Tweaking things a bit

Occasionally, I post a plan only to discover it is not working quite as smoothly as I had hoped. The other day, I mentioned an activity called Wise Men's Gifts as part of our Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany Tea. The idea itself --preparing boxes of monetary and spiritual gifts for the Baby Jesus representing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh--could be adapted as an Advent activity next year, but we have not managed to pull it together this week.

Instead, the three older children are going to write letters on behalf of our family containing promises to the Christ Child for the coming year. Here is a sample of how a child's letter might sound. (I will encourage the girls to use their own wording, or this could just as easily be prepared by Mom):

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for listening to the prayers of our family. In memory of the gift of Frankincense, we offer you all our prayers and thoughts during the New Year.

We love you with all our hearts.

The Gunther Family

The children could enclose the letters in pretty envelopes or decorative boxes to represent the Gifts. They also might enjoy taking turns reading them aloud at the table or by the creche. This is what we can manage for this year, and hopefully it will work well.

It just so happens that I have a very special surprise for the Tea picked up at an after Christmas sale this afternoon, but because my daughters read this blog, mum's the word for now. In the meantime, please pay a visit to our Creche in the Woods.

Comments

[leticia]

I like the idea of the letters for the coming year in the Three Kings boxes. Nice touch, Alice.

[Meredith]

I love the letter idea, so simple and yet very effective at getting the point across!! Thanks for sharing this one!