2012: be changed

The Christmas decorations are packed away and the Boy Scouts took the tree this morning, but there’s still bits of wrapping paper peaking out from under the couch.  There are a few other reminders of the holiday out, but it mostly appears that Christmas is done.  Over.  Gone. 

However, I don’t think that’s the final word.  Christmas, the day, has passed.  But the miracle of Christmas causes me to realize that what Christmas brings is really just the beginning.

Because Christ came, and nothing is the same.  Everything changed on that silent night so long ago, why shouldn’t I be in search of change myself?  Sometimes we go away from Christmas exactly the same as we approached it.  I love the response of the wise men in the gospel of Matthew.  They came and met Jesus and then went home a different way.  They were changed.  And as I stand here on the other side of Christmas I long to be changed too. 

I think it’s fitting that New Year’s comes one week after Christmas.  That we are given a week for reflection, a week that is typically quiet before we begin a new year.  Could it be that we are meant to savor the miracle of Christmas?  To allow it to change us?  God gives us a new year, a changed heart, a fresh start.

As I think of 2012 I want to look at it with the realization that Jesus’s coming has changed me.  And my response to that change is to change my habits and patterns.  My resolutions then shouldn’t be about me, but about what God is doing in me.  Through the lens of Christmas New Year’s resolutions become not aims for self-improvement but for God improvement. 

My goals for the new year do include some standard ones.  Things like more organizing, a few half marathons, less sugar and such.  But my deeper goal is to live how Christ wants me to.  To be grateful for a new year, with new opportunities and 366 new days to live my life God’s way.  The blank slate ahead is exciting to me and has me thinking about what God wants to accomplish in me.  My resolutions then are simple, live life God’s way.  I realize that this takes a daily effort, it might not always easy then to live God’s way.  But Jesus came for change, to turn things upside down in me and in you. 

I long for my 2012 to reflect that.  There are tons of great ideas out there for carrying out resolutions and making your life better, five minutes on Pinterest can tell you that.  But I would say that not many of those really matter in the long run if I don’t approach New Year’s with a Jesus changed heart.

Being changed, every day then is the goal.  Working closer towards Jesus, towards his fulfillment in my life.

Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took ahold of me.  I do not consider myself yet to have taken ahold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3: 12-14, emphasis added)

after Christmas

Christmas happened big time around here.  In fact, we just had our second Christmas morning with my family. 

Two Christmas mornings are mighty nice, don’t you think?

Now the tree is down and the house is sort of clean and we’re gearing up for a seventh birthday party tonight.  Our sweet middle child is seven today and has planned (all by herself) a cheese party.  Seriously folks, a cheese party.  It’s a full meal deal, complete with fondue, mini grilled cheese, crackers and cheese, a giant veggie tray, and a Grampie made cheesecake.  All her favorite things.  It’s too bad that four adults in the family won’t be able to eat it due to dairy and gluten intolerances.  That’s okay, it’s not about us. 

And then tomorrow it’s all about games and family time and ringing in the new year.  And then going to bed because we have church in the morning :)

That’s where we are today, and I’m feeling full.  Not full of food (even though I am) but full of gratitude and emotion and thoughts about what a new year will hold for us as a family.  I’m grateful for a new start, and a fresh year.  And resolutions?  Well I have a few ideas about those, but I’ll share them with you later. 

For now it’s time to fire up the fondue pot my friends.  Happy Friday, Happy December 30th, and Happy Almost New Year!

Christmas on Purpose: wrapping up, recent news, and unplugging

I trimmed my bangs

I visited Starbucks

I tried to do something crafty

I baked some amazing gluten free, dairy free gingerbread cookies.  They’re sneak with your morning coffee good.  And then hide the rest from the kids.

I love the way this looks

Home Alone still makes me cry, lots

I made homemade body scrub and hand cream-really, I did and it’s amazing

I’m wishing hard for snow…sunshine and unseasonably warm temps are wonderful any other time of the year.  In December I think they’re plain depressing.  I’d give just about anything for a freak snowstorm.  Really. 

And I’m wrapping up my Christmas on Purpose Series.  If you’ve been paying attention you might notice that it wasn’t really 30 days.  I’m gonna be okay with that.  And if you haven’t been paying attention that’s cool, it’s a busy time of year.  But I just want to thank you for reading and being a part of this journey.  These reminders have helped me to be fully present this season, even though I’m still wondering how it’s less than a week away now. 

