Shannon Watts and her husband, Pastor Joshua Watts, sit with their children, from left, Talcot, Emmalyn, Rylah and Addi during a gathering at the house of her mother, Cindy Dodds. Watts and her family found the buried treasure that was the theme of the Christmas celebration.

Since 2007, Cindy Dodds and her husband, Doug, have been hosting special themed Christmas gatherings for their children and grandchildren.

To plan the family holiday, Dodds chooses a scripture from the Bible, then selects gifts and activities around that scripture.

The first theme was “White Christmas” and centered on Psalm 51:7-8: “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness.”

“I bought everyone a snow suit and family gifts like a sled, snow shovel, ice scraper, igloo brick molds, etc.,” said the Center Township woman, who is executive director of Penn Christian Academy in Penn Township.

“Our Christmas dinner consisted of chili and soup. We all drank hot chocolate. Each family had a wonderful time. We created such great memories that it just ‘snowballed' from there.”

The 2008 theme was “A Very Fishy Christmas,” taken from the verse in Matthew 4:19, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The family dined on fish and played fish games, like Go Fish. Gifts that year included fishing poles and life jackets and a blow-up fishing boat.

“My favorite theme was the water theme that ended with an inflatable boat. We use it in Slippery Rock Creek and it provides a way for our family to spend more time together,” said Dodds' daughter Shannon Watts of Lawrence County, listing the snow theme as another favorite.

In 2009, the family celebrated “Christmas Time 2009,” based on the scripture “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven …” from Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 11-12.Watches and wall clocks were the gifts, and the families made pizza together using pepperoni and veggies to decorate the pizzas like clocks.“The most unique activity we have done is going on a treasure hunt for (last year's) treasure theme,” said Watts, who is among Dodds' four married children that attend the holiday gatherings with their spouses and 13 collective children that range from newborn to 9 years old.The “Christmas Treasure Adventure” was based on Matthew 6:19-21 that says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”As part of the day, each family had its own treasure map with a chest of gifts hiding where the X marked the spot. Dodds and her husband dressed up like pirates and served up chicken “nuggets” and chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.Each child received and decorated a little wooden treasure box. The boxes contained little nativity ornaments to create a miniature scene.“Then Nana and Papa talked about how Baby Jesus is the greatest treasure that we could ever receive,” said Watts.Dodds also creates a digital memory book for each family. She includes photos taken throughout the day.

“The preserving of the memories is just as important as the activities themselves,” said Dodds' son Dan Fries of Slippery Rock.“It provides a physical memorial and reference point for the kids to remember the fun times, the gifts and the overall message associated with the theme that year,” he said.“The memory books are something that my kids will always treasure and it provides a way for them to never forget the Christmases we've shared,” agreed Watts.The families, especially the grandchildren, anticipate the celebrations each year. And Dodds also anticipates Christmas in advance: choosing the scripture early, then praying that sentiment for her family throughout the year.Part of the fun is a competition where the families each have the opportunity to guess the scripture through games and puzzles, focusing on fellowship and the season's message.“It furthers our personal goals that our children celebrate the true reason for the season as mom always connects the theme to Christ,” said Fries.“It is easy to become frustrated with the gift-giving process because of our frustration with commercialism in general, but I love how my mom incorporates gift giving into strengthening the message of Jesus,” Watts agreed.“The most special aspect of the holiday is that it is Jesus' birthday. Every way we celebrate points back to that fact and celebrating him.”

Penn Christian Academy Executive Director Cindy Dodds plans Christmas gatherings for her family that are set around scripture verses.

The booty of chicken nuggets are uncovered. Dodds picks a scripture from the Bible and plans their Christmas gifts and activities around that theme.