper and looked like a cross.

But my favorite part is knowing that the not only am I  forever capturing a moment in our church family – but I am teaching these little ones to give back and to serve.

And that is worth all the effort!

Last night I once again directed our church’s annual Children’s Christmas Program.

I love the Christmas Program.

To some it may be just a tradition, but not to me.  To me it’s one of the most important things I do during the Christmas season.

Why would I say that?

It’s not just because the kids are so cute- although they are! Last night the littlest angel refused to go on stage- she wanted to sit in Grandma’s lap instead!

It’s not because it’s the easiest job in the world to corral a group of kids on sugar-overload to remember their lines and sing the right words in tune at the right time. It’s not.

The reason the program is so important to me is simple: “out of the mouth of babes”.

For many the true meaning of Christmas, the message of salvation, is more easily heard when it comes from the mouths of children. People who wouldn’t think of entering the doors of the church will come in to see a little one dressed as a shepherd and saying his part…

“I am just a shepherd boy little Jesus…”

It’s for all those moms and dads and grandpa’s and grandma’s and aunts and uncles and friends in the audience that the Christmas Program is given.

And that makes it all worthwhile!