When you' need a little Christmas Spirit... “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” ― Norman Vincent Peale Sometimes..... we need a little help finding beauty and creativity. “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ― Calvin Coolidge Sometimes..... we need a little help dreaming again. http://youtu.be/ozVmO5LHJ2k “I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.” ― Norman Vincent Peale Sometimes..... we need a little help Continue Reading
A Simple Tradition of Remembering
Some traditions begin on a whim, and yet in their simplicity, they become a profound bedrock of family celebrations, rich in meaning and steeped in value. And it’s not until we’re given a glimpse backward that we realize how they’ve imprinted faith on our hearts and grounded us in hope for the future. I remember it began early in our marriage, with a simple “baby’s first Christmas” ornament, hung on a short, barren tree, between a few golden baubles. Like most young couples starting out, we didn’t have an excess of anything. We lived in a tiny parsonage and had scarcely enough extra to decorate our first Christmas tree. By the time our first child came along, our tree still lacked ornaments, but our hopes and dreams for what we wanted for our children were never lacking. We wanted Continue Reading
When We Need Help Anticipating Advent
Anticipation is such a gift! Every year we join the world in celebrating Advent and counting down the arrival of Christmas…the arrival of the King of the World. We offer up our very best in preparing our homes and our families for the celebration of the One who holds our future. Through the busyness of the season, we do our best to anticipate and grab hold of the meaning of Christmas. In years past, I’ve often felt as if I’m missing some aspect of this anticipating. As though there’s an unidentifiable disconnect, separated by distance and time. It’s as if there’s been some small void in wrapping my head fully around the coming King – until this year. Are you experiencing a void this Advent? Join me over at my friend, Jill Hoven's blog, where I'll tell you the rest of the story and Continue Reading
5 Ways to Make Christmas 100 Times Brighter
I have a deep love for traditions, especially when it comes to "keeping Christmas. And when traditions hold enough meaning to become an avenue for legacy-building, I'm all in. Although I was unaware as a child of the significant wisdom tucked within the frames of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the profound lessons soon became a part of my family's yearly celebration. And for good reason. Isn't the world still searching for the real meaning of Christmas? Isn't this one message the single most profound treasure that warms the coldest heart and pours hope into the most hopeless situation? Yet, the challenge to fully rest in the beauty of its truth is continually before us. In the midst of all the busyness, we lose sight of how to embrace the hope-filled moments of Continue Reading