Faith, Family, and Forging a Difference
I’m not Catholic, nor did I grow up in a church that paid much attention to the liturgical calendar. However, I’m a Christian and I believe all Christians can benefit from observing the various seasons of the liturgical cycle. A story my pastor shared last Easter provides a great illustration of why I believe this. He shared about how … [Read more...] about We All Need Lent
At the start of each February, I tend to think a little bit about love. I think about how to better love my husband, of course, but I also try to be intentional about showing love to my family, my friends, and my neighbors. Love is at the very heart of the Christian faith (Matthew 22:37-40). In showing love to those around us, we model … [Read more...] about Intentional Acts of Kindness Calendar for February
I often find myself unsure of what to write when I sit to draft the posts I will publish before Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. After all, the Bible already says the most important things about these holidays! I don’t feel like I have any particularly meaningful insights this Christmas, so I will share with you some words from … [Read more...] about Printable Christmas Story Word Clouds
My 2-year-old and 4-year-old are really into crafts right now. They ask to draw, paint, make masks, create collages, or do something else creative every single day. I’ve found a number of cool Christmas crafts for them that yield secular symbols of Christmas (trees, wreaths, bells, etc.). I don’t have a problem with these, but I want to make … [Read more...] about 12 Crafts to Help Kids Understand the Christmas Story
Pretty much every year of my adult life I’ve attended at least one holiday gathering where there was a white elephant gift exchange. Though the specific details vary, most of these have involved the exchange of silly, strange, or humorous gifts. I often scramble around the house a day or two before a white elephant gift exchange in an … [Read more...] about 26 White Elephant Gifts from Around the House
Young kids love the bright lights and shiny ornaments on Christmas trees as much as we do. Unfortunately, they don’t want to appreciate these by gazing at them like we do—they want to touch and perhaps even taste them! This is first and foremost a safety issue, but it’s also a frustration for parents who want to decorate for … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Keep Babies and Toddlers Out of Christmas Trees
Though I really try to be grateful throughout the year, I benefit from the heightened focus we place on gratitude during the weeks preceding Thanksgiving. I find it easy to be grateful during most Novembers, but there are years when it is exceedingly difficult because of the events that have taken place that year. What should we do … [Read more...] about 4 Things to Remember When It’s Hard to Give Thanks
In my household, we all love reading. It should come as no surprise that I enjoy using books to introduce new concepts to my kids and to reinforce the concepts we’ve been discussing. It is November, so we’ve been talking a lot about gratitude and giving thanks to God for all He has given us. These are really difficult concepts for young … [Read more...] about 10 Wonderful Children’s Books About Gratitude
