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Making Christmas Bright {what I’m loving this season}

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I can’t believe that Christmas is this coming weekend. I’m unbelievably behind in getting this post set up, but I  am excited to share with you a few of the things that are making this holiday season “bright”. Some of these are simple, some are a part of long-standing, tradition, and some of them are new traditions that I look forward to repeating in the years ahead.

I’m signing off until the new year, but want to wish each of you a beautiful holiday season. May you be blessed!

All is Bright Coloring Book

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When I got a flyer showcasing the new inspirational coloring book series that Tyndale was releasing this fall, I was ecstatic.  All of the coloring books and coloring journals were so beautiful, that I immediately put all of them on my wishlist. I picked up the gratitude journal, and it was everything I wanted in a fresh, new way to spend focusing on the many things I have to be thankful for. But when I saw the Christmas coloring book, I immediately knew I had to have it. Thought provoking advent readings. Beautiful, artistic pictures that were really meaningful. It was perfect.

I’ve been going through it since the beginning of the month. It is absolutely wonderful. And one of my favorite things? It’s so family friendly.  All is Bright  has thought questions for family discussion and even some special coloring pages and activities for the little ones in the family. It has been perfect for us, and if you ask my friends, I haven’t stopped talking about it since.

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I love that it has a reading and a coloring page for every day leading up to Christmas Day. The readings are short enough for family worship but deep enough to be really inspiring and encouraging. And the pictures coordinate with the reading. They’re festive and also very inspiring.  You can also decorate around the reading, and it’s really a wonderful way to unwind over the beautiful words and scriptures of Christmas. It’s been exactly what I always wanted as a month-long celebration of the meaning and truth behind the advent of Christ. I feel so thankful to have found this beautiful resource for this time of year. If you are looking for a holiday gift or for something for your family, I recommend getting this beautiful book!

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Charlotte absolutely loves these especially-for-her activities. She asks to color in “mama’s special book”. Good thing I have a copier, right? ;)
81dyiq65zwlIn short, this book gets a full ten stars from me!

The Christmas In My Heart books by Joe L. Wheeler

I love Christmas stories. They help to remind me that even when this world feels pretty awful sometimes, there are still beautiful people and miracles still happen. One of my favorite series is the Christmas In My Heart collections put together by Joe L. Wheeler. The stories are inspiring, funny, mysterious and so very Christmasy that I look forward to pulling out my little stash and reading them all year! One day, I’ll own all the books in the series, but for now I’m enjoying my little stash of four.  But they’re not the only great Christmas collections out there. Check out this post on Kindred Grace that shares some of the others on my shelf!

Fisher Price Nativity Set

I have always wanted a good nativity set. Since having a child, I wanted something that would be special and sturdy. I finally bit the bullet and got this nativity set that I’ve been eying since the winter I found out I was pregnant. It’s tucked away on my shelf until we put up the tree, but I love it and I foresee many hours of playing with “small donkey” and bringing the wise men to see baby Jesus in the manger. (It’s currently one of her two favorite bible stories.)

One Small Donkey by Dandi Daley Mackall

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I have a serious weakness for books written by Dandi Daley Mackall. It’s the beautiful art, coupled with simple words and big, important truths that always win my heart. This little book, the advent story from the perspective of the small donkey that traditionally traveled with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, is probably my all-time favorites of hers.

Even though the donkey wasn’t “the biggest, fastest, or strongest”, God still used him to do important things.  God doesn’t look for the “best” he looks for the willing and humble is the theme of the story. It’s a lesson that I am glad to start teaching little ones early: God doesn’t call the qualified so much as he qualifies the called.

Also, who wouldn’t fall in love with the cheerful, festive but endearing illustrations that accompany each part of the story? It’s one that we’ll be reading over and over this year, to be sure.

Color and Cut out Nativity

Here’s a freebie for you. I have printed this about five times this season already for Charlotte and she absolutely is delighted to color and cut out her own nativity to play with. If you are looking for an activity to do with your kids, this is perfect for Christmas Eve!

 

Check out this list of Christmas books for little people, too!

