© 1988, 1993 by Ann Hibbard

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Previously published by Baker Books in 1993 under the title Family Celebrations at Christmas

Ebook edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3793-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Unless otherwise noted, hymns are in the public domain and no copyright acknowledgment is necessary. Angels We Have Heard on High, © 1937, Fleming H. Revell, renewed © 1965, H. Augustine Smith Jr., is used by permission of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.

Contents

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Part 1:   A Fresh Approach to the Holidays

  1.   What’s Missing at Christmas?

  2.   Steps to a Happier Christmas

Part 2:   Advent Devotions

  3.   A Note to Parents

  4.   Advent Devotions Year One

  5.   Advent Devotions Year Two

Part 3:   Celebrations

  6.   Celebrating Christmas and Epiphany

  7.   Family Worship at Christmas

  8.   Twelfth Night Party

Part 4:   Resources

  9.   Instructions: Advent Tree Banner

10.   Instructions: Jesse Tree

11.   Instructions: Advent Wreath

12.   Symbol Patterns

13.   Hymns

Back Ad

What a relief! I thought as I finished addressing the last parcel wrapped in brown grocery bag paper. Our dining room looked as though a tornado had struck. Wrapping paper, grocery bags, scissors, tape, and old gift boxes were strewn everywhere. Fortunately, both kids were down for naps (a true miracle!), so I had been able to finish my Christmas wrapping without worrying about little fingers.

Turning my back on the mess, I retreated to the kitchen to put on the teakettle. I deserved a reward—a nice hot cup of Swiss Mocha.

“I hope everyone likes what we got them,” I said to myself. I had certainly worked hard enough at it, trying to find gifts that people didn’t already have, that suited their interests or their style, and that didn’t overreach our limited budget. My stomach twisted into knots at the thought of all the money I had spent—yet I had been as frugal as possible, I silently argued.

Slowly I carried my steaming mug into the living room and curled up on the ...