The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: The Nativity Story

We're half way through The 12 Days of Christmas Movies! We go from an animated story of a child with his Blanket telling the true meaning of Christmas, to a real life depiction of the events themselves! The Nativity Story.

It brings to life what it may have been like to actually live through the birth of Jesus. Mary a peasant teenager & Joseph the man she is engaged to find out they are chosen to be the parents of the Savior of the World. Wow! It's very well done. It's lovely, and moving, and yes, it's even quite funny! :)

Joseph: An angel came to me. He told me the child within you had been conceived by the Holy Spirit and that I should not be afraid.
Mary: Are you afraid?
Joseph: Yes.
[laughing]
Joseph: Are you?
Mary: Yes. Do you ever wonder when we'll know?
Joseph: Know what?
Mary: When he is more than just a child.
Will it be something he says? A look in his eyes?
Joseph: I wonder if I will even be able to teach him anything.

I have a beautiful Porcelain Nativity set my Mother-in-Law gave to me. And my Father-in-Law made the wooden stable for it! I Love it. But when my kids were little, they loved to reenact the story! They would bang the pieces together, scaring me to death that they were going to break it! So I got smart. I bought them their own manger scene that is unbreakable, that they can put up & retell the story as many times as they want to!

And over the years, as you can see, the Baby Jesus has had many visitors
including Mickey & Minnie Mouse,
a Cabbage Patch Angel,
Santa & Frosty! :)

I even have a tiny Nativity that goes on our Tree!

When my Mom moved out of her house after my Dad passed away
she gave me a little Amish Nativity she had.
It is so cute and sits in my Kitchen Window.

And one of my favorite "Manger scenes" is one my Aunt Bert made for me,
It shows Santa Clause kneeling before the Baby Jesus.

Do you put a manger scene up in your house? I would love to hear about your favorite Nativities, weather they are from your childhood or your adulthood! Put a link to a picture to share with all of us! :) I also have a few real life favorites: We were in a Church plant when my girls were little, and the preschoolers acted out the Manger scene during the Children's Christmas play. Well this year we had NO little boys in our Church at the time so my two girls had to play Mary AND Joseph! Now I've heard of married couples starting to look alike, but this is ridiculous! :)

Lexi as Joseph (in Brown)
and Erica as Mary.

And then a couple of years later they were the Angels . . .

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Another Day, Another Movie! Thinking (and Blogging) about allowing my kids to believe in Santa Clause and how that may or may not affect the way they think about God, led me to think of another great Christmas Movie! One that discuses & then shares what Christmas REALLY is all about. And when I said this was going to be my next movie, my daughter Lexi shouted, That is the BEST Christmas Movie Ever! What is it? None other than A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I hope this movie makes you as happy as it does us! And that you never get tired of watching it year after year. It's just so sweet! There are so many memorable parts in this little movie. Like the little girl who asks "Do Inn Keeper's wives have naturally curly hair?" (you probably know why I like that one!) :) Or when Charlie Brown is told: "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you are the Charlie Browniest!" Here are some other of my favorite parts & lines . . .

Schroeder: This is the music I've selected for the Christmas play.
[Schroeder plays Fur Elise]
Lucy: What kind of Christmas music is *that*?
Schroeder: Beethoven Christmas music.
Lucy: What has Beethoven got to do with Christmas? Everyone talks about how "great" Beethoven was. Beethoven wasn't so great.
[Schroeder stops playing]
Schroeder: What do you mean Beethoven wasn't so great?
Lucy: He never got his picture on bubblegum cards, did he? Have you ever seen his picture on a bubblegum card? Hmmm? How can you say someone is great who's never had his picture on bubblegum cards?
Schroeder: Good grief.

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really.
Maybe it just needs a little love."

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward the center of the stage]
Linus: Lights, please.
[a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: The Santa Clause

Okay, we're 4 day's into The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies! Hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. It's obvious I love Christmas Movies! And when I asked my followers on Twitter what are some of their favorites, this next one came up several times. And I love it too for several reasons.

It's The Santa Clause! The main reason I love this movie is that it answers every question you ever wanted to know about Santa! And how he does what he does. Like me, I'm sure you've wondered about a few things. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona so my house did not have a fire place. I knew he came in through the fire place, and I wanted to know how Santa got in to houses like mine. This movie holds the answer! It's the magic of Christmas brought to life!