If you’d like to catch up click here for a link to all the posts:

 

Merry Christmas friends, I’ll leave you with my last challenge for celebrating Christmas intentionally:  unplug. Close that laptop and power down that phone. 

Go for a walk in the winter sun, sing too loud at the Christmas Eve service, be okay with the fact that a good rendition of O Holy Night makes you cry like a baby, make a snow angel, bless your neighbors, pray for your family, have a Christmas movie marathon, keep your sense of humor, embrace the gift of right now, and mostly importantly stop to reflect on the greatest gift this world has ever known.  Christ’s birth, the hope of new life, the joy of his coming return, the freedom we can walk in because of all that.

I truly wish you joy and peace this week, this Christmas Season and in the coming New Year!

Christmas on Purpose: an encounter

(this is repost from several years back, but fitting just the same.  may you be encouraged by it.)

I was at Target the other night, picking up a few Christmas gifts to deliver to family over our Thanksgiving break. The girls and I were taking our time wandering the toy aisles; seeing what there was, pushing buttons and giggling lots. That's when we saw her. She looked like a very busy mom, bustling through with her cart loaded and a list longer than my arm. She had her bluetooth in her ear and seemed rushed and stressed. She stopped close to us to look at a toy cash register and commented to me how this one was better than the one on the next aisle, how it's on her son's Christmas list. She said, "That's what he wants. I just want it to be over."

With that she sped off, leaving me overcome by two feelings: sadness and exhaustion. The Christmas season hasn't even begun and she's ready to be done with it. It is so easy to miss it, isn't it? To miss the heart of Christmas because we are distracted by all the things that come along with the season, things that God never intended as we celebrate the birth of his son.

Matthew 11:28-30 gives us an invitation. It says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." I believe that's what God has in mind for us, especially during this Christmas season. I'll be the first to admit that I have a hard time finding rest and remembering the heart of Christmas. I like to decorate and shop and bake, and have things just so for my home and my family. Those things are good, but they distract me from the main thing.

In the midst of that I hear God calling me back to a place of rest and remembrance. He is inviting us not to a Christmas event but to a Christmas encounter. An encounter with him this season that leaves us different, full of peace and rest. I think of the people we've come to know in the story of Christ's birth: the shepherds, the wise men, the evil King Herod, even Mary and Joseph, and so many more. Not one of those people came away unchanged after meeting Jesus. He made an impression, even as a small baby. He's still making impressions today; but we're usually too busy to notice, too busy to hear his voice calling us-inviting us to a life changing encounter with the Living God.

This season I want to answer that call, I want to trade all the pageantry and events of Christmas for an encounter. A meeting with God. That is the heart of Christmas, I pray that we don't miss it.

Christmas on Purpose: His story

Christmas is all about retelling the story.  The story of Christ’s birth, the story of love coming to earth, the story of the greatest gift. 

His story is told everywhere.  It is inescapable. 

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
f I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139)

The lights all around remind me of the light of the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness (John 1)

The candles on the table speak of the power of one single candle lighting the way.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5)

The evergreen tree reminds me of his everlasting promises, his everlasting faithfulness, his everlasting love.

But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children (Psalm 103)

So this Christmas I do see him everywhere, because his story is everywhere told.  It’s a love letter to us from him, just waiting for us to find it and find him.  It’s the greatest story ever known.

Christmas on Purpose: be present

It is just a week before Christmas.  The house is trashed.  There is evidence of a variety projects that have been started and stopped today by a variety of family members, strewn about like discarded wrapping paper.  I have yet to address Christmas cards.  No goodies have been baked.  Just a few presents have been wrapped, but they all are purchased.  At least I can say that.  But it’s all good.

And you know what?  In all of that mess, Christmas is still here.  Jesus came to a messy world.  And he dwells here, in the messes and the ordinary. He didn’t have to do that, but motivated by love he did. 

Last night we watched a few of our favorite Christmas movies and I did something that I haven’t done so far this Christmas season.  I sat and watched the all of them.  I didn’t crochet, I didn’t blog, I didn’t multitask in any way.  I gave myself and my family the gift of me being fully there, one hundred percent present.  We turned off every light in the house, leaving the sparkly shine of Christmas tree and candles.  We sipped peppermint hot chocolate.  And we laughed and cried. 

Being fully present, in each Christmas moment is my goal this week.  As we lead up to the big day I will remember that I don’t need to be in a hurry, haste makes waste, and life is not an emergency.  This week shall be savored, it shall be honored, it shall be sacred in even in the midst of the doing.

