We're Getting Ready for Christmas!

Christmas is the most anticipated holiday in the Baird house. It starts with the chopping of the fir tree (our tradition is to do it the day after Thanksgiving) and lasts all month long with stories, singing, treats, ornaments, and visits with friends and family.

This year is especially nice because I have a whole week between Thanksgiving and December 1st to prepare for Advent. So, as I am getting ready for Christmas, I'd love to share with you some of the traditions we have in the Baird family! Maybe I will inspire you to try something new this year, or start a tradition of your own!

The first Advent tradition is to find Christmas picture books, twenty-four of them. Some I own, and some come from the library. The books are wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree, and every night, starting on December 1st, a child chooses a book to unwrap and read together. What makes this fun is the surprise of unwrapping the book, the pleasure of reading a book that is a known favorite, discovering new favorites along the way,  and, for mom and dad, not having to listen to the kids ask, "Can we open a present early? Just a peek?" My method is to wrap only a few books at a time (library books always go first), then reuse the old paper (if possible) to wrap a new book for the following night.

Need help finding some great Christmas stories? Here are a few of our favorites:

Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki
A picture book that perfectly combines Santa with the true Hero of Christmas

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This is a chapter book for read-aloud or older children, but it's best read together. You'll see Christmas with fresh eyes!

The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The old English may be hard, so I recommend reading this aloud, or listening to an audio version of it. But don't think that watching a movie of this story (even the Muppets version... my favorite) is enough. Most adaptations remove Dickens's Christian message (and his humor– that Dickens is surprisingly funny!)

Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco

A longer picture book that always moves me to tears 

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

How that traditional little candy can tell a wondrous story

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo

A simple, touching story about a girl and a homeless man

More favorites:

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

Oliver and Amanda's Christmas by Jean Van Leeuwen

Toot and Puddle: I'll be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie

Toot and Puddle: Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

The Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett

(and if you like Jan Brett's books, she has a plethora of Christmas stories: The Night Before Christmas, Who's that Knocking on Christmas Eve? The Twelve Days of Christmas, Home for Christmas)

Twenty-four days of socks!

Our other tradition involves a little more work. On a long string, I hang twenty-four Christmas-y socks (twelve pairs). In them, I put scripture passages that narrate the Christmas story, along with an ornament to match the verse. Because I have only twelve ornaments, I alternate the verses with Christmas carols that relate to the verse of the previous day, along with a little treat. (So sock #1 contains a piece of paper that reads 'Luke 1:26-38' with the ornament of Mary, and sock #2 contains a piece of paper that reads 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' and a treat.) 

Every morning, starting on December 1st, we will take down a sock, read the verses inside, and hang up the ornament, or sing a Christmas carol and enjoy a treat. There are many variations of this stocking idea that you can do. A friend of mine found verses that described a name of Jesus (the Word, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life...) which then became a clue to where a treat is hidden in the house. For example, if the clue was 'Light of the World', the prize was by a light switch or a lamp. Whatever you choose to do, make Advent a time to bring the focus of Christmas back to its origin: the beautiful, amazing, and humble birth of Emmanuel, God with us!

Christmas Story Passages with Corresponding Ornaments and Carols-

(remember that these are only a suggestion, change them to suit your needs or preferences)

Day 1-2) Luke 1:26-38~ Mary, O Come O Come Emmanuel

Day 3-4) Matt 1:18-25~ Joseph, Silent Night

Day 5-6) Luke 2:1-6~ donkey, O Little Town of Bethlehem

Day 7-8) Luke 2:7~ Jesus, Away in the Manger

Day 9-10) Luke 2:8-9~ shepherds, The First Noel

Day 11-12) Luke 2:10-14~ angels, Angels We Have Heard on High

Day 13-14) Luke 2:15-20~ sheep, Go Tell it on the Mountain

Day 15-16) Matt 2:1-6~ Magi, We Three Kings

Day 17-18) Matt 2:7-10~ Magi, O Come All Ye Faithful

Day 19-20) Matt 2:11-12~ Magi, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Day 21-22) Matt 2:13-23~ camel, What Child is This

Day 23-24) John 3:16~ mini globe, Joy to the World

…they skipped over Thanksgiving!

(A short chapter from my book, From the Mouths of Babes.)

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~ Chapter 31 ~

... they skipped over Thanksgiving!

