I wanted to continue our “conversation”  about how to less stress the holiday season.  As I wrote earlier I attended a class about how to bring down the stress level and bring up the blessing level for your family.  I wanted to share the tips and ideas.

B:  be willing to evaluate and start over if need be.  What traditions are your families favorites?  What favorite memories from years past do they talk about every year?  Ask them about holiday foods.  What do they love and not like?  Just because Grammy made a jelly mold every year when you were little doesn’t mean you have to too. 

L:  link up with others to divide and conquer.  Have a cookie exchange, wrapping party, recipe exchange.  I heard of another ” exchange” that sounded very interesting to me.  Host a food exchange.  You have 4-6 friends that each make one thing 4-6 times depending on how many friends are there and than you swap.  This gives you many dinners for the busy months. 

E:  encourage Christ-centered traditions.  Advent wreaths and calendars, devotions at dinner, serve in a shelter, attend a live nativity, Christmas plays and cantata’s.   Read the Christmas story several times during the Christmas season. 

S:  simplify your gift giving. The more gifts people receive the less content they are.   Our kids receive enough gifts from extended family so we started giving them 3 gifts from us.  Jesus received 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What is your gold, frankincense and myrrh?  You don’t have to find the perfect gift.  It has already been given.  Jesus came to earth as a babe and grew into a man that went to the cross and died for you and me so that we would one day be with Him in eternity.  That is the ultimate gift.  When you are looking for those special gifts, pray first.  Ask God to lead you to the gift that will touch that person’s heart and make them feel love.  Don’t fret over giving the greatest gift.  It will rob your joy for the Christmas season.  Give the thoughtful gift. 

S:  scatter kindness during Christmas.  Say thank you.  Fire houses, nursing homes, shelters, soup kitchens, someone who is alone.  Give cookies, cards, candy, flowers.  Take your little ones and let them sing Christmas carols.  Smile and say MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone.  As Christians we need to ditch this “happy holidays” mambo jumbo.   Be bold in your faith.  Know why we are celebrating Christmas.  If you know of a family or older couple that is alone, invite them for Christmas dinner.  The more the merrier!!  Let the love you have for Christ shine for all to see.  Remember that little ones are watching and we set the example and direction to where and what we want Christmas to be in our home. 

I hope these ideas have been fun to read.  I found a great website on planning and prepping for the holidays and I wanted to give it to you.

www.gomominc.com

I have looked around and it seams to be really good.  I can’t wait to grab a cup of coffee, a pen and paper and jot down some notes.  Let me know what you think.  Share some of your ideas for Christmas.  Let’s learn from one another…

I have been ill for the past few days…sinus infection.  I lost my voice and felt terrible.  I am feeling better but the voice comes and goes.  Phoebe had to go and get her flu shot.  Let me sum it up in one word…drama.  I didn’t tell her because I knew she would freak out.  So we were out running some errands prior to the appointment and she asked me if she needed to get her flu shot.  I told her she did, now mind you we were pulling into the doctors building complex, she than asked when.  Without hesitating I said “now”  whew..that did it, she started screaming ‘NO NO NO”  I told her she would be fine, she is a brave girl.  Well, she did fine and received tons of stickers, a pencil and notepad. 

I am doing the Beth Moore Esther study again and having a blast.  I didn’t get a new workbook because I only got to Ch. 6 in the other study group.  It is neat to see how much my answers are different and how many remained the same.  I am doing the answers in red ink for this study so I will know the difference.  I love my small group.  Very feisty bunch of gals.  We are enjoying getting to know one another. 

Natalie’s health is great.  Praise Jesus!!  By this time in years past she has had pneumonia and missed tons of school.  By God’s grace she has been healthy and safe from flu.  We have had some good friends children come down with the H1N1 virus.  Pray that God would bind this virus and wipe it out!!  We know he has the power to do this. 

Let me tell you how much I am enjoying stampin.  I received my supplies from Stampin Up.  I got some paper and ink spots.  The ink spots are the cutest things.  They allow you to have a variety of colors.  I have learned from my stampin mentor to make these adorable boxes.  Okay, stampin has evolved into so much more than from what it was when I was introduced to it back in 2001.  We have found a delightful stampin up demonstrator that is new to the area and going to host workshops.  Can’t wait for the first one.  I just love seeing every one’s creativity.  Plus playing with all the gadgets. 

I am starting to think about Christmas.  I know, I know, it is only October.  I want this Christmas season to be different.  I say that every year but this year I am standing firm.  I truly believe we are in a crucial state on the kingdom calendar.  I want my kids to really understand what Christmas is all about.  I want them to understand what it means to “serve others.”  I want to be simple but powerful about teaching them the true meaning of Christmas.  So, I am calling all friends.  Tell me some of the things you do with your families to make Christmas memorable.  I know for us we put up our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We attend all Christmas activities at our Church.  We are planning on going to the Bethlehem Blessings at the Creation Museum and the Festival of Lights at our local zoo.  We also started last year this fun tradition.  You cut strips of yellow and brown paper.  Find a basket.  Each day leading up to Christmas you allow each of your children to place a strip of “hay” in the crib for Jesus.  Than on Christmas morning the family awakes to a baby laying in the “crib.”  It is a fun way to countdown.  You could even write a memory or prayer on the strips of paper.   I am wanting to invest this year in an Advent wreath and really focus on that.  I think Phoebe is old enough that we can talk about it on her level and she will get it.  So come on, let’s share as we are getting our minds ready for the Christmas season.