Tell me about your favorite things this holiday! I’d love to hear. Drop me a comment or an email. :) 

My Favorite Resources for Cultivating Gratitude

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Sometimes it’s easy to pull out gratitude like a holiday dress and wear it just for November. And even though we talk a lot about gratitude, it can be easy to let daily praise and thanksgiving slip during those frazzled days and weeks of real life. I know for me, it is anyway.

But every year, I know even more how much I really need intentional gratitude. I need the sweet grace of thanksgiving to seep into my busy days as much as it does on my quietness. Because gratitude gives me a perspective check. It keeps my heart in tune with what really matters. And I need that.

Over the years, I’ve collected a few favorite resources when it comes to gratitude. They help make gratitude personal, creative and fun. Now that I’m also a mama, I have been looking for ways to help Charlotte to develop habits of thankfulness too.

This is my shortlist, but I’m always looking for more! Be sure to comment and tell me what you find helpful to you in cultivating intentional gratitude in your every days.

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Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

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I’m not trying to be sensational when I say this book could change your life. Of all the books I’ve read about gratitude, it is by far the one that made the greatest impact on my beliefs about the place that intentional gratitude has in our lives.  Nancy not only gets to the bottom of what gratitude actually is, but why we should make it a priority, and how forming habits of gratefulness can completely change our lives. I’ve read Choosing Gratitude a couple of times, and every time I’m reinspired to be intentional and genuine in my quest after a grateful heart. You can read another review of Choosing Gratitude that I wrote on KindredGrace.com

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

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I think this is one of those books that seeps into the corners of your heart and continues to influence your life long after you read it. I had started making “thankful lists” as a child, and hearing about how counting her gifts was a saving grace for Anne was like finding a sort of kindred spirit. Anne’s writing style is like a rippling brook. It dances and sings and it is at times filled with joy, and other times achingly beautiful. It has a place of honor with my favorite books, and I plan to reread it in 2017!

Gratitude Coloring Journal

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It’s really important for my life-perspective to make intentional efforts to include gratitude in my day-to-day life. This little journal is the perfect mix between creative and thoughtful and I’ve really enjoyed using it this fall to unwind and relax in the evenings. It makes a wonderful gift if you’re still looking for holiday gifts! I ended up buying several, and they’ve all been loved! You can read my full review of the gratitude journal here.

“Blessings” by Laura Story

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This song made me sob publicly. In the middle of our long stint of being unemployed, things got pretty tough. I tried really hard to be brave and to be trusting, but sometimes the constant worry of rent vs food can wear a person down. And none of it made any sense…the car accident, the job loss, the big move and then the promised job falling through. But when this song came on the radio, it went straight to my heart and became the song Scott and I listened to over and over. Now, listening to it fills my heart with thankfulness for the many ways God used those “raindrops” to give us better things than we’d hoped for.

Blessings Jars (Buy one or make your own!)

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Thankfulness isn’t just for Thanksgiving day, so I love the idea of having a blessings jar in the house for everyone in the family to contribute to.  I really loved this one when I found it on amazon, but you can easily make your own with a mason jar or an old cookie jar.

A couple resources for Children

Thank You, Lord For Everything by P. J Lyons

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Last year I wanted to start getting a few more books for Charlotte that were specifically about being thankful. I stumbled across this board book and decided to give it a try. It goes through the day from waking up until evening time, taking moments in the day to say “Thank you, Lord for Everything!” It’s a bedtime favorite here, and I love that now Charlotte will sometimes randomly tell me “Thank you, God, for ev’y thing!” You can read my complete review of this book here.

Making a Thankful Tree

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Next year, I want to make one of these for us to add “leaves” to every day for the entire month of November. I think the visual and creative aspects of it make it special for the kids, while encouraging them to practice intentional gratitude even if they are too small to write in a journal or otherwise keep a record.

Gratitude Journal for Kids

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I completely agree that Gratitude isn’t just what we say, but a value of life that we embody and live out in our actions. And I think it’s really important to teach our children from an early age to make being grateful a habit they find natural–a cornerstone in their lives. There are dozens of simple ways to do this, even with a toddler, but this is a book that I’m looking forward to using as my child grows. With coloring pages and prompts, it’s a great springboard for discussions and for encouraging their own efforts to count their blessings.

