Karol's focus for us was on getting Christmas back to Christ with a strong emphasis on Advent. Karol had many resources and project ideas like A Box of Blessings: A Family Advent Project by Kathy Collard Miller, and Have a great holiday and still be able to afford to eat in January. Also, a gentle reminder for the Christmas season: Love, I Corinthians 13 Style.
We learned the hidden meaning behind the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" According to popular tradiiton, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly from 1558 until 1829. During that era this carol was written as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
Carol had for us a list of Christmas resources:
Preparing My Heart for Advent: A Spiritual Pilgrimage for the Christmas Season by Ann Marie Stewart; AMG publishers, 2005
Family Celebrations: Meeting Christ in Your Holidays and Special Occasions by Ann Hibbard; Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishers
Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas: Ideas from A-Z by Sharon Jaynes; Moody press
The Adventure of Christmas Subtitle: Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions-A Mom's Guide by Lisa Welchel; Multnomah Gifts, Multnomah PublishersA Keepsake Christmas by Alice Gray and Susan Wells; J Countryman
Karol also had several internet references for us:
http://www.annieshomepage.com/
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/christmas_page2.html
http://robinsfyi.com/holidays/christmas/christmasbudgetn.htm
www.stretcher.com/index.cfm
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/
www.just4kidsmagazine.com/advent.html
Audrey's Christmas page
Thank you so much Karol!
