Christmas gift ideas, carols and delicious Meringue Mushrooms help Day 7 in the 25 Days of Christmas 2008 (Countdown to Christmas) be festive and full of good cheer.
Merry Christmas!
Bible Verse of the Day
- Exodus 31:17-18 (New Century Version)
The Sabbath day will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, because in six days I, the Lord, made the sky and the earth. On the seventh day I did not work; I rested.' "
When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets with the Agreement written on them, written by the finger of God.
I live in the south, in an area known as "the Bible belt" so on Sundays, malls and department stores don't generally open until 1 pm to give both employees and shoppers alike time to go to church. However, once the Christmas shopping season kicks in, all bets are off where store hours are concerned. Many stores open much earlier even going so far as to offer "early bird" discounts in an attempt to extend their money-making hours.
I'm not going to preach that going to the mall instead of church will get you in trouble with God, but I will say that for me, no matter how good the sale prices look, you won't find me in the mall on Sunday morning. I just can't imagine standing before the Lord and having Him ask me what I did with His Son and responding, "Well Lord, during the Christmas shopping season on Sundays I took Him with me to the mall to get killer deals on the latest 'must have' gifts."
Christmas Carol of the Day
- "Born In Bethlehem" - (Third Day) - from the album Born In Bethlehem.
Purchase/Download
Christmas TV - December 7, 2008
- ABC Family
- Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
- Prancer
- A Christmas Carol
- Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee
- Holiday Extravaganza
- Papa's Angels
- Silver Bells
- A Season for Miracles
- A Christmas Visitor
- The Christmas Card
- 25 Great Holiday Ideas
- Top 10 Christmas Towns
- Miracle of Hope: Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers
- If You Believe
- Mr. St. Nick
- Noel
- Holiday Affair
- Eve's Christmas
- Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh!
- Disney Holiday Magic With Samantha Brown
AMC
FOOD
Hallmark
HGTV
ION
Lifetime
NIK
Travel
Did You Know ...
... That Gospel R&B singer Alache names "O Holy Night" as her favorite Christmas carol? Celine Dion's These are the Special Times is her favorite Christmas album and Miracle on 34th Street is her favorite Christmas movie.Alache says that the best Christmas gift she ever received was Barbie. She explained, "It was a Barbie set with her whole house and clothes and an outfit I saw at the mall. My dad had said no but it all miraculously appeared on Christmas day."
While talking about Christmas traditions and memories, Alache says that her favorite tradition involves family. "When my family goes shopping for new ornaments, we always go together. Then we come home to cook or order pizza, put on some Christmas music and decorate the house. We tell stories, have a good time, and the best rule, no one is allowed a bad attitude." Memories involve family as well. "My favorite memory has to be years ago back in Africa with my cousins, aunts, parents, siblings, a whole set of musicians in the family, and we would set up our equipment, have a concert..... Kids running around, adults relaxing, tons of food, just good times....."
Christian Musical Gift Idea of the Day
- The Christmas Collection - Amy Grant
Share some wonderful Christmas music with someone that you love with the first new Christmas music that Amy Grant has recorded in several years. You can call it an early Christmas present. (Compare Prices)
Christmas Movie of the Day
- This Christmas (Compare Prices)
This PG-13 movie features the Whitfield kids, all coming home for Christmas for the first time in years, and they've brought most of their emotional baggage with them. Secrets get revealed that really test their family and they find themselves having to join together to help each other discover the true meaning of family.
If You're Thinking About Buying an Exotic Pet
-
One of my best friends is seriously thinking about getting her daughter an exotic pet for Christmas and she asked my opinion. I'm a cat/dog/fish person, so helping choose another type of pet isn't something I'm very helpful at. Luckily, our Guide to Exotic Pets, Lianne McLeod, DVM, has a great list of the best exotic pets for kids. After reading her list, my vote is for a hamster! Top 7 Pets for Kids
Recipe of the Day
- My youngest daughter would not eat a mushroom if it were possibly the last food on earth, but mushrooms made of meringue are another story entirely. Elizabeth LaBau, our Guide to Candy, shared this recipe to go with a Christmas yule log cake. Last year not a single mushroom made it even close to the cake. This year I'm not going to hold my breath that they'll make it to the cake either.
Meringue Mushrooms - This photo tutorial shows you how to make traditional Meringue Mushrooms, step by step. Get the recipe.
Saying Merry Christmas ...
- In Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
(Top 10 Irish Words Everybody Needs)
