I have many memories of different ways I have counted down in childhood. But none of the memories are very clear or complete. I don't remember many details. I know as a young child that Mom would take me to Mentor mall and we would wait in line to talk to Santa. I have several pictures of these times. I know we usually shopped Black Friday at the Mentor mall too. It was the only mall that was close within 40 miles. I remember one year we went to Cleveland's Euclid square lighting of the Christmas tree. It was very pretty and it wasn't too cold or much snow yet. But that is about all the memories I have of shopping for Christmas etc. I remember more the years we went and cut our own Christmas trees but that is another topic.
Since I moved away from home when I was 18 years old. David and I have changed our countdowns. We wanted our kids to know that Christmas wasn't about presents but about Jesus and his reason for coming. Now we pick songs to sing in church for Christmas eve service, doing our parts for the local area nursing homes (Nativity play), and getting ready for the Live Nativity. We also get our horse drawn sleigh ride when we do the Live Nativity. Yes, we do the play even if it is -20 outside. People actual do still come.
We do presents but they are not the most important part of our Christmas. Our kids now look forward to doing all the giving things at Christmas and the most important welcoming Jesus into our lives.
So what do you do in your waiting part of Christmas?
