I love Christmas. I love the music, the lights, the gifts. I love everything about it. But mostly I love the story. Quite honestly it has all the elements of a great story. A protagonist that’s impossible not to root for, an antagonist that you love to hate. Scandal, suspense, unlikely heroes and just enough mystery to keep you guessing.

The problem is that far too often the story gets lost in the lights. The gifts under the tree trump the greatest gift and the real message is left crumpled and forgotten amidst the wrapping paper.

As my children have gotten older, it has become more important to instill in them the truth and impact of Christmas. So last year, I looked for some tool, a book or website, that would help in my efforts. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t find what I was looking for. And then in quiet whispers and eventually loud shouts, God prompted me to create something. So with an obedient but trepidatious heart, I embarked on a writing journey and came up with a family advent devotional for the month of December.

After test marketing it last year, I am proud to present it to all of you. The devotional, “When Love Came to Earth”, is a deck of 25 table cards to be read and discussed as a family. It was written for families with kids ages 8 and up with special emphasis on middle and high schoolers. Each set is $18 with an extra $2 for shipping if you don’t live local. If you’re interested, feel free to comment on this post, message me on Facebook, or shoot me an email (bugndoodle@mac.com).

Christmas is almost upon us dear friends. Let’s get our hearts ready.