This week at our House # 52 Christmas 2019

We had a nice small Christmas. We have learned a lot from being poor, and one of those things is that Christmas can be very nice and very spiritual without the emphasis on gifts. I spent $60 on all 12 kids, and they were all quite happy with what they got. I have learned to find things that they want or like or need that fit into a small budget.

Here is a poem I wrote about our Christmas Eve:

Christmas Eve

Many candles lit the room

some on one side, some on another

some set in front of the creche

reflecting light on the miniature stable

and the porcelain baby Jesus.

The tree in the corner stood

lighted in tiny colors

yet the room remained dim.

We sat together

on couches and chairs and stools

the baby sat in his rocking horse

dimples showing with his smiles

an infantile delight.

And we sang the songs of Christmas--

Angels, and Shepherds and Silent Nights

then read aloud and discussed

harmonious...

two hours passed

as light and knowledge

enveloped our family shrine

with a Spirit of Peace

Some fun things this year:

Ruth made bean bags for the boys, particularly Adam who is learning how to juggle. She had Anya and Rachel help her with the sewing.

Ruth and Kate helped me with all of the shopping, and made sure I stayed within the budget I had set.

Johnny and Adam helped me get all of the scrap metal from our yard, including our broken dryer which has been in the garage, to sell for cash for Christmas. When we were at the scrap metal place, they had a contest to see who could throw the metal the farthest.

Johnny and Adam used scrap wood that we had to carve toy guns for the little boys. Josh, Joseph,

Sam, and even Gideon have loved them.

Rachel had asked for a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book and crayons for Christmas. I said I doubt that would happen because it was so specific. Well, the Lord blessed her, probably for her humility and frugality, and there was exactly one strawberry shortcake coloring book at the dollar store.

Rachel and Anya got craft supplies from my mom when we went 3 days before Christmas. When we got home, they got to work sewing mini, cute, decorated hand bags for Susan and Arwen.

Joseph learned to play "Hark the Herold Angels Sing" on the piano this Christmas and asked us to sing it many times so that he could play the song.

Joshua got a measuring tape and began measuring everything as we opened presents.

Arwen has been trying really hard to color her coloring books as nicely and carefully as Rachel.

Susan got shiny red shoes from my mom and LOVES them so much that she has taken them to bed with her and cried over them a few times.

Samuel called Christmas "Miss miss" he also calls Swiss Miss hot chocolate, "miss miss". Sam

surprised me by remembering Christmas and everything about it. I had one tender moment with Sam and Susan looking at our little porcelain baby Jesus. My mom bought Sam a helicopter and a train the can unscrew and he has loved that. I bought him his own real set of dollar store screw drivers and a real measuring tape. He keeps them with the rest of our tools, but to the side. It's really cute.

Gideon had his first Christmas and I think he is all in. He liked opening presents, Christmas lights, and candle lights.

And here is one more poem I wrote about Christmas that got read on a radio program in the midwest on Christmas Eve:

A Christmas Theme

"For God so loved the world..."

What is this love... this precious gift?
How can we know?
I sit in a room with lights on low
staring at the tree
colored lights aglow

I ponder on this Heavenly story
the Lord of all, not born in glory:

No bed offered the expecting Mother
shunned and disdained, cast out from the others.
Joseph took Mary to an animal stall,
where Mary bore the God of all

Born into the world,
a baby, poor
one would think

God would be given more

Still in the sky, a new star appeared.
A blessed night, forever revered.

And I think, as the story is told
there is a theme that unfolds

Shepherds watched their sheep in the night
when suddenly appeared a heavenly light.
They fell back in earthly fear,
as an angel of God, to them, appeared.

“Fear not, I bring tidings of great joy”
“To every man, woman, girl, and boy”

The Shepherds, ancient people poor,
an angel to them, testimony bore.
The angel did not come to tell the king.
To the wealthy, he had no message to bring.

Christ, the Savior, born in a stall
The Father's gift to one and all

Sent the message to the humble, disdained and poor
and told them to bare testimony more

For God does not esteem
palaces, riches, and kings.
Instead, Christ to the world
with His message to bring,
came into the world without glory,
so we could understand this important story:
gold and silver are not what's right,
instead seek for humility
and a heart contrite.