As I wrap presents I will be fully there, not thinking ahead to next task to check off the list.

As I grocery shop I will give myself lots of extra time, because I know others in that store will be feeling stressed and rushed.  I will choose to put on peace, like my favorite winter coat.  I will allow others to go first, because I’m really not in that big of a hurry.

“It’s not that big of a deal if…..” will be a part of my vocabulary.  It’s not that big a deal if I forget something from the store, it’s not that big a deal if the kids completely make a disaster of all the wrapping paper as they wrap up their toys and books to give to one another, it’s just not that big of a deal if I don’t get everything done.  Christmas will still come. 

I will welcome in God’s spirit of peace and joy, right now-today.  And I will allow God to set my pace, I will listen to his spirit promptings. 

I’m grateful for Christmas peace.  Peace that comes because of the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.  My Emmanuel, God with us, God is with me and you in the midst of all that is going around us. 

And just as he is the God of all time I will also remember that he is the God of right now.  The God of this present moment, and he wants me fully in it so that I can see what he is doing.  And in that I can know him more.  That is my challenge this week, be fully present in each moment.  Listen to the God whispers all around me.  Because just as he came in water, flesh and blood as a baby, he is still present in spirit right now. 

Christmas on Purpose: be all there

Christmas can pull at a person, can’t it?  And even though I’m trying to be un-busy, I still find myself being lost the hurry scurry.  It’s the pulling of this thing called life I think.

But in the midst of it I hear the words I read last night in this book, “where ever you are, be all there.”

Be all there, in the midst of it.  Noticing, thanking, breathing in the essence of the right now.  I want to be all there, all here in this Christmas season. 

Gratitude goes a long way in this process.  Stopping and noticing all there is to be thankful for, capturing the gift of now.  Today I noticed the now, the gifts all around me.  Because the stopping and thanking forces me to be in the moment, forces me not to think of the next thing. 

the riot of birdsong, as if they’re celebrating something I don’t know about

the weak morning sun, breaking through clouds, bouncing off the frost on the juniper trees

the curve the youngest child’s cheek as she sleeps, the way her hair falls along her shoulder

Spending Christmas intentionally doesn’t just happen.  It must be sought after.  It’s a challenge to be all there right where I am, but worth the fight to do it.  I want to be in the moment more, in doing that I truly can enjoy Christmas. 

Christmas on Purpose: books

We have special Christmas books.  And as a teacher/mom I love reading them with my kids.  Give me a pile of wonderful storybooks, three kids in their jammies, and an hour before bedtime and I’m a happy mom.

Yes, I have visions of being a librarian.  I don’t know if that will happen in real life, but I can pretend with my kids, right?

Librarian visions aside, we have started a small collection of Christmas storybooks.  We’ve usually only added one a year, but this year we’ll be adding three.  I just couldn’t pick one. 

So when the elves deem it appropriate, the kids get a new wrapped up book in the book basket.  If you’ve been reading this series for a while you’ll notice that the “elves” do a lot for the kids.  They are the ones who fill up the advent calendar with candies or small gifts or even activities.  Of course the elves are just me and Zac, don’t tell.  But there is a small conspiracy among the children of this house that some owls may be in on the delivery process.  You know, Harry Potter style.  Levi swears he heard owls hooting last night and so he’s beginning to wonder if the elves and Hedwig work together.  I can only imagine the stories and traditions this will create as they one day tell their children about the owl/elves who delivered Christmas goodies every morning in the month of December. 

So we add to our collection every December and once the Christmas decorations are packed away we pack the books away too.  It’s always a treat when they come out of the box the next year.  I think my favorite thing about this whole tradition is that we sign the inside of the new books each year.  Everyone adds their signature and their age.  It’s a precious collection of their growth, and often shocking to see how far their handwriting has come. 

Traditions marked with intention make our Christmas season feel much more grounded and intentional.  And I know these books will be a treasure as they grow. 

Do you have special Christmas collections? 

edited:  I’m going to add our favorite books to this list so if you’re just starting out this tradition you’ve got some ideas, click on each title for the Amazon link

Santa Are you for Real? (this is a reprint, I’m blessed to have the 1977 version from my childhood, complete with lovely vintage drawings.  Hands down, it’s our favorite.)

The Spirit of Christmas

Snowman at Night

Snowman at Christmas

God Gave Us Christmas

There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bell

There was an Old Lady who Swallowed some Snow

If you Take a Mouse to the Movies

Bear Wakes up for Christmas

What is Christmas?

