We save money so we can get that one special gift.  We go to tons of  stores searching for that one special gift.   We can’t find that one special gift.  UGH!  The stores are packed with people all looking for that one special gift.  This time of year we get into a mood that we should have all year long.  Giving special, thoughtful, loving gifts.  It doesn’t have to come from a store.  It could be a card, a meal, helping someone who is under the weather clean up their home.  Swapping childcare with a mom whose hubby is gone alot.  A cup of coffee with a new mom who is lonely and needs a friend. 

I am going to pose a question that I hope you really ponder on for a while.  You know why don’t you go get you something to drink, coffee, tea, water, a soft drink, and I will wait for ya…go on..get a snack if you need one.  Okay..so here is the question.  What gift are you going to give Jesus this Christmas?  I will give you a minute.  (the Jeopardy tune is playing in my mind..is it in yours?)  Will it be, more time with Him, reading your bible daily, a better prayer life, serving others more, getting involved in church, forgiveness,  repenting from sin in your life.  Think about this, Christ came to earth as a baby when he could have come as a KING, what he is.  God sent his son, humbly to live as we do, to serve us and to in the end give the ultimate gift..salvation through death on the cross.  I really want to pray about what I am going to give to Jesus and I am going to write it in my bible so I can remind myself of it. 

In the hustle and bustle of Christmas we make our list of who we need to buy gifts for:  husband, kids, parents, extended family, friends, teachers, etc.  Do we ever place Jesus on that list?  I want to make it tradition that when I sit down to write out my list for gifts, Jesus is at the top. 

I pray that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas filled with love, laughter, joy, peace, and health.  May the true meaning of Christmas flood your heart and  home.  Many blessings to you and your family this Christmas and in 2010.

Hey y’all!  I pray that you had a blessed Thanksgiving.  We did here in the Cross home.  My hubby had to work, that is the name of the game in the Fire Dept.  Some holidays he is off and some he works.  He will be off Christmas eve and Christmas day though.  I got up Thanksgiving morning and chatted with Jesus.  Thanked him for many, many, things.  I just adore and praise Him.  I than started in the kitchen.  Had to make sweet potato casserole and stuffing.  I just love homemade stuffing.  There is something about sauteing onions and celery with some sage.  It smells up the whole house. 

We headed to my mom’s house that afternoon.  Such a relaxing day filled with laughter and chatter.  The food was scrumptious.  Turkey, stuffing, this yummy potato casserole that my mom has made for years, green beans that had been on the stove all day, cranberry celebration, sweet potatoes and rolls.  Whew, we were stuffed.  Filled to capacity.  But, a little bit later we had to have us some pumpkin crunch.  It is so, so good!  Elliott did get to come down to her house to spend some time with us.  He was gonna eat with the guys at the firehouse.   The day and evening was a delight.  The girls and I went home, got tucked into bed and slept like rocks.  Full tummy’s and joy in our hearts. 

I have to say that I have never been out on Black Friday…until this year.  My mom and I ventured out around 10am.  We went to the Family Christian Bookstore,  Toys R Us, and ran into the mall to one store and back out.  It really was not bad.  I got a start on Christmas shopping.   Once I got home we put up the Christmas tree and all the decorations around the house.  There is just something about having your home decorated for Christmas.  I love to sit and look at the tree all lit up and reminisce about the ornaments.  Good times, yep good times.

Saturday, Elliott put up the lights outside.  Our home looks like a gingerbread house.  So adorable.  We went to church.  It is the first weekend in Advent.  The kids came through singing a  song and ringing bells.  Natalie loved it…all smiles!  After church we went out to dinner for my mom’s birthday.  Had some delicious Italian food.  I think Phoebe could have lived on the bread they brang to the table.  After dinner we all came back to our house for some cake.  Great end to a great day.

So, today I rested.  Well, not really, I ran 3 miles (gotta get some of those calories shed).  My mom came over and we ran with the girls to the craft store and that was it. 

I look forward to the coming month.  My schedule is cleared off some and I want to really cherish quiet time.  I bought a fun Christian novel and I plan on curling up in my comfy chair with a cup of coffee, the tree lit and reading.  I look forward to my quiet time in the morning with my King.  I love to ponder on his birth, what it would have been like back then?  What did Mary think when she first heard His cry?  What was going throughout Joseph’s mind?  To see that star!!  Amazing and powerful! 

We are truly blessed by the gift of Jesus that  God has graced upon us.  Let us not forget it this Christmas season by being so busy with baking, shopping, wrapping, and business.  Let’s make it our mission to allow Jesus to live in our heart so bright that we beam with love and compassion.

Can you believe we are not even through Halloween and stores are all decked out for Christmas.  Yes, I typed Christmas.  I believe in Christmas and that is what  I am standing firm on.  December 25 is a day to celebrate Christ’s birth.  I think of the holiday season as the whole month of December but the 25th is His birthday, Christmas.   No political correctness here! 

I thought it would be fun to share how we celebrate the Christmas season.  How do you keep it stress free (can we do that)?  What cookies do you make? What is your favorite Christmas song?  Do you have a favorite memory of a toy or game?   These are some things I am going to be blogging about in the coming weeks.  First,  I want to share some tips I have collected over the years.  I attend the  Hearts at Home conferences and have heard fantastic speakers.  Karen Ehman is so much fun, practical and humorous.  She has several books out.  She has a class about  having a Blessed not Stressed holiday.  Here is what she suggests:

S:  Don’t seek to have the perfect Christmas season.  Have a memorable one.  Don’t worry if your home is perfect, the food is perfect or you are holding to tradition.  This will cause stress!

T:  Try not to do it all.  You don’t have to do all the Christmas traditions in one year.  If you have many spread them out.  Pick the ones that will work for you and your family in this season of life.

R:  Don’t REPEAT mistakes of the past.  Figure out what stresses you out and avoid it.  If it is baking cookies from scratch, don’t.  Make some that are semi-homemade.  If it is getting all your shopping done in one weekend, spread out your time.  Enjoy life!  We only get one!

E:  Evaluate your Christmas season by not comparing yourself to others.  Look  God in your own celebration.  All families are different.  Take the ideas from your friends and family and pick ones that work for you.  Don’t feel guilty about this.  Your family is it’s own unique identity!

S:  Set no agenda according to your kids.  The Christmas season doesn’t revolve around them.  The holidays are to expose them to those who are less fortunate.  Take this opportunity to plant some seeds of compassion, kindness, and giving. 

S:  Start off the season with a plan.  Without a plan you will fail.  Your holidays will go by in a blurr and you will be stressed out!  Plan out your holiday budget!!  This is so important.  Don’t allow your family to become stressed out due to overspending.  It is so easy to do!   Sit down with your calender and plan out shopping days, a few nights to write out Christmas cards while watching a fun Christmas movie, plan your menu and start picking things up here and there at the store (this will help your budget), plan a weekend to put up your Christmas tree and lights.   Plan fun time, go see Christmas lights, go to a local church for a Christmas play, have fun in the snow, bake cookies, read the Christmas story (Luke 2). 

These tips and ideas have helped me through the years to have a less stressed Christmas.  I tended to think that I had to be doing everything that my friends families where doing.  It left me so overwhelmed.  I went to this class with Karen Ehman and a light bulb went off.  I was free from all the “have to’s”  My Christmas’ are so much more enjoyable now.  

Next we will talk about how to bless…I hope you join me!!  I truly believe we can learn from one another.