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As we approach another Christmas season here at Missionary Acres, I find myself reflecting on how our large family’s holiday traditions have evolved since we moved away from our extended family back in Washington State.
Answering God’s call to serve Him full-time in Southeast Missouri has meant saying goodbye to some of the extended-family gatherings we once cherished, but it’s also given us the chance to create new ways to make the day special, intentional, and full of joy. With 12 kids—Jayme, Owen, Jeffrey, Ellie, Sydney, Simon, Brynna, Bryson, Tyler, Ezra, Sally, and Marcus—Christmas is always an adventure!
Today, I want to share a glimpse into our Tanner family Christmas traditions, both the ones we’ve carried over and the new ones we’ve embraced.
Christmas Eve: New Pajamas, Church, and a Cozy Hot Cocoa Bar
Our Christmas celebration actually begins the night before Christmas. My mom and stepdad faithfully send each child new pajamas every year, and they’re opened after the Christmas Eve service at church.
Once the kids are in their pajamas, we enjoy a simple treat together before singing a song and heading to bed. This year, I set out a hot cocoa bar with different toppings they could add to their mug of cocoa. I also set out some simple shortbread cookies and zucchini bread we’d been given.
It’s the perfect cozy way to wind down before the big day ahead.
Christmas Morning: Unwrapping the Bible and Hearing the Christmas Story
One of our favorite December traditions is our Christmas book countdown. We wrap 24 Christmas books, and each day leading up to the 25th, one of the kids unwraps and we read a new story together.
On Christmas morning, the very last “book” under the tree is the Bible itself. Before any gifts are opened, my husband, Bryan, unwraps that present and reads the Christmas story aloud to all of us. This quiet moment helps center our hearts on the true reason we celebrate—Jesus, the greatest gift of all.
Breakfast, Stockings, and Discovering “Your” Wrapping Paper
Our Christmas morning begins with everyone gathered around the table to open stockings. Each child gets one small gift inside, wrapped in a special paper.
Speaking of wrapping paper—that’s another fun tradition! Every year, I buy enough different patterns so each kid has their own unique one. I don’t label the gifts with names; instead, my husband and I are the only ones who know which paper belongs to whom.
When the children open their stocking gift, they discover their special paper for the day, adding an element of mystery and excitement as they spot “their” packages under the tree.
We always enjoy homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast—warm, gooey, and the perfect fuel for the adventures ahead. It’s a simple ritual that sets a joyful tone.
The Heart of Our Gift-Giving: Three Special Gifts
One tradition that’s remained steadfast, even after our move, is giving each child just three meaningful gifts. This approach keeps things simple and focused, especially in our missionary lifestyle where “more” isn’t always feasible.
Every year, each of our kids receives:
- A gold gift: Something they really want, like a toy or LEGO set that’s been on their wishlist.
- A silver gift: Something to encourage family time together, such as a new board game or puzzle.
- A red gift: Something that points them to Jesus, like a Bible, a devotional book, or a faith-based resource.
This structure helps us emphasize quality over quantity and is a beautiful way to mirror the gifts of the wise men while teaching our children about gratitude and purpose. It also makes shopping much simpler and helps us stick to the budget.
Of course, the kids are also often blessed with gifts from extended family and others. For example, this year, one of our supporting churches generously bought presents for everyone—what an incredible blessing! These extras get opened throughout the day, and we don’t usually make the kids “work” for them with a game; they’re just pure surprises to enjoy.
Spreading Out the Fun with New Adventures
Since we no longer spend the bulk of the day with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, we’ve introduced creative activities to stretch out the excitement and build more family bonding time.
Instead of ripping through all the gifts at once, the kids now “earn” each set by solving puzzles or completing homemade escape-room-style challenges. It’s turned Christmas morning into a full-day event filled with laughter, teamwork, and a bit of friendly competition!
For example, this year:
- To unlock their gold gifts (hidden in our storage room), they’ll have to complete an 80-piece Lego build of a simple nativity scene. But here’s the twist—the pieces are individually wrapped and hidden around the house! They’ll hunt them down, unwrap them, and assemble the set to earn the key.
- For the silver gifts, stashed away in our trailer, they’ll embark on a scavenger hunt around Missionary Acres. Three clues hidden on the property will reveal the code to a combination lock.
- To “unlock” the red gifts, they’ll hunt through the Bible for specific letters that spell out the gifts’ locations. Here it is, you can see if you can figure out where the gifts are.
And if you’re looking for creative games to play, here are some other things they’ve done:
- Pieced together a 300-piece puzzle, then flipped it over to find a secret message written on the back that led to their gifts.
- Completed a Nativity-themed escape room that I bought from Etsy.
- Answered Christmas-themed trivia questions.
- Played Christmas charades
These activities not only spread out the fun but also help us create lasting memories as we cheer each other on and work as a team.
To keep things fair and add even more fun, we don’t let everyone dive into their gifts at once when a set is unlocked. Instead, we establish a draw order for opening—one child at a time, oldest to youngest or however the activity decides.
This year, we’re mixing it up with different ways to determine the order of each gift set: by birthday day (day of the month, from earliest to latest), hunting for hidden Post-it notes with a number on them, answering Christmas trivia questions, and even a rock-paper-scissors tournament. Watching them cheer each other on while they wait their turn makes the joy last even longer!
By taking turns opening gifts, we all get to see the joy and excitement each gift brings to the recipient. It’s one of my favorite parts!
Secret Sibling Gift Exchange
Another highlight of the day is our Secret Sibling tradition. A few months before Christmas, the children draw names and become someone’s “secret sibling.” With a $10 budget, each one shops for (or makes) a thoughtful gift for their drawn sibling.
The reveal happens sometime during the day—usually after a challenge or two—and it’s always sweet to watch them exchange gifts they picked out especially for one another. It teaches generosity, thoughtfulness, and the joy of giving.
Family Meals and Sweet Treats
Food is a big part of our celebrations, and the kids love pitching in. For lunch, we feast on ham, scalloped potatoes, fresh potato rolls, and a variety of desserts.
Leading up to Christmas, the children help bake batches of cookies and other goodies, turning our kitchen into a bustling hub of flour-dusted fun. It’s a great way to involve everyone and teach them about serving one another.
A Day Full of Joy and Jesus
From Christmas Eve cocoa to the final slice of pie on Christmas night, our traditions—old and new—help us savor time together as a family of 14 on the mission field. They remind us that Christmas isn’t about grand gatherings or piles of presents; it’s about celebrating Emmanuel, God with us, right where He has placed us.
Thank you for being part of our journey through prayer and support. From all of us at Missionary Acres, we wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with the peace and joy of Christ!
