There are many things that I love about Christmas. What I love the most actually precedes Christmas Day: Advent. This period of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth occurs each year in the weeks before Christmas. Because I value Advent so much, I was thrilled when I received an email about an opportunity to review a new Advent … [Read more...] about Book Review: Unwrapping the Names of Jesus
holidays
Thanksgiving Playlist
Most Americans, whether they’re Christians or not, celebrate Thanksgiving. However, for those of us who are Christians, the holiday has a special significance. Though I often listen to Christmas music in the weeks before Christmas in order to help prepare my heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I’ve never considered doing something … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving Playlist
30 Questions to Ask Around the Thanksgiving Table
While eating Thanksgiving dinner, many families take time to share about the things for which they are grateful. This is wonderful because it gets everyone thinking about gratitude. Family members sometimes find themselves repeating the same things over and over again. There’s nothing wrong with this—most of us are genuinely grateful … [Read more...] about 30 Questions to Ask Around the Thanksgiving Table
5 Habits That Quell Gratitude
We talk a lot about gratitude during the month of November. Though I try to focus on gratitude all year long, I appreciate the heightened focus on gratitude around Thanksgiving. The more I think about gratitude, the more I realize that it’s not enough to engage in activities that foster gratitude. If I’m going to be grateful every day, … [Read more...] about 5 Habits That Quell Gratitude
The Great Halloween Debate: Should Christians Take Part in Halloween?
In the fall of each year, Christian families face the question of whether or not to celebrate Halloween. I know a lot of families who struggle with this question, so today we’re going to consider some different ways to answer it. Before we explore these answers, let’s review the history of Halloween. The history of Halloween has more … [Read more...] about The Great Halloween Debate: Should Christians Take Part in Halloween?
10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day, celebrated annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day, is a day set aside to (1) honor grandparents, (2) give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and (3) help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer (source). Though National … [Read more...] about 10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Grandparents Day
Christmas in July: Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive Year Round
I usually focus my Christmas in July posts on topics that will help us plan early so we won’t have a chaotic Christmas season. This year I’m focusing on a slightly different topic. One thing I love about Christmas is the “Christmas spirit” that often surrounds us during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We tend to be more … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive Year Round
Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
I recently came across the idea of using a child’s handprint to make “flowers” for a bouquet. This seemed both cute and simple, so I decided to help my daughters make a variation of it to send to their grandmothers for Mother’s Day. Here’s how we made each bouquet. Supplies Construction paper in various colors Crayons and … [Read more...] about Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