What are some of your favorite resources for making thanksgiving a daily part of your life?

Looking for more ideas? Click here to see other crafts and ideas for Thanksgiving that I’ve been pinning on pinterest.

Baby Steps to Keep Moving Forward as an Entrepreneur

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I’ve always been a dream-chaser. But one of my biggest dreams has always been being self-employed.

I was five years old when I first decided that I didn’t want to do any of the things my friends talked about doing when they grew up.  I didn’t want to be a doctor like my cousin. (For the record, he is a doctor now and a mighty fine one!) I wanted a blueberry farm. So I decided that was what I was going to have one day. But to get there, I figured I’d need a job that I could do from home. I didn’t know what to call it at the time, but I had just birthed my work at home dream.

More than 25 years later, I still want that farm more than ever. However, I realized along the way that it’s going to take a lot of creativity and work to get there. Small time farming is a good, important work and I believe in it wholeheartedly. I know that farming alone might not pay the bills–and we have to get the money to buy that land to start the farm, too.

Every day, I’ve been scratching and clawing and crawling on my hands and knees towards that Blueberry Farm that I still believe is in our future. By the time I was in my teens, I had mapped out a road to get there, but I just didn’t have the tools to actually do the navigating. And there were missing pieces in the picture that I wasn’t sure how to overcome. I met Scott, we shared common dreams, and I knew even more than ever that I wanted to make a way to work from home– for both of us.

So I just tried anything I could get my hands on. I worked, and cried, and flopped a few things. When I discovered the keys to being a Virtual Assistant four years ago, I knew I’d found one of the missing pieces to what I had started calling our escape route.

The most important thing for being an entrepreneur is that we can never give up.

Almost everyone I knew thought I was crazy when I quit a job that barely paid the bills and literally was killing something inside of me every day. Coming from months of unemployment, and living on one tiny income did sound like a crazy idea. And hearing all the negative comments and the suggestions that I should just get over my “silly idea” of making a business online and get back to the real world was incredibly challenging. I second guessed myself, our dreams, and more than once I nearly caved. But I could never give up the dream, and I never stopped trying to take baby steps.

Not giving up is the most important part of making working from home a reality. Often, I felt clueless. I would look at the big picture and see so many things that I had no idea how to work out. I knew that there was no easy route to our ultimate dream of owning a berry farm and being self-sustaining, but I wished that the route was a little easier to decipher.

So I kept taking tiny baby steps.

It’s not easy building a business from scratch. In fact, it’s probably one of the most challenging things I’ve done. It continues to challenge me daily.

Life has thrown us some pretty big curve balls. I’ve been knocked flat a few times, and I’ve hit a few dead ends. I’ve flopped ideas. And sometimes I’ve had to crawl instead of walk towards my goals. To be honest, I’m still scared when I think about how much farther I need to go to get to the big dream.

But I’m determined that when I get knocked down, I’ll struggle to my feet. I’ll take baby steps until I can run again. The important thing is to keep moving forward, instead of getting stalled.

Because now working from home isn’t a vague dream.

I have a real, running business. One that I built myself, with the tools that so many other generous entrepreneurs shared with me.  I’m working from home from a desk in the back of my house bringing in real money that is going towards our freedom someday.

And it’s hard work. Working from home is every bit as hard as I expected, and probably a lot more complicated than I could have anticipated. Sometimes, I’m tired. I want to sleep in. I just want to clean my house and not turn on my computer for a week. Sometimes I feel guilty because even though I’m a full-time mama, I spend a lot of hours in front of my computer trying to finish to-do lists and somehow get done in time to make supper. I feel guilty because I have to pick and choose and I can’t do all the fun things other mamas do. I feel guilty because even though I will always pause my work to read a book or to color a picture, sometimes I have to put my head down and plow through my work and it just takes a long time.

