We were at Blake’s parents house doing our annual “Soup Night- Decorate the Tree” night.  

Our children were here and there hanging ornaments,  playing, and looking at the cartoons in the daily newspaper when I overheard Mumsie (Blake’s mom) ask Calvin (5th born) to teach Theodore (6th born) the Christmas story using the Little People Fisher Price set of a manger scene. 

Calvin chose an object from the set. Then he put it down. He picked up another piece not saying a word and simply placed it back down.  Finally he said, 

“I don’t know anything about this Christmas story to teach Theodore.”  

Clearly, I have a little work cut out for me this Advent season.  😂

A few minutes later we asked Wilks (4th born) to teach Calvin the Christmas story using the Little People set. 

Wilks begins telling the beautiful story of how Mary and Joseph traveled all the way to Bethlehem and while they were there the time came for their son to be born…… 

After a few minutes, Wilks looks up at me and says, “I am sorry but you’re going to have to tell him, Mama, this is impossible.” I look over to see Calvin upside down on his head tumbling around the floor. 

I have laughed recalling that day. 

You see the year Calvin was born I began teaching the older children how to memorize Luke 2- the Christmas story.  It has been so beautiful hearing the children tell from memory what happened on that first Christmas night.   So…….the Christmas story isn’t exactly new for Calvin….. 

But it was my reminder that as a mother, whether I have one child or several, I mustn’t forget or tire of teaching them the glorious news of how our Savior gave up all of Heaven to be born a man and to ultimately die on behalf of our sins. 

 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

It never gets old. 

I just may have to learn to change my tactics. Maybe stand on my head to teach it to those rowdy boys. 

And oh what a glorious Christmas to get to teach Theodore for the very first time about the baby Jesus and how deeply He loves him.  His forever family gets to wake up this Christmas morning without that heavy ache we had last year knowing he was around the world in China waiting for us to move a mountain to get him to us. 

A Glorious Christmas indeed!