Holiday simplicity, attempted...

My mom cracks me up. On the phone the other day she said, "Metta, our family is keeping the holidays simple this year..." (which we say every year, by the way... we could probably consider it one of our holiday traditions), and then in the same breath she added, "So I've sent you a few boxes, and they are full of gifts for you to open, one each day for the Twelve Days of Christmas.".


Not only did the numbered gifts arrive, but embedded in the boxes were a few sheets of paper stapled together, with the illustrated story of Jesus' birth separated into messages for each of the twelve days prior to Christmas. Each day we come a little closer to the birth of the baby Jesus in the readings, and each day's reading ends with a suggested activity or service. It has made each night a lot of fun, to have a new present and a message to look forward to! Thanks Mom!