Many years ago, we decided that we wanted Christmas to be more meaningful than just “kids GETTING presents”. After all, it is the time we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus. We wanted to cut down on the commercialism, and have the gifts to have some kind of meaning. Somewhere, I had heard or read of a family that gave gifts that represented JOY. I didn’t catch all the details, but we know enough about what JOY represents to the Christian that it was easy enough to apply to gift giving. From then on, we started giving gifts for Christmas to our children that represent JOY.

Our gifts represent
J– things that remind them about Jesus
O- something that they can do with or for others
Y– something that they really want

Each letter may have one or several gifts, depending on the child’s age, wants, and available funds. We also add extra gifts to wear and their stockings are filled with all kinds of fun treats.

Ideas for each letter might include:

J- could be a Christian book, Bible, devotional or CD
O- a game, or craft to make for someone
Y- something that they really want could be anything

Gift to wear-socks, underwear, the usual stuff, or new outfits, one year it was a coat that #2 was begging for.

Our stockings are pretty big. I put many small things in their stockings. I try to get little things that each one likes… like maybe special candy, little toys that I have picked up through the year and put away, make up, chap stick, the boys like beef sticks and canned little sausages.

Another thing I like to do for Christmas is to make a large basket of “breakfast junk food” that everyone shares. This includes Little Debbie type snacks, granola bars, and pop tarts….all the stuff that I usually do not buy.

The past few years, the kids have wanted to get each other gifts. So we started taking them to the dollar store, and allowing them to pick one thing for each family member. They are very thoughtful and careful at their choices. The oldest two have moved up from dollar store gifts since they have gotten jobs, but that was their choice.

We always read Luke 2:1-20 before opening gifts. All of my children could quote most of those verses at one time. Jeff usually reads, occasionally one of the kids read, but usually, those who have memorized it end up quoting it word for word with him. They like to “surprise him” every year. The pictures here are from 2009 and 2017.

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When we open gifts, we start with the J gifts, then the O gifts, and then the Y gifts. Then we do the gifts to each other, or sometimes we start with the gifts to each other. Just as long as there is some kind of order and not chaos. Then they can dump their stockings. We do keep a trash bag and keep things calm and orderly, but even though there is calm and order to the gift giving, the trash ALWAYS ends up everywhere. There is no way around that. It is part of the day….as you see in the pictures.
Christmas does not have to cost a fortune. Careful planning and thoughtfulness can make a meaningful Christmas for all.

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One last thing we have done all along, is have a little Christmas tree for the younger kids to decorate. You can see it in some of the above pictures tucked next to the piano. They can decorate it however they like. This is where they put all their ornaments that they make. We are not talking about the “special ornaments”. I am talking about all my kids have loved to craft. They make DOZENS of ornaments EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. They are made out of foam, wood, construction paper, stained plastic, markers, paint….anything and everything. It all goes on their tree. At the end of the year, we decide on a FEW to save and the rest goes in the trash because we are done with them. They understand that we cannot keep them all. Sometimes they hang on to a few in their room, but eventually, they end up throwing them away when they are tired of seeing them. Just another little thing to keep everyone happy and the clutter somewhat under control.