Who is Coming to our House?

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Night Tree

Little Owl and the Star

and of course, we comb the library for ideas for new ones to add to our collection, there are so many wonderful Christmas stories!

Christmas on Purpose: stillness

I was blessed with the gift of a quiet house yesterday.  Like quiet, as in everyone gone but me for 4 hours.  Seriously, best pre-Christmas present ever.  As a homeschooling mom I rarely get a quiet house, at least not for long.  So this was pretty special.  What made it even better is that it was clean and it was cloudy and grey outside, with threats of snow.  Perfect for sitting still.  Perfect for being, not doing.

With Christmas coming fast I can feel the temptation to plunge headlong into fits of busy and “just get it done already.”  I easily find myself rushing and stressed, not because I have any real reason to but because that is the pull of this world.  Busy.  Rushing.  Hurry.  Quick. 

But God came in the midst of all that.  In the middle of a crazy busy town, crowded with people.  In the middle of a required trip, that I’m sure neither Mary or Joseph wanted to take.  If you recall the story you’ll remember that Mary and Joseph had to go register in Bethlehem.  They and perhaps hundreds or thousands of other people all in Bethlehem at the same time.  So many that the inns were full and the streets were probably as crowded as the grocery store on Christmas eve.  And that is when God choose to bring his son into the world.  In the hustle and bustle, while the world was unaware he arrived.  And those blessed enough to hear the announcement and pay attention to the signs were able to come and worship. 

But I wonder how many looked backed on that night and realized they missed it.  Realized that they had seen the star too, and heard the distant sounds of angel choruses.  But their busy lives caused them to overlook the most important event ever. 

I don’t want to be one of those people.  I don’t want to overlook the birth of Christ.  That is why a quiet, peaceful house was so vital to me yesterday.  It slowed my spirit.  I put on some coffee and pulled out the whipped cream.  I sat with the quiet and reflected on Christ’s birth.  That peaceful state of mind caused me to be in the right frame of heart.  That doesn’t come with hustle and bustle, it only comes through stillness. 

That stillness needs to be fought for.  But it’s worth it.  It really is.  As Christmas comes closer I find that my need for stillness gets larger.  Just like Mary pondered everything in her heart, I long for quiet contemplation.  It puts me in the right frame of mind to receive the greatest gift I’ve ever known. 

Don’t get lost in the bustle.  Take the time for quiet.  Make time for rest.  Even if just for a few minutes. 

Christmas on Purpose: no new décor & a home tour

Welcome!!!! Come on in…..this is our Christmas home.

If you’re visiting for the first time today I’m so glad you’re here!  And you’ve landed smack dab in the middle of my Christmas on Purpose series, where I’m sharing how we do Christmas for reals and intentionally in our family.

In terms of decorating I like to keep it pretty simple, not overly fussy, and kid friendly.  Because I have kids and I don’t like to fuss to much.  I also wanted to challenge myself to decorate our entire home for Christmas without buying one single bit of new decorations.  Not one.  It seems like every year I spend just a little bit on stuff for the house, and I can usually justify it by purchasing my stuff at a discount or at a thrift store.  This year I didn’t want to do any of that. 

Now, in all honestly I have spent about 5 bucks.  I bought a strand of lights and I bought a handful of pinecone picks from the craft store (at 25 cents a piece I couldn’t say no…that was 70% off regular price!).

But that is all the purchasing I’ll be doing this year.  So here is our home, all decked out in old stuff made newish by clever and creative arranging….

In through the front door, I love walking in and seeing our “mantel” all prettied up.  And I also love seeing some of my favorite things for Christmas.

The nutcrackers are some of our favorite things.  The elves who fill the advent box help us to add to our collection every year…you can see that we’re on year three this year.  We usually find these at thrift stores or deeply discounted after Christmas, then they get packed away until the elves decide it’s time to deliver them.

In the kitchen I keep a simple nativity that I’ve had for a while, offset by colorful ornaments and shiny glitter.

I made a few Anthro inspired snow globes this year, using craft supplies I purchased last year.  There’s no water in them but you get the idea.  For the trees I used pieces of greenery that I bought for wreaths and garlands a few years back, I just hot glued them all into some quilting batting and threw fake snow and glitter in them.  Easy peasy.  And we don’t throw out those burned out bulbs, they’re great for decorating with too.