But then I look at all the myriad of ways that working from home has made life better for my family, and all the ways it allows me to be present and involved in my child’s life and I can’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness. This is exactly what I wanted, and it is so worth the long hours and the complicated juggling. 

It doesn’t stop here, though.

While I’m closer than I was when I was gone every day working 12 hour days away from home, we’re a long way away from a berry farm and from the kind of freedom over our schedules and lives that we’ve both been chasing in different ways since we were kids.

The thing with being an entrepreneur is that you can’t stop learning and expanding. I am still growing my Virtual Assitant business every day. I’m still looking for better ways to work smarter, to be more efficient, and to maximize my income. I’m looking for passive income to fill in the gaps.

The truth is that there are no quick roads to reach our goals. (Granted, I’ve taken a lot of scenic routes as I’ve tried to learn the ropes!) It’s a matter of time, patience, perseverance and creativity.

I’ve had some discouraging months. Years when I didn’t make as much money as I needed to, and days and months when I just wasn’t sure how I’d ever pull off working enough hours to close the gap so that Scott could quit his job too.

But I’ve also found some answers. I’ve found new things to try, and things that make me excited and hopeful. 

I feel that against the odds, we’re getting somewhere.

Even with setbacks, like mandatory health insurance at rates that sometimes make me ill, or changes in programs that help support us and the websites I manage, the future is bright.

I try to take it all in.  To learn what I can. To keep trying and keep evolving.  And I think there’s going to be a time in not-so-distant future when I’m going to be able to wake up and say “We did it! We finally did it.” I  believe that one of these days, Scott and I will hang “Brankshire Estates” over our very own drive that leads to the blueberry farm I’ve pictured all these years.

It’s going to mean a lot more work to come. Lots of long hours. Crawling out of bed when I’d rather sleep just one more hour after a night of being woken frequently. In short, there’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears coming up. But is it going to be worth it? Absolutely!

Keep on going!

Do you feel like you’re on fumes chasing your dream? I can totally relate. This is the hard stuff in life, and I know firsthand how discouraging it can be to not see the forward progress we’d like. But here’s my strategy for success.

Focus more on what’s ahead than the things that didn’t work that are behind you. Learn from them, but don’t let them become a stumbling block that keeps you from making any progress at all.
Don’t give up. Take deep breaths. Refocus, reprioritize and try again if you need to. Failure is a part of the road to success. If you can’t run forward, just keep making baby steps. Crawl if you need to. But don’t ever give up on going forward.

Itsy Bitsy Christmas and Other Christmas Books for Young Children

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I don’t collect many things, but I am unashamed of my love for collecting Christmas stories. I love Christmas time. The twinkle of lights and the triumphant words of Christmas hymns are a fitting light in the middle of the darkest time of the year. And Christmas stories are often filled with stories of trust, unexpected kindness, and hope–things that wintertime and this world are in desperate need of these days.

All year, I  scour the shelves of the local used bookstore in hopes of finding a new title or two to add to my collection. My dream is to one day own all of Joe L. Wheeler’s Christmas Collections, but I’ll probably have to get a few more bookshelves before I can do that.

The last few years, it’s no surprise that I’ve been focusing on my children’s Christmas book collection. Finally, I have a valid reason to leave the bookstore with my arms filled with board books, and Charlotte (who says she thinks it might be Christmas next week. We’re still working on understanding time. ;) ) is eagerly watching the pile on the top of the bookshelf grow and looking forward to reading “Aaalll those books!”.

I’ve been delighted over some of the books that I have found and been given over the last year or so, and since I know I’m not the only one who is always on the lookout for another good book or two to add to the collection, I thought I’d make a list of some of our favorites for you.

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This post contains affiliate links. Your clicks and purchases help to support this site and my family at no extra cost to you. Thank you. <3 

 

Itsy Bitsy Christmas by Max Lucado

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Itsy Bitsy Christmas is the story of two ordinary, tiny mice who hear the rumor from a small donkey that a King is coming to visit Bethlehem. They search the entire city from top to bottom, wanting to see the King. Finally, discouraged and feeling insignificant because others tell them that kings don’t care about plain, ordinary mice, they come home to the stable. Max Lucado uses his skills to weave into the story a lesson that God sent His son for even the least of us.

