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I know, I know it\u2019s not even Thanksgiving yet. . .and seeing the word \u201cChristmas\u201d may trigger a mix of excitement\xa0and\xa0terror.

My goal in this episode is to help prepare you. To empower you in sharing with your kids the good news of God taking on flesh and dwelling among us. To help you create meaningful family traditions that\xa0your\xa0kids can \xa0pass on to the next generation.

Today\u2019s guest is my good friend,\xa0Jacki Rucksdashel, author of\xa0the Jesse Tree Project. She is a mom to two amazing kids, a former classical education teacher and a darling, godly woman.

Jacki and I chat about the value of creating Biblically-based Christmas traditions. Fortunately, there are lots of options these days for families\xa0to celebrate Advent. \xa0We\u2019re gonna help you sort through them so you can stay sane in the holiday cray-cray.

Jacki & I encourage you to pick one (maybe two) of the options. And to consider your family\u2019s interests, ages, and values when choosing. We also share personal stories of our \u201cless-than-perfect\u201d attempts at memory making. And how to be realistic when celebrating the holidays with little ones.

Loved this from Jacki, sharing the heart behind this conversation:

Am I teaching my children that Christmas is about busyness? \xa0Or am I teaching my children that Christmas is about sitting at Jesus\u2019s feet, and resting, and enjoying his birth and the fulfilling of the promise?\xa0It can get so easy so forget that, even in doing all the good things.

• Choosing a few, enjoyable traditions for your family, instead of ALL of them
• Why are Christmas traditions such a big deal, anyway?
• You can be your family\u2019s first tradition-starter
• The Jesse Tree Project, and how it\u2019s made\xa0especially\xa0for families with young children
• Using children\u2019s anticipation for Christmas to mirror the Bible\u2019s anticipation for a Savior
• Our own funny stories of how \u201cperfectly planned\u201d traditions turned out\u2026um\u2026less than\xa0perfect (i.e.: being realistic)
• Why it\u2019s a good thing Jesus is NOT like Santa or the Elf on the Shelf
• Other great tradition starters for young children: Shepard on a Search, Star from Afar, The Giving Manger, Light \u2018Em Up
• How to \u201cmix and match\u201d to find the right fit for your family
• Setting priorities by reverse-engineering from Dec 26 and what you would consider a (realistic) successful holiday.

• \nThe Jesse Tree Project\xa0&\xa0How to Lead a Group\n
• \nUnwrapping the Greatest Gift\xa0**
• \nTruth in the Tinsel\xa0(OhAmanda\xa0Episode 3)
• \nVisiting Santa\xa0(Heather\u2019s thoughts on using Santa to teach grace)
• \nElf on the Shelf\xa0**
• Shepherd on a Search
• Star from Afar
• The Giving Manger
• \nLight Em Up\xa0(Courtney DeFeo\xa0Episode 50)