One August day, my children and I were at the store and we couldn’t believe our eyes. Christmas decorations were glittering from plastic trees. Fake snowmen flashed their toothy grins at us, beckoning us to take them home. Toys, toys, and more toys lined the aisles. I shook my head in disbelief, then made a wide detour around the Christmas displays. After shopping for a bit, we ended up on the other side of the store, where the racks showcased Halloween costumes. Of course, my children noticed right away, and Arianna commented, “They have Halloween and Christmas, but they skipped over Thanksgiving!”

“You’re right,” I said. Thanksgiving is small beans when compared to the two biggest money-making holidays of the year. The holiday itself, Thanksgiving with an uppercase ‘T’, is sometimes overshadowed by football and feasting, while thanksgiving with a lowercase ‘t’ is often forgotten as we get caught up in Black Friday and early Christmas shopping. Yes, gifts and food are good things, but we celebrate only because God gave us reasons to celebrate. When I think about our health, our home, and Jesus– the mystery of God coming to live with us in the most rustic and unimpressive way possible– I can’t help but be truly thankful!

“Thank you God for the beach... the food... my friends... my birthday... our car... our house... Baby Jesus...”

I listen to my children pray. Their gratefulness for all things great and small makes everyday a day of thanksgiving. Even if we had no turkey, no presents, or no Christmas tree, we would still have much to celebrate!

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To purchase a copy of From the Mouths of Babes, visit Amazon.com! And come back soon for more information about my new children's book!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Thankful Heart

Sometimes, I feel that there is much to complain about.

My kitchen cabinets are literally falling apart. I lose things because the back of my drawers have fallen off.

There is some kind of pipe issue going on that causes small floods in the garage.

My children still haven't figured out how to get themselves moving in the morning. And they still complain about school every other day (at least).

My backyard is a mess...

My husband is busy...

My schedule is demanding...

I don't have time to sleep, shower, or sit for even 10 minutes of quiet…

You see how easy it is to get on the mental train of 'woe is me'?

Whenever I get on this train, I find that the words of Colossians 3:15-20 (one of my favorite passages) helps me jump onto a different train…

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and humans and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Then I know that there is much to be thankful for.

We live in a wonderful, comfortable house in a safe  neighborhood. This house has become our home over the past eight years. Two of my children have been born in my bedroom!

My children are with me almost all day, and they are with their siblings almost all day. The ratio of time spent fighting and complaining and time spent playing, helping, learning, and laughing is actually quite low. They are healthy, happy, and growing up faster than I would like!

My husband has a 15-20 minute commute. He doesn't go away on business trips. He is almost always home for dinner, and often home for breakfast too. He loves supporting his family, and is busy serving our church body and the community to the best of his ability. Sometimes this means taking an evening Bible class. Sometimes it means meeting with a young man or a dad for coffee at 7am. He loves people. But he doesn't forget to make time for me. Yesterday, he asked me, out of the blue, "Rita, how can I love you better?" I really don't deserve him.

As for me, I have the privilege to do exactly what I've always wanted to do: being a mom, homeschooling, taking care of the home, mentoring women. I have opportunities to use my gifts. I am not hindered by health issues. My life may not be perfect, but even if it was, I could still find something to complain about, if I tried hard enough. Ungratefulness often comes from pride, vanity, selfishness, and a sense of entitlement. Contentment, on the other hand, is rooted in a humble and thankful heart. So even if you are having a difficult time giving thanks right now, remember that one's level of gratefulness is not based on one's circumstances.

Let's make a practice of giving thanks to the One who gave us all things and living in such a way that all can see our thankful hearts. As our day of Thanksgiving approaches, read and meditate upon these verses. May the "word of Christ dwell in you richly!"

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. ~Psalm 136:1

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge this name. ~Hebrews 13:15

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. ~Psalm 7:17

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! ~I Chronicles 16:8

Introducing… Dorcas!

Many years ago, I was a lonely ten-year-old whose family had just moved from New York to California. I soon met my first friend, a joyful, spunky, enthusiastic girl named Dorcas. She was a year younger than me and we had much in common– Chinese parents who were devoted Christians, a home in the suburbs, weekends spent at piano lessons and church gatherings.

A few years passed, and as life changes came our way, it seemed that Dorcas and I no longer had as much in common. Sadly, Dorcas's father passed away from liver failure when she was only 14-years-old. Dorcas went on to attend Stanford University, then married her college sweetheart, who was an engineer/entrepreneur and the cofounder and CEO of d.light, the maker of solar-powered, rechargeable, LED lanterns (check them out at www.dlight.com). Now Dorcas Cheng-Tozun, she and her husband lived internationally before settling back in California to raise their two children.

