My office started a tradition last Christmas season. This will be the second year to unpack our three precious porcelain Wise Men figurines and place them by the manger. The nativity will be complete with farm animals, an angel somewhere, a shepherd or two, and then the three focal characters of Mary, Joseph, and the sweet baby Jesus Christ. Such a precious scene.
Holidays got you down?The holiday season is a notoriously difficult time for many. As believers, we even pile guilt upon our already not-so-wonderful feelings because of the gap between how we actually feel and how we think we should feel. Whether you are stressed out over your Christmas To Do List and schedule, mourning the loss of loved ones, worried about paying for presents, or unhappy with your life circumstances, sometimes “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”...well, it just doesn’t feel so wonderful.
Looking for something fun to do at home with the kids in your life during the Christmas season? Here are a few easy crafts you can help those little Christmas elves create. Each craft could turn into a gift, ornament, or just something fun to create together! I think it goes without saying, but all crafts should be done on a plastic tablecloth or in an area where it’s ok if (when) things get a little messy. Have fun crafting!
As we enter Christmas season, I anticipate singing some of my favorite music ever written. Thinking through the Christmas carols, it is difficult for me to choose just one favorite. The triumphant Joy to the World, where we praise Jesus’ coming to earth as a tiny baby, evokes feelings of love and comfort . I have such a sense of peace while singing Franz Gruber’s Silent Night, especially when gathered around my closest friends and family. And a carol that ranks high on my list is In the Bleak Midwinter...
Advent is my favorite time of year and I love that our church celebrates Christ’s coming the four Sundays before Christmas. This year I’ve felt a pull to celebrate Advent in two specific ways and I invite you to join me!
Our first Christmas as a married couple nearly killed the joy. My husband and I both LOVE Christmas - so much so that we choose our wedding date to be just seven days shy of December 25th. We are crazy about having an anniversary in that dreamy season. However, our very first Christmas as a brand new family of two was tough to navigate.