"Seeing isn't Believing.
Believing is Seeing."

Just yesterday my son Zach was saying to me, he can't believe as intelligent as he always was, that he believed in Santa for so long. (He thinks it was up until about Fifth Grade!) I told him it was ONLY because he has such an Awesome Mom! (If I do say so myself! and I do!) :) When ever my kids would begin to question, or they had heard something from someone at school, I just told them, "well, I believe in Santa" and let them take it from there. Kids are faced with too harsh a reality for the rest of their lives. I say part of our job as a parent is to encourage imagination in them when they are little. "Who gave you permission to tell Charlie there was no Santa Claus? I think if we're going to destroy our son's delusions, I should be a part of it." (Scott Calvin, The Santa Clause)

"I'm seeing someone in Gift Wrap!"

Zach also told me his College English Professor told their class that the day he stopped believing in Santa, was the day he stopped believing in God. That is so sad. I doubt God was a regular in his home growing up. People have questioned me about the Santa -vs- God issue. And my take on it is this: I could see a child comparing the two if God, like Santa, was only talked about at one time of the year. In that case I can see how a child might confuse the two. But if God is talked about & talked TO & Worshiped each & every day of the year in your household, I don't see the harm in allowing your children to believe in Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc. Studies show that children who grow up encouraged to use their imagination, and play make believe, are generally more intelligent, as well as happier. That's just my humble opinion, you of course have to decide whats right for your family.

"Tinsel. Not just for Decoration!"
E.L.F.S.

This movie also answers questions about the Elves, the North Pole, the sleigh & the Reindeer. Not to mention what "There arose such a clatter" really means! :) It helps you to understand how Santa travels the world in just one night. And I know you've thought about it! What happens if he should ever fall off the roof? How does one become Santa? Questions all answered in this movie. And it's just plain ol' F.U.N. It will really put you in the Christmas spirit!

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
When I get home I'm getting a CAT scan!"

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

I've written about a "classic" Christmas movie, a newer Christmas movie, and now I'm adding a cartoon . . . After all, what would a Christmas Movie List be without Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer on it?!

This movie came out in 1964, which just happens to be the year I was born! :) It's about one of Santa's Reindeer that happens to be born "different" from the rest. A birth defect, if you will. His nose is red, not black like a Reindeer's nose should be, and it glows! He is ridiculed by his classmates, even bullied, and decides to run away. He meets up with Hermey, an Elf, who dreams of being a Dentist, thus not fitting in with the other Elves, who has also run away. Together they set out looking for a place they can fit in.

"Why am I such a misfit?
I am not just a nit-wit."

They happen upon The Island of Misfit Toys, where all the toys who are no longer played with, or are damaged or broken live. I remember as a little girl being heart broken for those toys, wanting to bring them to my house, so they would no longer feel like misfits. But even among mis-fits, Rudolph & Hermey don't quite fit in.

"A Toy is never truly Happy until it is Loved by a Child."

It gets very intense, and keeps you on the edge of your seat, as together they struggle through getting lost, bad weather, and being chased by The Abominable Snowman. (And you thought he didn't exist!) I don't want to give the ending away, (just by chance, the one person in the world who has never seen it, just happens to be reading my Blog. haha) but our misfits end up Hero's by saving Christmas. No longer teased, or made fun of, but now the ones everyone else wants to be like! They even help Santa find homes for the misfit toys! A real Happy ending!

"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: The Family Man

It's day 2 of The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies! And this one is getting personal! We did a classic film first and this one is more modern. The Family Man. This film is the flip side of It's A Wonderful Life, in which the main character gets to see what the world would be like if he were never born. In this one, the main character gets the chance to see what his life would be like if he had taken a different path in life. If he had chosen Love over Career! It is so good.


It stars Nicolas Cage. It's a very touching movie in which you can almost see the paradigm shift as his way of thinking & looking at life changes. It's a glimpse into what could have been. He goes from being a single guy living in Manhattan, working on Wall Street, to a Husband & Father, living in Jersey, working for his Father-In-Law, selling tires. Ouch!

It's really a funny movie! The little girl who plays his daughter is so stinking cute. And you know I know stinking cute little girls! :) Please, go to Blockbuster or the Red Box tonight if you have never seen this movie! I promise you, you will love it! Would I lie?