Somewhere along the way, Dorcas and I reconnected on Facebook, and that was when I discovered that Dorcas was an amazing writer! With a humble, honest, beautiful, clear voice, Dorcas shared on her blog about her faith, her life as wife and mom, and her time being a Chinese-American living in China. As I read about her unique and sometimes challenging life experiences, I found myself laughing, sighing, and sympathizing with her, and our lives once again shared a commonality– one that went beyond our young, junior high, suburban lives. Now, with her talent for writing about culture, Christian faith, and the world of small-business start-ups, she is a regular contributor for Inc.com, Christianity Today, The Well, and Asian American Women on Leadership. 

Then, almost a year ago, Dorcas made an exciting announcement! A publisher was interested in her book proposal, and she had signed a contract to write a book on start-ups and family life! And all while expecting her second child! Knowing that she was one busy mama, I hesitated to ask her for an interview, but I also knew that she had such wisdom and insights to share. So I contacted her, and she kindly found the time to answer a few questions for me. Read on (and find out where you can pick up a copy of her book!)

1) Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I have also had the privilege of living in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Kenya. My husband, Ned, and I are college sweethearts who have been married for more than twelve years. We have two adorable boys who have the wonderfully unusual combination of being part Chinese, part Turkish, and part Jewish.

For the first decade of my professional career, I worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting a number of different programs and policies to empower underserved communities. But I always loved writing and found excuses to write in my jobs, whether it was writing reports, proposals, or newsletters. When my first son was born five years ago, it seemed like as good a time as any to try pursuing writing full-time. It’s been a wild, unpredictable ride, and I have loved it.

2) What passions drive you in your writing?

I firmly believe that powerful stories can transform us on a very deep level. I am especially passionate about telling true stories that delve into the messiness of human existence—the awful, the beautiful, and the profound. It is from these stories that I think we can learn the most about who we are, what connects us as fellow human beings, and how God is redeeming each of us day by day.

3) What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned as a wife?

Being a wife has taught me the importance of prioritizing my husband’s flourishing, even when it has been costly for me. Ned has a vocational calling that is extremely demanding, and the entire family has had to sacrifice significantly to support him. 

It has been far too easy for me to grow resentful of these sacrifices without acknowledging that Ned’s flourishing is directly linked to my own. As he has grown in his leadership through his business, he has become a more mature and supportive husband and father. He sees what I have given up for him and is that much more willing to sacrifice for me. Ned has been the greatest supporter of my writing career, even though it’s probably one of the least stable careers I could pursue.

4) What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned as a mother?

In a single word: grace. Grace for myself, as I see all my flaws and imperfections emerging through the daily toil of managing sleep deprivation, tantrums, and adorable little people who have a mind of their own. I have learned far more about my limitations than my abilities after becoming a mom, which has pushed me to be more humble and to be more willing to ask for help. 

Grace for my sons, of course, who are trying to find their own way and establish their own identities in this world. Grace for my husband, who is a fantastic dad, even though his time with the family is limited. 

And grace for all the other moms out there, who are juggling kids and housework and vocation and community service and more. None of us are doing it perfectly, but we’re all trying our best, and we deserve to be acknowledged for our efforts.

5) What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned as a daughter of the King?

Like many kids of Asian immigrant parents, I’ve struggled for years with striving, achievement, people-pleasing, and perfectionism. Over the past decade or so, God has been slowly unraveling the false idea that I am only as good or valuable as what I can accomplish. He has been teaching me that my worth is in my identity as his beloved—just as the worth of every other individual is as his beloved as well. 

While this is a lesson that I am still very much in the middle of learning, in recent years I have felt far greater freedom to take risks, to try new things, and to be (somewhat) okay with failing. My life is so much richer when I am less burdened by the need to prove myself or earn others’ approval. I can instead lean into the unpredictable adventure that God has me and my family on.

6)  What is the best way for readers to get a hold of your book?

As of November 7, my first book, entitled Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World (Hachette Center Street), will be available wherever books are sold! You can get the hardcover version, e-book, or audio book through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. Hopefully you’ll also be able to find it in your local bookstore.

As you can imagine, this book was inspired by my real-life experience. My hope is that this will be a helpful, practical guidebook for couples that are struggling to balance marriage and family with growing a business. And it’ll also tell you a lot more about the life lessons I’ve learned as the wife of an entrepreneur.

To read an excerpt from Dorcas's book, or to read Dorcas's other published works, visit her website, www.chengtozun.com. And thank you so much, Dorcas, for taking the time to answer my questions! Congratulations on your new publishing venture!