Sometimes I miss being a child … when the wide-eyed wonders and glorious splendor of the season were always fresh, new and full of wondrous things … when the burdens of adulthood hadn’t tainted the sights, sounds and scents that put the magic and a festive spirit into Christmas.

But sometimes I can get a taste of what that used to be by living vicariously through the children of today. And, I hope, that I’ll be able to live Christmas anew when I have children of my own.

Christmas really is a time for children. The major shopping malls enthrall with their various seasonal window displays and in-store Holiday arrangements. This is the best time of year to go window shopping with the kids. The displays, which can be moving, stationary or interactive, can be so mesmerizing that many a parent has arranged a trip to the mall just for children to view the many displays.

Then, of course, there is the annual picture taken with Santa. My mother has all the ones that were taken of me and my sister and it’s quite amusing. The first one or two I’m too young and just plain oblivious. Then there’s the year I was terrified and balling. There are a couple years missing … we were living in Kenya those years … and then my sister joins the pictures and goest through the same phases I did. I really miss taking those annual photos … but my husband is just not into it and I feel funny doing it alone as an adult.

Another fun family activities that is sure to delight the children is driving through the brightly decorated neighborhoods. Sometimes even a local part or arboretum will offer a fantasy of light display to view. Christmas displays have become so common, almost everyone has some form of lighting arrangement at their house. Many a neighborhood sees an increase in traffic during the Christmas season because of the fanciful, landscaped displays of outdoor Christmas light decorations. These usually include figures of reindeers, Santa, sleighs, angels, shepherds and animals that are a part of the story of Jesus’ birth.

There is also the lighting of the official town tree. Many cities and towns will have a official Christmas tree and offer an organized light ceremony. This event can be quite the treat for the kids, as it often includes treats, caroling and other fun activities — often including a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

Take the time to enjoy the season with your children and maybe you’ll get a taste of that magic you once felt so long ago.

When I lived in Tampa, Fla, I remember there was this guy over in the St. Pete area that lit up his house every year. His energy bill during the Holiday season was in the thousands … but it was a labour of love for him and he added to the display every year … and invited the community to come in and enjoy it.

What was the catch? He gave you a flier about his Christian faith. That was it.

And that house was amazing.

Of course, going all out isn’t for everyone. Most people just want to look festive and keep the electricity bill down to more reasonable amounts. One solution is battery powered Christmas lights.

There are many benefits of using battery powered Christmas lights:

Energy savings – you transfer the energy from your home electricity to that of a portable battery, which can be cheapper.

Less wires to worry about – no one need trip over an electric cord again!

Cleaner look – you don’t need to camouflage the cords.

Less stress on your circuits – because you aren’t using your home power, you lesson the draw on the circuitry. This can be a big issue for older homes. I know I’m testing the limits just having my computer set up!

Reduced fire hazard – frayed wires winding their way around your home can cause a fire hazard. With less wiring, you’ve reduced the fire hazard.

Improved insulation – if you don’t have outdoor plugs, then not having to leave a window ajar can really help your home keep warm!