"Belf" the Elf....

Friday night I got to spend some time with my boys. Earlier that day Mara had bought the Elf on the Shelf for them and wanted me to read it to them to introduce the Elf before they went to bed because they were going to go see Santa Claus on Saturday morning. I absolutely love opportunities like this. It makes me realize just how much I miss teaching and encouraging young and impressionable hearts for loving a lifetime of learning. I read the book as animated as I could getting both Brock-man and Bear to "believe" in the Elf. They were on each side of me as we were sitting on the couch listening VERY intently. Of course, Aunt Holly indulged some of the book to keep their attention and talked them through many parts of it asking them questions to get them involved in discussion as well as understanding it. They were so intrigued. I also tried to correlate "naughty and nice" to "wise choices and unwise choices," when we choose to "obey and disobey." I personally believe that you can reach kids with balancing the Scriptures and make believe without harming them for life. Santa and the "magic" of the Elf flying to the North Pole is a fun family tradition around Christmas time; teaching them to make unwise and wise choices to please Jesus is a LIFETIME of learning. Anyway.....enough of my soap box. At the end of reading the book, Barrett and Brock began to look for the Elf. They were absolutely THE CUTEST as they looked all over the living room trying to find where "Belf" the Elf was "watching them." Barrett decided to name the Elf "Belf" because he has a bell hanging off his hat. They found him sitting high on a shelf and immediately had to get close to him so they could start talking to him. Brock had a hard time understanding why he couldn't "touch" him. Explaining that we could use our eyes to look at him and our words to talk to him but our hands are used to do kind things about did it for him understanding why he couldn't do it! They both began whispering to him what they wanted for Christmas. I couldn't hear Barrett- so hopefully Mara & Alf knows what he wants from Santa- and Brock kept saying, I want a "BIG WOODY." I'm anxious to watch what the next few weeks unfolds. Alf told me both the boys were up at 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning looking for him. Hopefully, Alf & Mara can come up with some hard places so they can sleep later! This morning at church Brock came running up to me and said, "Aunt Holly, Elf is in the kitchen today."  TOO cute!