With adorable illustrations, and a sweet, engaging storyline, this little book won a place in our hearts right away. I loved how Max used something common to illustrate that no one is too small, too poor, or too insignificant for the love of our King. It’s a truth that I don’t want our kids to ever lose sight of in a world where doubt is high.

The Legend of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley MacKall

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A little boy and his mom struggle through hard times, and he learns that it is better to give than to receive, especially at Christmas time. This book teaches about the importance of trusting God to provide, and about having a giving heart. I love Dandi Daley Mackall’s books, and this did not disappoint. I also loved that it talked about Christmas Traditions, something that is dear to my heart. I reviewed this book last Christmas, and we enjoyed the story and making our own Christmas Cookies!

Silent Night by Lori C. Froeb  (press and play)

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This little book starts out with children setting up a nativity, and tells a simple version of the Christmas story with each piece of the set. It is very simple and sweet, and easy for children of all ages to understand. The cut out shapes and the adorable little animals are always a hit in this house. The major bonus in kids’ eyes is the fact that you can press a button and the book plays the music to the beloved hymn, Silent Night while you read.

The First Noel illustrated by Jody Wheeler

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If you are like me and love the beautiful, inspiring words of the classic Christmas hymns, you need to add this book to your collection. It is a gorgeously illustrated book that contains just the lyrics to the beloved hymn, “The First Noel”. It makes for a great bedtime book, or one for little ones to look at during family worship so they can turn the pages while we sing.

Christmas! the whole story of the God who loves by Natasha Metzler

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This is one of my absolute favorite books about the Christmas Story because it starts at the very beginning. It is the simple telling of the story of redemption starting with creation.  Natasha has a way of writing big truths in a way that is so simple and yet so profound. I am touched every time I read this book. Each page tells a beautiful, simple truth. From the very beginning, what God wanted most of all was to be our very closest Friend. And that is what He still wants! Of course, we can’t forget the little bug that is hidden on each page for little ones to find. This book has 25 stories in it. So it makes an excellent Advent countdown book, too.

Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck

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This little book is probably one of Charlotte’s favorites. It identifies each important part of the Nativity scene (The donkey, the shepherds, the angels, the Wisemen, Mary and Joseph) and builds up to identifying baby Jesus as the baby who is the Savior. The simple illustrations and the lyrical way the text is written make it easy for little ones to understand and enjoy.

Silent Night by David Mead

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This book is based on the hymn “Silent Night”. Each page talks about some of the first visitors who came to welcome baby Jesus in the manger, and about bringing gifts to Jesus. The last page opens to the full nativity scene, and if you press the yellow star, it will play Silent Night. It’s a favorite here because buttons to press are THE thing when you are three. David Mead also has books based on other Christmas Hymns: Joy to the World, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, and The Little Drummer Boy.

Follow the Star Pushalong Book by Moira Maclean

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I picked this book up at the bookstore the other day for 3o cents, and I am positive that it will be a big hit when the Christmas Book Stack is finally brought down in another month. I love the simple, sweet illustrations in this book. Push the wisemen along each page to follow the star from their home in the east to Jerusalem and beyond in search of the newborn king, to finally end at the house in Bethlehem where they give their gifts to Jesus and worship him as the Messiah.

 

The Christmas Story According to Luke

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This beautiful little book is the Christmas story as it is told best,  straight from the bible. Paired with gorgeous, realistic illustrations it is a great choice for family worship time!

I Spy Christmas Book

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This isn’t a story, but it is a great seasonal busy book to keep young children entertained on long winter days. I have both books– the more complicated version for older children, as well as the board book version for toddlers. It’s a great way to teach observation skills and matching skills for young ones with a festive theme.

Knock Knock! Who’s there at Christmas? by Vickie Howie

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We are big fans of interactive books around here, so this lift-the-flap version of the people and animals associated with the Christmas story is well loved. I always appreciate less cartoony characters, and I thought this one was well done.

Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell

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In this story, the kind old ox makes room in his stable for animals who are alone or out in the cold. When Mary and Joseph come into town and need a place to stay, the kind ox is more than happy to make room for a little one in his stable and he and the other animals in the stable are the first to welcome Jesus to this world. This book has such sweet illustrations, and we loved the story about being kind and making room for strangers!

The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Higgs

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This little book tells the story of a family who has a christmas tree farm. They carefully tend to the tiny seedlings all year long. The farmer’s wife wants to keep the most beautiful tree for her family, but a little child teaches them both about the true meaning of Christmas through that beautiful pine tree.

Biscuits Christmas Collection

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Charlotte absolutely adores biscuit books. I’ve slowly been collecting all the board books in the series, and this story collection is one of her favorites at Christmas time. Biscuit learns about sharing, and about how being with your family at Christmas is the best.

Do you or your kids have a favorite Christmas book?

Comment and tell me! I’m always looking for a few more to add to our collection and love hearing about what everyone else enjoys!

Simple Hospitality

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When I was growing up, our home was filled with people. My parents didn’t have much, but their door was always open and we often added just one more can of tomatoes to the soup or made a last minute batch of bread to stretch our meals to feed whoever was gathered around the table at dinner time.

It was never fancy, but no one ever seemed to mind. Simple food made with love and shared with friends sometimes beats all the fancy meals money could buy anyway. And I always knew that one day, I wanted my home to be a welcoming place, too.

But unlike my extroverted parents, being the perfect hostess doesn’t come easily for me. I fumble and struggle. For me, hospitality by the books is a daunting task. As a full-time mama, holding down a job at the same time, there are more to-dos than hours in the day.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that hospitality doesn’t have to be elaborate. I use to feel guilty for not being the kind of hostess my parents were. But I’m beginning to see that while God does call all of us to be hospitable, He doesn’t require us all to share our homes and hearts in exactly the same way.

Hospitality is being welcoming, and not too proud to open the door to friends and strangers God brings into our lives. It doesn’t have to be dust free bookshelves and restaurant quality food kind of hospitality. Sometimes I need to forget about the dust in the corners or the fact that I don’t have a couch and embrace the moment and the people that walk through my door.

And lately, I’ve been closing my eyes more and opening my door more, praying that love and warmth shines out to make up for the imperfections in our little home and in my skills as a hostess. Because if I wait for my house to be flawless and for a chance to make the perfect meal, no one will ever come.

Sometimes I just have to remind myself that hospitality is best served simply. Like a cup of tea, or a mug of hot cocoa and games on the floor in front of the fireplace. After all, it’s the love and the laughter that I most want my guests to remember when they think of our home.

So this fall, that’s what I’m doing. Filling mugs with hot drinks, popping corn and loving all who find their way into our little home.

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I fell in love with this set of mugs from Hallmark’s set called “Home“. Home is the heart of our family, and we are down to earth, country bumpkin kind of folk more than fine dining people.

The handcrafted look of the stoneware is welcoming and homey- the exact things I hope my guests feel when they sit in my living room. The soothing neutral outside with vibrant pops of color inside were exactly what I was looking for when I wanted to buy some mugs so we could share hot drinks with friends. And the words on each mug speak to the kinds of things that I value in our daily life.

Gratitude, Togetherness, Home, Coziness, Happiness and Warmth. 

I’ve already used my mugs to share hot tea with some of the people I love. It’s felt good.

May this be the fall of filling our home with happiness and friends, in our own unique style of hospitality.

Would you like to own one of the pieces from the Home collection?

I’m excited to be able to share a piece from this collection with one of you!

Please comment below with one of your favorite ways to incorporate simple hospitality in your lives.

Share this and comment again with where you shared it for a second entry. A winner will be selected using random.org. Giveaway closes on October 12 at 11:59 pm.

And the winner is…. Laura Rene!! Congratulations. I hope you enjoy your item from the collection!

Many thanks to Love Hallmark for sharing some of these beautiful mugs with me in exchange for my story of hospitality. I’ve already bought a few more so I have enough to go around!

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