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Why and How to Celebrate Advent
I love the Christmas season. I get giddy thinking about twinkle lights, peppermint-mocha lattes, and a Michael W. Smith Christmas album. The days are filled with sending and receiving Christmas cards, shopping for loved ones, wrapping gifts, cutting out paper snowflakes, watching movies, making cookies, attending festive events, and excitedly anticipating the actual day. But I’ve had years when I’ve woken up on December 26th with guilt falling in my soul like a heavy snow. Amid the sadness of the season’s passing, I’ve realized I hardly reflected on Christ’s arrival. Sure, I had fun. But did I even take the time to appreciate what the whole season means? Advent…
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15 Non-Fiction Books for Your Christmas List (Plus, a Gift for the Mama with no Time to Read)
What’s on your Christmas list this year? I know, Mama. You probably haven’t taken a lot of time to think about it. You’re busy shopping for your kids, your husband, your parents, your neighbors. But what would you like for Christmas? A cleaning service, a massage, a bottomless cup of hot coffee, some uninterrupted alone time? Consider adding a non-fiction book to your Christmas list. Reading is a great way to learn, gain perspective, and care for yourself. I have been on a non-fiction reading kick ever since I became a mom, and I can’t get enough. Here are eleven books I’ve read, appreciated, and impacted my life over my…
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Everyday Gratitude
In a few days, Thanksgiving will be over. But giving thanks doesn’t have to be. I love Thanksgiving. Not only do I enjoy the fun, food, feasting, and fellowship, but I think it’s beautiful to have a season in which we reflect on what we are thankful for. It forces us to be reflective, permits us to recognize how much we’ve been blessed. I think it also makes us all a bit more cheerful; focusing on the positive things in life is good for us. It makes us more patient with our kids, more appreciative of our spouses, more optimistic about humanity in general. But a few months from…
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When Getting Gifts for Kids, Less is More
Black Friday is right around the corner, and the biggest shopping season of the year is upon is. We have been receiving circulars in the mail for weeks, our e-mail has been filled with promotions, the stores are overflowing with goods to be purchased. Is anyone else completely overwhelmed by this? Â Giving Gifts I love giving gifts, especially at Christmas. I love the whole process: from choosing items, to carefully wrapping them in beautiful paper, to presenting them to the recipient. It is a great source of joy to me. However, the materialistic, consumeristic nature of the season can definitely put a damper on my spirit. When it comes…
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Simplifying the Holidays: Prioritize Planning, Resting, and Quality Things
It’s that time of year… Time for festivities, family, fun, and feasts. Unfortunately, it also can be a time of overstimulation, overindulgence, and overwhelming stress for us and our children. As parents, we are gatekeepers; we ultimately determine the climate and culture of our home by what we allow in, both literally and figuratively. This time of year, it’s especially easy to get busy and distracted, meaning we may be compromising the well-being of ourselves and our family in the name of the Christmas Spirit. So many years, I’ve gotten all wrapped up in the doings of the season, that I’ve neglected the things I love most about it; the…
