BOZ BUZZ eNewsletter

Christmas Wishes from BOZ … to You!

The BOZ Buzz recently talked with BOZ, The Green Bear Next Door™ to find out what his plans are for the Christmas season …

What’s New Online?

A New Partner
for Your Family
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Safe Eyes helps protect your little one's eyes from the dangers that lurk on the Internet — that sometimes are just one incorrectly typed letter away from being on your screen.

Safe Eyes is a great way for your family to experience all of the benefits of the Internet without any of the worries. Best of all, you can experience Safe Eyes free for 15 days.

For more information, or to begin your free trial, be sure to go to www.SafeEyes.com/BOZ.

Christmas Fun Online
Don't forget about Exclaim Entertainment's new Christmas special, The Very First Noel. Available online at the BOZ Store, this beautifully animated tale tells of the Wise Men's journey to find the newborn King.

Featuring the voice of Andy Griffith as the narrator, The Very First Noel is, as our friends at MOPS International say, "sure to become a Christmas classic!"

Find out more about The Very First Noel at www.VeryFirstNoel.com.

The Buzz: BOZ, what do you like best about Christmas?

BOZ: Christmas is always special! The sights! The sounds! The smells! Are you as excited as I am? This is my favorite time of year, because Christmas Day will be here soon!

The Buzz: So, what will you be doing this year for Christmas?

BOZ: I'm inviting the whole Baxter family here for Christmas Eve dinner!

The Buzz: What will you do to get ready for Christmas?

BOZ: I like decorating my house to get ready for the holiday. The star is my favorite ornament on the Christmas tree, so I always save it for last!

The Buzz: I hear you like to send out Christmas cards. Why is that?

BOZ: Cards let us say, "Merry Christmas!" to friends who live close and far away.

The Buzz: Wouldn't it be great if Christmas lasted a few days longer?

BOZ: You really would have liked celebrating Christmas a long, long time ago, because, back then, many people celebrated baby Jesus' birth for 12 days!

The Buzz: Wow! That's a lot of presents to open!

BOZ: It's exciting to open presents, but it's even more fun to make other people happy with the gifts you give them! After all, Christmas is about God giving us the most special gift ever. And what a gift it was: His only son, Jesus!

The Buzz: Do you have any suggestions for our preschool friends about giving presents to the people they love?

BOZ: Remember, the very first Christmas present didn't cost any money at all! God gave his Son — the baby Jesus — to the whoooole wiiiiide world! It was a gift of love.

The Buzz: Well BOZ, thanks so much for your time. We hope you and the Baxters have a very Merry Christmas!

BOZ: I hope you have a very Merry Christmas with friends and family that you love! And remember: Wherever you are, near or far, God loves you and I do too!

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Favorite Christmas Traditions …

Every family has different traditions — activities with meaning. With these traditions, a heritage is passed down through generations. As a single mom, I have found traditions to be a sweet heritage to give to my 5-year-old son, Sean.

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is baking sugar cookies from Sean's great-grandmother's recipe. It is a quality time where we can be together while getting messy, eating icing, and laughing!

Another family tradition I value is using the advent calendar. Each night, starting December 1, we read from the advent calendar about the story of Jesus' birth. Along with advent story, I let my son put up one part of the manger each week. My son gets excited, as we wait to put Jesus in the manger until Christmas morning.

Although schedules in the life of a mom can be rather crazy, especially during the holidays, the joy in sharing traditions is priceless.

Written by Stephanie Rich, MOPS International Marketing Coordinator. To find a local MOPS group and other mothering resources, visit the MOPS International website.

Involving Everyone At Christmas

As parents of preschoolers, one of the joys of the Christmas season is involving your young ones in your family traditions. Here are some ways …

Explain your traditions. There are reasons that you open presents a specific way or have the same breakfast food every Christmas morning. Be sure to explain to your children why you do these things.

Let children be active in traditions. Your children don't want to watch you do something … they want to do it with you. While they may not be capable of doing it on their own (such as placing the traditional tree topper), they would love to help.

Anticipate their feelings. What is familiar and comfortable to you may be brand new … and even a bit odd to your children. See each holiday activity through your children's eyes to create a comfort level for them.

Start new traditions. Involving your children in old traditions is wonderful. At the same time, try to start new ones as a family as well. In doing so, you will plant new seeds in your children's hearts. By the time they pass on traditions to their children, your new traditions will be the old ones to them.

Traditions often are the glue that holds families together over the years. Take the time to involve your children in your holiday traditions. It will bless them and their children for years to come.

For more great ideas from FamilyLife, be sure to visit their website.