"I Choose Us!"

Another reason The Family Man is one of my most favorite Holiday movies is that the year it came out, 2000, was the year my sister Debbie was battling cancer. I lived out of state then & came home to spend what would be her last Christmas with her. This was the last movie we saw together in the theater. We both loved it!

Our last Christmas together.
Sharing sister pictures.

I wanted you to see a picture of us
when Debbie was young & healthy!

I still think of her every time I watch it! And her husband Tom's Birthday is today, December 4th. He went to be with her in Heaven this year. And watching this movie every year brings me a little bit closer to them. (I warned you that this one was personal!)

Tom & Debbie with Santa

The Family Man truly is a Holiday family movie classic for me and my family, and I hope it becomes one for you and yours as well.

"Don't screw up the best thing in your life
just because you're a little unsure about who you are."

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: It's A Wonderful Life

This month on the Blog I'm celebrating the 12 day's of Christmas through some of my favorite Christmas movies! I love Christmas movies! I've Blogged before about Jingle All The Way which always reminds me of when my boys were little. We try to have Forbis Family Fun Nights where we all stay home & watch the movies we love so much. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite movies of the season with you and why they mean so much to me. Starting with one of the best Christmas movies of all time: It's A Wonderful Life.

Who can forget George Bailey lassos the moon while singing Buffalo Gal, walking Mary home from the dance. He had such a promising future ahead of him, then when things go wrong he wishes he'd never been born. Sadly we've all been there. Only for George, he gets his wish and a great gift! A chance to see what the world would be like without him. He realizes that no man is a failure who has friends! And that one man's life touches so many others. That's something we all need to be reminded of at times. We watch It's A Wonderful life every year, and every year it brings tears to my eyes.

And remember:
"Every time a bell rings an Angel gets his wings!"

Thankful Thursday

As a little girl, I remember waking up on Thanksgiving morning & smelling the smells of delicious food cooking & hearing the sounds of family, and the Thanksgiving Day Parade on T.V. I still love watching the parade every year! It's changed over the years. Modern music & dancing has been added. But a few things are still the same, the giant balloons, marching bands, and The Thanksgiving Day Parade ends the exact same way year after year, with the arrival of Santa!

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Then and Now!

Yes, on this Thankful Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, I am Thankful for the Holidays! Especially Christmas! I LOVE all things Christmas! The Movies: some of my favorites are It's a Wonderful Life, The Family Man, Elf, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Jingle All the Way, (this list could go on forever, so I'll stop there.) I love the decorations & the lights, the traditions we do together as a family like going to see Christmas lights, getting the kids picture taken with Santa (yes even at this age!) making cookies.

I love the music: too many favorites to name! I really don't get people getting upset at hearing Christmas music before Thanksgiving! I mean you think I had committed the unpardonable sin. And come on, there is no Thanksgiving music! You listen to "regular" music 11 months of the year, and Christmas music for maybe 4 weeks. But if I turn on the Christmas music before Thanksgiving look out. People on the rampage! I think Christmas music just lifts your spirits! Even here in Phoenix, in the middle of summer with the temperature at 122 degrees, if someone is having a Christmas in July sale & you hear a little Jingle Bells, it just makes you happy & brightens your day! Am I wrong? No. And Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, are all part of the Holiday season. And I think Christmas music celebrates them all. I'm not skipping Thanksgiving or forgetting about it by turning the Christmas music on early! I'm just enjoying it more!

It's never too early for Christmas in my opinion. And working in retail only confirms that theory. Retail of course is always a season ahead. If you wait till summer to start shopping for a bathing suit, you'll have a hard time finding a good one, cause there gone! And the Holidays start early in retail, we have to be ready when the shoppers are! That's why you'll always see items out early, if stores waited until you were ready to start decorating, you couldn't find what you needed, and everyone would be fighting to get what they want when they need it. So lets stop the complaining! This is the time to be Merry! When my family came to visit my Bath & Body Works store right after Halloween, and saw how it was decorated for the Holidays & that we were playing Christmas music, the first words out of their mouths was "This is the perfect place for you to work!" :) And their right. And It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

There really is something to The Christmas Spirit!

People are just more Thankful & Giving!
Have a wonderful day today with those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving
and
Happy Holidays!