The stockings don’t get hung by the mantel mostly because there’s not really a mantel to hang them from.  And if I do hang them they usually look like they’re floating in space or they’re at a great risk of bursting into flame from the fire.  They’ll make their big debut Christmas morning.

And keeping things simple I just accented the wreaths with yarn balls I made from leftover yarn.  Easy, free, nice.

In the kitchen we made a hot chocolate spot, with fun cups and candy canes and plenty of homemade hot cocoa mix.  You can’t have too much this time of year.

The powder room even got some love with my vintage inspired wreath and pinterest inspired snowflakes.

Perhaps one of my favorite additions to the house this year is a vintage typewriter I found at a local thrift store.  It actually works and make a great centerpiece for my little nativity, my Jesus sign, and the words to my favorite Christmas song.

And then upstairs I let the kids go crazy with a little tree and all of our unique and handmade ornaments.  They did this all themselves and I swear I think the girls grin with happiness when they walk by.  Just like their mom.

In the girls room we always decorate the white tree, this year Pinkalicous debuted as the angel.  My five year old is giddy over that one.

And our bedroom got a simple wreath with more easy yarn balls.  It’s peaceful and relaxing, a favorite place to hide away.

It’s a cozy home and one we love to be in during the holidays, we love it so much that we don’t put too much on the calendar just so we can be home to enjoy it.  I think what makes it so special is that the things we use to decorate with are special to us. 

sharing with:

Christmas on Purpose: the good stuff

This time of year we like to pull out the good stuff.  Stuff like Bob’s Sweet Stripe candy canes and homemade hot chocolate.  Because savoring Christmas means making time for the little things.  Little things like peppermint hot chocolate with a candy cane and sprinkles make Christmas quite wonderful. 

Hot chocolate with a candy is a special Christmas treat, and I love it.

What’s your favorite treat at Christmas time?

sharing with:

Christmas on Purpose: remember the forgotten

We had a fun opportunity this week.  Through some home school buddies we had a chance to visit an assisted living facility.  I know that sometimes these places aren’t really all that fun to go to, but this was different somehow.  And once I stopped crying I knew that this little place on the south side of town would be a regular stop for this little family of ours. 

I cry because God has birthed compassion and love in me for the elderly, especially those that are left alone and forgotten.  I cry because I know they have so many stories to tell.  I cry because there aren’t enough people who are willing to stop and listen to those stories, however jumbled or dementia riddled they are.  I cry because it makes me sad, and I think it makes God sad too.  But thankfully there are people like the folks who run the place I got to visit this week.  People who love Jesus so much that it oozes out of them into all they do.  And these people thought it would be fun to gather a bunch of kids, throw some art supplies at them and let create masterpieces for the residents to have. 

It felt like a sacred two hours for us.  We met some amazing people, who have lived a lot more life than I have.  They were beautiful.  Really. 

So on this day we stopped.  We remembered those who are sometimes forgotten.  That’s God’s heart, isn’t it?  Especially at Christmas time. 

There are elderly folks who are forgotten; but there’s also orphans, soldiers, prisoners, and more.  In our community there are many chances to give, even if you can’t sit down with them in person like we did.  There are giving trees, or they’re sometimes called angel trees for local children and seniors.  Many business sponsor toy drives for foster children.  Our church adopted 43 local children who need Christmas gifts, as well basic necessities like socks. 

I believe God’s heart swells when we give to those who society might not always notice.  And so we give, not win God’s favor or approval (because we don’t work for that).  But we give because we have been on the receiving end of so much.  We give because it’s the right thing to do, even when we cry through the whole thing. 

James 1:27 reminds us that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” 

That is what it’s about.  Making Santa faces to cheer those who might be alone this season.  Extending ourselves to others, not because of what we get back but because it’s what God says is the right thing to do. 

Christmas on Purpose: a user friendly nativity

If Christmas is all about Jesus coming to earth for everyone, then I want to make sure that he is accessible to my kids.  I want them to be able to interact with him and his story. 

That is why a user friendly nativity was at the top of my list about 4 years ago.  Before we lived in this house we had a nice high, but still visible place (a.k.a out of the kids’ reach) to put a large and glorious nativity.  I loved it.  I still do.  But in our new home there was no such place.  And that lead to a lot of cringing on my part.  The nativity seemed so fragile and my kids were so not gentle.  And I think when I heard myself saying “don’t touch Jesus!” I realized something needed to change.

We stumbled upon this nativity at Goodwill.  It met my two requirements of a nativity:  budget friendly and kid friendly.  Now they can play with it all they want.  And I love that.  They don’t play with it as much this year, I guess that is a sign of them getting older but last year I loved finding Jesus in all sorts of unexpected places.  And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?  Finding Jesus in all our unexpected places.  He showed up here on earth in the most unexpected place and in the most unexpected way.  A humble stable, a young virgin, a carpenter father, and angel choruses; all waited to greet the newborn king.  And in his arrival he made himself accessible to all. 

That is what I am to do as a parent, make him accessible.  And it seems fitting that it starts at Christmas.

Christmas on Purpose: Sing

I was having a particularly stressful moment yesterday.  We were doing the crazy ballet runaround that we do every Wednesday, and our leaving was delayed over misplaced shoes and undressed girls.  I was wound tight.  Really tight.

But as we were driving home the song O Come, O Come Emmanuel came on.  I turned it louder and sang along.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

 

Rejoice I did. I’ve heard the words many times, I’ve sung along.  But on this night I sang with feeling.  And as my voice said the words my heart caught up.  O come Emmanuel…..Ransom me, disperse the darkness.  Come.

And that stress dissolved.  And I wondered if maybe Buddy the Elf was really on to something, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” 

I want to sing more.  My imperfect voice loving my perfect king, and my wrong attitudes set right.

I’ll be singing today, singing Silent Night, Joy to the World, O Come all ye Faithful, and more.  Singing and praising my king.  How about you?

Christmas on Purpose: no guilt

Party invitations.  Open houses.  Children’s programs.  Hand lettered Christmas cards.  Home made cookies.  Sparkly outfits.  Tree decorating……..

And on and on and on. 

There seems to be no shortage of things to do this time of year.  It can be exhausting to think about.  Especially as a homeschooling mom.  And that is where I feel the urge to hitch my wagon to the guilt train.  Guilt over not elegantly hand letting my Christmas cards, guilt over barely doing lessons with my kids, guilt over not crafting wonderful handmade gifts for my friends and family, guilt over saying no to certain events, guilt over not being able to do it all. 

We should not be walking in guilt, especially this time of year.  Jesus came to save us from condemnation, why do we so often take it up again?  Because of what Jesus did we can walk in freedom, especially at Christmas. 

Now, really walking in freedom is a lot easier to say than do.  But it is possible.  It comes by prayer, it comes by staying close to Jesus, it comes by figuring out what he wants your Christmas to look like.  And then it comes by realizing that you have to say no to some things so that you can say yes to other things.  And also by being gracious with others who do the same.

So at our house we say no to extra parties and then we say yes to family time.  We say no to elaborate Christmas cards, so we can say yes to time making crafts with the kids.  We say no to fancy gifts for friends and say yes to extra money to buy gifts for children in need.  We say no to a lot of things, and that was hard to do at first.  Really hard.  But the more we practiced it, the better we got at it.  And it’s allowed us to be free to do Christmas how we want, and how we feel honors our Lord.

So what can you say no to this season…and what does that leave more room for? 

Christmas on Purpose: Christmas is Creating

I love to create things at Christmas, fun things and yummy things, and crafty things that get glitter all over the house. 

But what is most meaningful is to create art with purpose.  Art that has meaning.  I did just that this year.  I’m sharing over with Nancy at the Goat and the Kid today, click over to read more……

Christmas on Purpose: make family time

Get out the calendar.  Grab a pen.  Find a blank spot.  Mark it “Family Time.”  Repeat as necessary.

Because you want to spend Christmas time with the people you love most.  So do I. 

But a lot of times family times gets set on the back burner for other things.  Things that are important too, but maybe not the most important.

I guess I’m reminding myself, and you, not to over commit too much this time of year.  It’s easy to let the time get filled up. 

But I know I want time with these guys to make cookies and watch Christmas movies, and hopefully to play in the snow. 

Side note here, dear God, please bring us snow.  Amen.

Part of doing Christmas on purpose is being intentional about doing what I think is most important, so I am making sure that I get family time in.  And as hard as it is, it means I say to no to some things too.  And that’s okay.  I want to have time to build memories, time to build traditions. 

(And as you might have guessed, I wanted an opportunity to show you our recent family pictures that my sister took over Thanksgiving weekend, I love how they turned out.  And they make a lovely Christmas card that I quickly ordered up from Costco.  Imagine my disappointment today when I picked them up and realized I had spelled our last name wrong.  Really? 

Thankfully, they’ll let me swap them out.  I love you Costco.  Thank you for saving Christmas.)